Would it be better to put up the stop sign to the U to hold the snap until all officials are in position?
Sure, if I didn't think he was going to get there. But I knew he would, so I didn't. What's fair for both teams? Team A didn't substitute - their kicker and their holder are their running back and QB, respectively. After the RFP signal, they took an initial formation with both of them standing in positions that could just as easily have been a 'shotgun.' When they signaled, the team moved to field goal positions. To hold the snap at that point would be a disservice to one team or the other. If we hold the snap, but not the play clock, then Team A might get hit with a delay, through no fault of theirs. If we hold the snap AND the play clock (pump it up), then Team A gets to take extra time to which they really aren't entitled, and Team B doesn't get to have the possibility of getting a Team A delay foul, that would have taken A out of field goal position, again, through no fault of theirs.
Our B was there, and he could have ruled on it, unilaterally, if needed. The rules don't mandate that the game officials must be in their optimum positions when the ball is put in play. After all, when Team A fakes a punt or a field goal attempt, and runs/passes from that, we aren't going to be in optimum positions, either. We don't stop play to allow the L and B (or B, F and S) to get into more optimum positions. This would be no different, although there was clearly enough time for our L to make the adjustment to the best officiating positions for the resulting field goal attempt. I know I said "just before the snap," but he had ample time to get to his position and be set before the snap.
We got 'er done. B
L
