Auburn LSU

[kevinlc]

Did they mess up?
Was LSU not entitled to an untimed down at the end of the game since there was an accepted foul on the defense on the last timed down of the game? I believe they would in fed

[Rulesman]

I have a feeling I'm overthinking this, but on the next to last last play of the game LSU scored and was called for illegal motion on the play. Was the Zap 10 not an option because the foul was not what caused the clock to stop? I'm leaning towards LSU making the LTG is what stopped the clock, which is the reason Auburn wasn't given the option. Am I missing something or did the crew screw it up? Winding the clock for the last play left me spinning my head.

[DallasLJ]

Did they mess up?
Was LSU not entitled to an untimed down at the end of the game since there was an accepted foul on the defense on the last timed down of the game? I believe they would in fed

  No.  You are overthinking this.  The foul did not occur at the end of the game.  When the play was over, there was still time on the clock.  It then becomes encumbent on the offense to get the play off in time.  The extension would only apply of the game ended during the play in which the foul occurred. In fact, if you think it through, it the game clock at expired during the play with the foul -- Auburn would have declined the penalty and ended the game since LSU did not score on the play.

[Rulesman]

Did they mess up?
Was LSU not entitled to an untimed down at the end of the game since there was an accepted foul on the defense on the last timed down of the game?

The accepted foul was committed by the offense and it was not on the last play.

[Hawkeye]

The play that was snapped with about 5 seconds to go was flagged for an illegal shift. However, it should have been a false start because it was the type of illegal shift where all 11 players did not get set for 1 second before the snap. That is a ZAP 10.  LSU had no timeouts left, so game over.

[kevinlc]

The accepted foul was committed by the offense and it was not on the last play.

The foul was on the last play as LSU never got another snap off.

[Ted T]

Time did not expire on the play with the accepted penalty - no untimed down.

[Rulesman]

The play that was snapped with about 5 seconds to go was flagged for an illegal shift. However, it should have been a false start because it was the type of illegal shift where all 11 players did not get set for 1 second before the snap. That is a ZAP 10.  LSU had no timeouts left, so game over.

gotcha. Makes perfect sense. Guess I was really under thinking it. 

[CenTexTM]

The wording is "during a down in which time expires," not "the last play of the game/period."  The down with the foul was over with 1 second remaining, so time did not expire during it.

[Rulesman]

The foul was on the last play as LSU never got another snap off.

That was LSU's fault.

[JDM]

Next to last play should've been DBF for FST.

Last play same thing - all players not set for one second. The snap couldn't have been made by rule.

Additionally very close to IFP.

[Morningrise]

That foul had to be a blow and throw with a 10 second runoff. That is the exact situation the "illegal shift false start" rule was designed to address. The crew discussed it for so long, I wonder if they were debating declaring it a false start after the fact and ending the game even after having let the play go off.

LSU was not set for a full second on the repeat of the down, either.

[J12]

On the last play -- the TD play that didn't happen -- does anybody else have an Ineligible Receivor Downfield.  It looks to me that the farthest wideout is on the line as well as the receiver lined up maybe 3 yards wide of the interior line. 

[Clear Lake ref]

That was FST and it wasn't even close.

The QB made a comment about a second being fast. What he doesn't realize is that second could have been as little as a tenth of a second and still showing 0:01.

[Morningrise]

If this ever happens to me as the R, should I do what the crew did and keep it as a live-ball illegal shift?

One could also announce that the down should not have happened because of a false start, announce the runoff, and walk off the field. Which is arguably more equitable, but looks much worse to a general audience.

Which option would be less of a downgrade?

[Rulesman]

Getting it right is what one should be concerned with, not which is the lesser option on a downgrade. I still believe they should have shut down the play that earned the first down,
Enforce the penalty AND Zap 10.  Game over.

[BoBo]

I agree ^^^^^

[yarnnelg]

While being interviewed, Les Miles was asked if he was aware that a flag had been thrown on the last play.
It didn't matter, time had expired.
Any chance the crew discussed the penalized play and decided to go with an illegal shift and no 10 second run off because they would have been too embarassed to explain the foul was a "False start?" 10 second run off, game over? Sorry the wing didn't hammer on the whistle to stop the play? Then prayed that LSU couldn't get the snap off with one tick left?

Better yet, Auburn should stress to safeties "Thou shalt not let receivers free in the back of the endzone, behind you on the last play."

[bama_stripes]

Was Fournette not guilty of OPI on the non-play?  He was blocking a DB at the goal line.
(I admit to not knowing the D-I philosophy about such action at the end of the game)

[Morningrise]

Forget I said the word "downgrade," then. I know what the L should have done - but what should the R do? You're the R. That play happens. Something doesn't seem right about it. The clock stops with 0:01. Then the L comes up.

L: I have an illegal shift. Team A wasn't set.
You: Were they *ever* set?
L: No.
You: wut

So you get on the mic and say either...

a) Illegal shift, offense. Five yard penalty from the previous spot. Repeat 4th down. The clock will start on my ready signal.

or...

b) Prior to the previous snap: False start, offense. The players never came to a set position before the snap. The penalty for that dead-ball foul includes a ten-second runoff. The game is over.


What would you do? What *should* you do? What does your supervisor *want* you to do? And yes, what gets you d-wngr--ed the least? I feel like these are all the same question, frankly. I asked a few white hats in my association what they thought; I just figured I would ask the internet too.

[Joe Stack]

AR 7-1-2-IV:

Team A is in a no-huddle offense and is moving to the line when the ball is made ready for play. Although some players settle into their positions and stop, at least one player never stops and is still moving when the ball is snapped. RULING: Dead-ball foul: Illegal shift that converts to a false start. Team A never satisfied the one second rule before the snap. Officials should shut the play down and penalize Team A five yards.