Running the box last night

[Roscoe]

Here in Alabama all playoff game chain crews are officials to ensure mistakes are minimal. Well I was on the box and there was a long pass down field for a first down. I didn't see any flags and waited for my H to give me the first down signal. He gave the signal and I took off running. Then the ball boy came from behind the players and walked right in front of me and we collided. I fell straight on my face, I've been an official for 3 years. I never thought my first contact would be with the ball boy! ha!

[clearwall]

I was running the box last night as well and we had a funny thing happen as well. Same situation, long TD run and we waited for the H to signal. He never did, so we just took off running because the R had signaled the first down and the offense was looking to hurry up. As we were hauling down the field, the chains were trailing me and running down the sideline. The coaches were out on the field calling the play in, and as they came back, one of them stepped on the chain. It yanked the yard marker out of the guy in front and the one in back fell over the coach. . Ended up having to set the chains on second down due to this.

[Rulesman]

Here in Alabama all playoff game chain crews are officials to ensure mistakes are minimal.

Does Alabama use officials on the game and play clocks, too, for playoff games?

[GoodScout]

Does Alabama use officials on the game and play clocks, too, for playoff games?

I believe Alabama is like Georgia, Tennessee and other God-fearing football states that have officials run clocks for ALL regular season and playoff varsity games.   

[Roscoe]

Does Alabama use officials on the game and play clocks, too, for playoff games?

Yes, all varsity contest ECO and 25-sec are run by officials.

[bama_stripes]

I was running the box last night as well and we had a funny thing happen as well. Same situation, long TD run and we waited for the H to signal. He never did, so we just took off running because the R had signaled the first down and the offense was looking to hurry up. As we were hauling down the field, the chains were trailing me and running down the sideline. The coaches were out on the field calling the play in, and as they came back, one of them stepped on the chain. It yanked the yard marker out of the guy in front and the one in back fell over the coach. . Ended up having to set the chains on second down due to this.

As a white hat, I never hit the RFP until the box is set and the chains are at least on their way.

Coaches out on the field?  What did you do after the 15-yard walkoff?

[clearwall]

Coaches out on the field?  What did you do after the 15-yard walkoff?

Dont want to out the fellow officials, but suffice to say, they weren't very good. Never dropped a sideline flag the whole game

[James]

I has a similar box issue the one game I worked for the NFL Europe (as chain crew - way off being on the field for that level!)
Only difference was that it was an NFL player I bumped. Neither of us went down, but I had to listen to a big pro athlete in full football pads complain to being run into... What a wimp.