Quote from: Atlanta Blue on Yesterday at 05:47:16 PM
Call WITH the book, not BY the book.
Unbelievable.
What does that even mean?
For the uninitiated, it means that a good official realizes that what the book says and what it means aren’t always the same thing. A good official knows when an action rises to the level of a foul, and when good officiating can control thins better than a flag.
Is it a foul or isn't it? That is the only thing which matters...
Not that simple. Is every hold by an offensive lineman a foul? Is every contact by a DB pass interference? Of course not. A good official realizes the context of the action and can determine if the action rises to the level of the foul.
Reread the memo by Rogers Redding (you have read the memo, right?):
•Remember that the game is one of high emotion, played by gifted teenagers who are affirmed by playing a game at which they are exceptionally talented.
•Do not be overly technical in applying this rule.
•Do allow for brief spontaneous emotional reactions at the end of a play.
•Beyond the brief, spontaneous bursts of energy, officials should flag those acts that are clearly prolonged, self-congratulatory, and that make a mockery of the game.
Note that most if not all of these actions fall outside the category of brief, spontaneous outbursts. Rather, they present themselves as taunting, self-glorification, demeaning to opponents, or showing disrespect to the opponents and the game.
This kid’s single salute to his own fans was a sign of respect to them. It was brief, spontaneous, emotional at the end of the play. It was not taunting, self-glorifying, demeaning to an opponent, or showing disrespect to the opponent or the game.
Sounds like exactly the kind of thing that RR said leave alone. And it sounds exactly like Rogers’ reaction when one of his own crews called a similar foul in the UGA-LSU game last year: he announced publicly that the crew was wrong to flag such actions.
not any of that cryptic gibberish you are saying.
If that sentence is cryptic, you’re in the wrong business. It’s used in more training classes than you have probably taken. It was first taught to me by a wise official over 40 years ago.
So officials calling fouls for things which they are instructed to call fouls for means they are interjecting themselves into the game...
Reread Redding’s memo, and his LSU ruling from last year. The officials were NOT instructed to call fouls for things like this. They are expected to show good judgment. This wasn’t.
If the official thought it was so bad, get in front of the kid, tell him to knock it off, and guide him back to his bench. But keep the flag in your pocket.
Quote from: blindref757 on Yesterday at 06:28:07 PM
In a bowl game, I just can't understand making that call.
Of course, what is and is not a foul changes in bowl games
You are correct, it shouldn’t have been a foul in any game.
Kid drops the ball and fist pumps the crowd once or twice. Foul? Why is it foul if it’s a salute instead of a fist pump? And suppose it’s Army that just scored? Salutes to their commanding officer standing in the end line – that a foul too?
Quote from: blindref757 on Yesterday at 06:28:07 PM
Last night in the OK St vs AZ game, the Blackmon kid caught a 70 yarder on the sideline and jogged across the field at the 1yd line and stepped into the end zone...then went and practically did a Lambeau Leap. The B followed him all the way to the wall and talked him down.
Sounds like it should be a foul.
The leap, quite possibly. But the official understood the situation more than the letter of rulebook.
Quote from: blindref757 on Yesterday at 06:28:07 PM
That's a lot better outcome than what we witnessed today.
Because not calling a foul is always better than calling a foul, wouldn't want to risk making anyone upset because they didn't like your call.
It’s got nothing to do with making anyone upset. It has everything to do with knowing the role of the official, and that his job is to adjudicate the game fairly, which doesn’t mean technically.
As I learned long ago: it’s better to keep one’s mouth shut and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.
Same thing here: It’s better to not call a foul and be questioned if you were managing the game well that to call one and prove you weren’t.
In every sport I have worked, and it’s been a few, the upper level officials don’t always know the rules better, and they don’t always have better judgment. But the upper levels of officials ALWAYS have better game management skills.
