Clock Status

[JasonTX]

4th and 10 from the A-30.  Team B is losing by 3 points with 45 seconds to go in the 4th quarter and the game clock is running.  Neither team has any timeouts remaining.  Team A lines up in a bizarre formation.  The team B coach frantically gets the L's attention and is calling for a timeout.  The L obliges and signals timeout and the clock stops at 30 seconds.  Game clock and play clock? 

(I get the first punch on the L) 

[Punter]

This is not a good situation.  There is no zap-10 because this is not a foul.  You need to restore order and get the clock restarted ASAP probably will end up on the ready.  However, there is no specific rule coverage that I am aware of for this.  You just need to get that clock restarted so you can get out of there quick.  Nothing good is going to happen after an error like that.

[ElvisLives]

Well, B gained very little with the L’s error. Team A would have had to snap by 15 seconds. With luck, B could have prevented A from earning a new series, and have taken possession with some 5 to 10 seconds remaining, with a chance to attempt a field goal to tie the game.
As it is, the play clock will be set to 25 seconds, and both the play clock and game clock will start on the Referee’s signal. Team A can let the game clock run down to 5 seconds, snap the ball, and run around for 5 seconds and win the game.

And then a little ‘re-training’ with the Line Judge.

[Snapper]

The play doesn't explicitly state it, but there was probably a 40 second play clock going with 45 seconds on the game clock.  So A would have had to snap by 5 seconds left on the game clock.  Since there is now 30 seconds on the game clock, then starting the game clock and having a 25 second play clock still results in A having to snap by 5 seconds left on the game clock.

So in the stated play, after some explanations, they can proceed with doing that.  RFP and a 25 sec play clock.

One hopes that the other officials were sharp enough to know that the original play clock started with 45 seconds, because then they will be able to figure out that what they are doing is fair.  And it's going to be easier to convince the coaches as well if the officials have that positive knowledge.  It's not a great situation, but at least they can make it as fair as possible.

[ElvisLives]

We need to get back on the field. I simply forgot about the 40 second clock. (Reverting to my first 35 years, when all we had was the 25.)

[JasonTX]

Now if we get that 'timeout' at 20 seconds we better find the nearest security person and hope he has a few buddies.

[bossman72]

I would go rogue against the rulebook and reset the play clock to whatever it was when we killed it.  That's just me.

[Navcom]

could you treat it as an inadvertent whistle?

[Punter]

No it is nothing.  You are supposed to ignore the request. 

[ElvisLives]

I would go rogue against the rulebook and reset the play clock to whatever it was when we killed it.  That's just me.

I truly believe every coordinator in the country would support you, if you did (using 3-4-3). Not at all a stretch to consider this to be an obviously unfair tactic to conserve time. While our L may have had a brain fart regarding time outs used, I would like to think that the HC had been duly notified that his time outs had been exhausted. Thus, his request for a time out is outside the letter of the rules, as well as the bounds of sportsmanship. He knew better. So, to set the play clock to what it read when it was stopped and restart both clocks would be totally fair to both teams.
As others have pointed out, though, setting the play clock to 25 accomplishes same goal (in this case).

[ElvisLives]

could you treat it as an inadvertent whistle?

The ball has to be alive to have an inadvertent whistle, so, no, that rule really can’t be applied. But 3-4-3 sure can.

[Navcom]

what game was this? DIII, DII ? any video?

[JasonTX]

what game was this? DIII, DII ? any video?

Not a real game.   Only in my imagination.

[TxBJ]

Excellent. Be prepared before it happens!