Muffed Punt fair catch and inadvertent whistle

[hometeamdawg]

Georgia punts to Ga. Southern.  GSU punt returner signals fair catch.  He touches ball but never possesses it.  There is an immediate inadvertent whistle from ref who thought he made the fair catch.  Georgia recovers the muff.

Refs huddle, there's a video review.  Ref says review confirms that GSU player did touch ball, Georgia recovered muff, 1st down Georgia.  He does not mention inadvertent whistle.

If there had been no inadvertent whistle, Georgia definitely gets the ball on recovery.  There was no interference with the attempt to make the fair catch.

The question is:  Was this the correct ruling...or should the inadvertent whistle have required the down to be replayed since the GSU player never had possession?

[psv]

Link to a video?

Also, how do you know the ref blew the whistle (not trying to be smart, but since I didnt see the play, just asking).  Is it audible in video somewhere?

If it happened exactly as you described, the offended team (in this case GA Southern) would have the option to take the result of the play, or replay the down  Since GA wound up with the ball, they would replay the down.

BKDOW is correct.  Since the IW in the scenario above happened while there was a loose ball, the only available option is to replay the down.

[bkdow]

If the IW occurs while the ball is loose and never possessed, the only recourse is to replay the down since there is not "result" yet.

[Clear Lake ref]

Replay can award a recovery if immediate if the ball is indeed loose and was ruled dead.

[NVFOA_Ump]

Isn't this very similar to the other thread (Baylor-OSU Fumble Replay Reversal) and isn't the same rule applicable here:

Rule 12 - Instant Replay, Section 3, Article 3, Dead Ball and Loose Ball:
Reviewable plays involving potential dead balls and loose balls include:
..... d. Loose ball ruled dead, or live ball ruled dead in possession of a ball carrier when the clear recovery of a loose ball occurs in the immediate continuing action.
..... 2. If the replay official rules that the ball was not dead, it belongs to the recovering team at the spot of the recovery and any advance is nullified.

This rule was added specifically to address the unfair result that could occur due to an official's mistake when in the judgment of the officiating crew, the error did not impact the actual result.

[Andrew McCarthy]

What was the ruling on the field before they went to replay?

[hometeamdawg]

What was the ruling on the field before they went to replay?

OK, I'll try to address the questions posed here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=blU3PYkA8Wg

I just found this article and the first couple of paragraphs reference rule 4-2-3:

https://www.dawgnation.com/football/team-news/four-things-every-georgia-fan-needs-to-know-today

[Kalle]

I just found this article and the first couple of paragraphs reference rule 4-2-3:

They should reference rule 12-3-3-d-2. Based on the description in the article it sounds like the crew got it right although in the wrong way (it should have been ruled an IW on the field and replay reversing it to UGA).

[hometeamdawg]

They should reference rule 12-3-3-d-2. Based on the description in the article it sounds like the crew got it right although in the wrong way (it should have been ruled an IW on the field and replay reversing it to UGA).

I found a video and edited it in to my post above.

[Kalle]

I found a video and edited it in to my post above.

Video supports the article, so I'm staying with my comments above

[psv]

Ah, instant replay... one can only dream... especially if you are working in a big stadium with a huge, gigantic 60ft long screen and they replay just about every play.....   

So, to be clear, my answer would be what I would have done, and while I use NCAA rules, I dont work anywhere that has replay.



From the video provided (thank you for that), the whistle was clearly blown while the ball was loose.  Without replay, the only option available would be to replay the down.

I defer to the experts who use Replay for how it should have been handled in this game.