OSU v WVU - intentional grounding?

[CenTexTM]

OSU QB takes the snap, then hands the ball to #17 who runs to the right and throws the ball away OOB to avoid a sack.  Even assuming the ball crossed the neutral zone extended, why is this not intentional grounding? 

OSU was flagged for IDF, but the difference between 1st and 15 and 2nd and 20-something is huge.

[dvasques]

IDF?

[maven]

Ineligible downfield.


maven

[InsideTheStripes]

As described, there were two fouls on the play: IDF & ING.

The grounding exception only applies to the player who controls the snap.

[Andrew McCarthy]

IDF only applies to a play with a LEGAL forward pass.

[InsideTheStripes]

IDF only applies to a play with a LEGAL forward pass.

D'oh.  Clearly correct.

[TxSkyBolt]

Picker of nits here, it's IDP

[Clear Lake ref]

Is there video?  Grounding exception also applies if a backwards pass.  It does not apply to the receiver of a hand off, at least explicitly. 

[Kalle]

Is there video?  Grounding exception also applies if a backwards pass.  It does not apply to the receiver of a hand off, at least explicitly.

Umm, no. You are probably confusing the language "snap or the resulting backward pass" in rule 7-3-Exception to mean anything other but the actual snap and the potential flight time of a long snap, which by rule is a backward pass.

[Clear Lake ref]

Ah ok.

So there is no throwing away downfield on a halfback pass?

[Kalle]

So there is no throwing away downfield on a halfback pass?

Nope, you better find some eligible receiver somewhere and throw the ball remotely close to him.