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Football Officiating => NCAA Discussion => Topic started by: ElvisLives on August 11, 2021, 08:43:35 AM
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AR 3-5-3-VII
This AR appears to apply at any point in time in the game. No problem, not an issue.
And we know this is a unique interpretation that makes what would otherwise be a live-ball foul a dead-ball foul. Understand.
The issue is: What if, after being offered the opportunity to take back their time out, Team A chooses to go ahead and take the time out? Does Team B still get penalized?
Rationale for penalizing: Team B should not be allowed to confuse Team A by abusing the substitution rule. As disincentive, this particular action is to be ruled a dead-ball foul, and is penalized regardless if Team A chooses to take the time out, or chooses to take it back. "Substitution Infraction; Defense; 12 players on the field; that's a five-yard penalty; 3rd down. State University is not charged a time out. Play will continue."
Rationale for not penalizing: If Team A consciously chooses to take the time out, even though they could have had Team B penalized PLUS get their time out back, then they have not been harmed. No foul, no penalty, and time out on the field.
"There is no Substitution Infraction. Time out, State Tech." (If on live-TV broadcast, followed by one of these: "This is a media time out." Or, "This is a 30-second time out.")
Some may wonder if Team A gets to take the time out, but it just doesn't get charged to them. No 100% answer, but, in other situations when a team initiates a T/O, but circumstances change and they have the opportunity to rescind the T/O (and choose to do so), then there is no time out, and play resumes immediately. (Example: Following a coaches Replay Challenge. They are NOT charged with a T/O, and play resumes immediately. In reality, even a short replay review gives them a decent 'breather.') So, I would use that example as guidance and resume play immediately.
OK, so what if the clock was running? If Team A takes back their T/O, then, by rule, the only thing that stopped the clock was the completion of the penalty (assuming Team B are to be penalized), so it starts on the referee's signal. Same if there is to be no penalty - this was still just an administrative stoppage, so start on the referee's signal. Exception: 3-4-3, inside 2 minutes in a half, and Team B is ahead in the score (or the score is tied), then Team A can choose to have the clock start on the snap.
Ramblings.
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Don't know why they felt the need to change the rule in the first place.