Clock on Free Kick Fair Catch

[Andrew McCarthy]

Syracuse vs. South Florida.  1:21 left in the first half after a Syracuse field goal.  Kickoff is high and short and a fair catch is called for and made by South Florida.

Clock never started on the play.  Officials come together and referee announces that the clock should be set to 1:20.

Does anyone have anything in writing (rules/interpretation/philosophy) regarding this procedure?  What if there was 0:01 on the clock prior to the kickoff- game over?

Also, a similar situation where Team B recovers an untouched free kick while on his knees- same philosophy there?

[Kalle]

There are officials, and I guess even some supervisors, who think that as touching precedes possession, the clock should always be run for one second on kickoffs caught or recovered in the field of play. I personally think they are wrong. Anybody want to send this play to RR for a ruling?

[El Macman]

In one of the NCAA Play Situation Bulletins in the past 4 or 5 years, the specific play regarding a grounded player recovering a free kick is addressed, and the clock does NOT run. It would be no different for a fair catch, or legal catch by B, of a free kick.

[Andrew McCarthy]

In one of the NCAA Play Situation Bulletins in the past 4 or 5 years, the specific play regarding a grounded player recovering a free kick is addressed, and the clock does NOT run. It would be no different for a fair catch, or legal catch by B, of a free kick.

I found it regarding a fair catch.  2007 Play Situations #3, play #3...

http://www.refstripes.com/forum/index.php?topic=2990.0