Blocking Below the Waist

[Dr.G]

Was watching UVA vs. USC. UVA is in scrimmage kick formation. The kicker receives the snap. There were 3 up-backs as blockers. Two up-backs cut the 2 defensive players rushing the kicker. The other up-back releases and the kicker throws a pass to him behind the LOS.
The umpire throws a flag for a block below the waist on the up-backs. My question is, was the flag for block below the waist the right call? The rule book states in 9-1-2e4 that during a down in which there is a scrimmage kick, blocking below the waist is prohibited. My interpretation is since there was no scrimmage kick there should have been no foul.

[wdozier]

I think they were backs and within the tackle box.  Looks like a missed call.

[TXMike]

Ouch!  Looks like they discussed at length but still missed it.  The R announcement that the foul was against the "kicking" team is pretty telling.  Interesting body language in the crew discussion.

[yt=425,350]TGImQ3AbhZo[/yt]

[TxSkyBolt]

Somebodies gettin' down graded 

It's been said many times, but don't these know NOTHING commentators make you absolutely sick to your stomach?

[VaBackJudge]

http://www.pac-10.org/News/tabid/863/Article/134504/pac-10-penalizes-game-officials-over-virginia-usc-game.aspx

Pac-10 Penalizes Game Officials Over Virginia-USC Game

Updated 9/13/2010

WALNUT CREEK, Calif.--The Pac-10 has disciplined the officials involved in last Saturday’s Virginia-USC football game for failure to apply the playing rules correctly, Commissioner Larry Scott announced today. Those officials involved in making the call have been reprimanded and will be removed from a future game assignment.

The officials misapplied rules for blocking below the waist on a Virginia fake punt in the second quarter. According to the playing rules, blocking below the waist anywhere on the field by either team is illegal if the offense is lined up in a scrimmage kick formation, unless a kick is not made.

“The officials recognized the mistake after the fact and apologized to the Virginia coaching staff. We know mistakes are made in games, but we will not tolerate our officials misinterpreting the rules,” Scott said.

“We believe the reprimand and removal from a future assignment are appropriate,” Scott concluded.

- Pac-10 -

[Headlinesman]

WOW!  Why not, after meaningful dialogue, just admit the mistake and fix it while you can?  None of our prides should be bigger than getting it right.

[TXMike]

If you don't know you booted it till halftime when you get the rulebook and see the 159 text messages on your phones from your buddies telling you you blew it, it is too late

[Reff54]

  There is a funny side to this play....   watching the receiver run downfield....and watch the apparent return man  #83 come up and try to cut his legs out from under him...instead of trying to tackle him.   It's obvious Viginia players are better at blocking below the waist  than USC players are.

[Welpe]

On a related topic, I've heard some mention that by philosophy, a block below the waist that is committed before a scrimmage kick is made should not be called.  Is this true?  I had thought that we should flag the block once the kick is made.

[NVFOA_Ump]

On a related topic, I've heard some mention that by philosophy, a block below the waist that is committed before a scrimmage kick is made should not be called.  Is this true?  I had thought that we should flag the block once the kick is made.

From past discussions I believe that the recommended mechanic on a 4th down play when a scrimmage kick "is obvious" is that we take note of the BBW but hold the flag until the kick is actually made.  No kick, no subsequent flag.  If the block occurs anytime after the snap and there is an actual legal kick then it is a BBW foul.  There's no "free one" if the block occurs before the subsequent kick.

If we flag it immediately (as in the case play here), then we should be waving off the flag.