Punt return blown dead after "stay away" signal by returner - OSU/Baylor

[OkieZebra]

In the second quarter of the OSU v. Baylor game, the OSU returner did the "Peter/stay away from the punt" signal. 

The ball then took a good bounce and he picked it up and tried to run with it, only for the back judge to blow it dead. Does this qualify as an invalid fair catch signal in NCAA rules? He definitely didn't do a fair catch signal before the "keep away call".

[youngB]

Yes

[InsideTheStripes]

Link to the video:

[Kalle]

Any waving signal by team B during a kick is either a valid or an invalid fair catch signal and will cause the ball to become dead when it is possessed by any player.

[maven]

Any waving signal by team B during a kick is either a valid or an invalid fair catch signal and will cause the ball to become dead when it is possessed by any player.

And it's been that way for a while now. The players will probably catch on after another couple seasons.

[Diablo]

AR 6-5-3-V    Team A’s scrimmage kick is rolling beyond the neutral zone when B17 alerts his teammates to stay away from the ball by a “get away” signal. RULING: Invalid signal. The ball is dead by rule when either team recovers.

[StudyingFutureZebra]

Correct call. I remember a few years back a game between LSU and Ole Miss where the punt returner had made that signal, fielded the ball (no whistle) and returned it for a touchdown, before the officials corrected the situation, to the amazement of the CBS Sports announcers who didn't know the rule.

[TxSkyBolt]

... to the amazement of the CBS Sports announcers who didn't know the rule.

You're kidding me.

[Sonofanump]

I like how the return person demonstrates the signal again for the BJ.  The BJ shakes his head to acknowledge.  Our BJ seeks our the punt return guys in pre-game.  He reviewes get away signals and shading the eyes with them.

[ljudge]

I like how the return person demonstrates the signal again for the BJ.  The BJ shakes his head to acknowledge.  Our BJ seeks our the punt return guys in pre-game.  He reviewes get away signals and shading the eyes with them.

I'm a back judge now in NCAA and do the same exact thing.  I tell them if they want to give a fair catch signal they need to "make sure your girlfriend in the 18th row knows you intend to fair catch the football."  I go on to tell them that if they give an invalid FC and the ball hits off their pads they can be "lit up" (of course so long as it's not a personal foul).  It's an attention getter and it goes a long way.  I have been thanked numerous times by special teams coordinators and head coaches for doing this.  The kids appreciate it too.  I had one school a couple of times this year and a kid comes up to ME during pre-game saying "I know, I know my girlfriend needs to see FC signals."  He got the message!

[OkieZebra]

Just happened in the Iron Bowl and commentators had no idea what they were talking about, until they just got a phone call from the head of SEC officials and retracted their 'ruling' of bad call.

[Rulesman]

Just happened in the Iron Bowl and commentators had no idea what they were talking about, until they just got a phone call from the head of SEC officials and retracted their 'ruling' of bad call.

And I'll bet Steve Shaw was fuming when he heard it, too. These two guys broadcast SEC games every week on CBS.