Don will provide two services for my page: 1) He will keep us up-to-date on the latest rule changes affecting SEC football; 2) During the football season, if you are watching a game and an SEC official makes a call you have a question about, email it to me and Don will answer your question on my page.
Instructions: When you have a question for Don, email it directly to me (please make sure you state that it is a question for Don) and I will post it to my page. During the week, Don will be checking out my page and when he sees that he has a question, he will email me his answer and I will post it to my page. It's as simple as that.
If you want Don to speak at your function, email him at Don Shanks and he will get back with you.
01/04/00 Question from Paul - In the Peach Bowl I think I heard the television announcer say something about you cannot throw a ball carrier to the ground at or near the sideline. What is the right call? Clemson's players knocked #23 Butler for MSU about 20 feet up into the sidelines onto a piece of plywood that was covered with a banner. It was a no call, yet MSU got flagged for almost anything remotely considered roughing. Finally, did you see the roughing the punter on MSU that was a 15-yard penalty? Was it proper? Thanks so much.
01/03/00 Question from Michael - In a college game, team A is on offense. Receiver A1 goes down the sideline. Receiver A2 goes downfield and sets a pick on a defensive back B1, preventing B1 from covering receiver A1. The ball has not yet been thrown by the QB. The call was OPI. I thought the ball had to be in the air before the play is a legal pass play. This call would seem to prevent any downfield blocking, even on a running play. Can OPI occur before the pass is actually thrown?
01/08/00 Answer from Don - Offensive pass interference starts at the snap. It can only occur when a pass crosses the neutral zone. If the pass is caught behind the neutral zone then contact down the field is legal. Thanks for the question.
12/3/99 Question from Gene - How many separate crews of officials does the SEC have for football games? How many members are there in each crew?
12/13/99 Answer from Don - There are nine crews. A crew is made-up of seven officials on the field. Referee, Umpire, Linesman, Line Judge, Side Judge, Field Judge, and Back Judge. The eighth official is the alternate who is also the clock operator. Thanks for the question.
12/3/99 Question from Gene - During the Ole Miss/MSU game, an MSU defensive back, while attempting to intercept a ball, accidentally kicked it with his foot after it hit his hands and fell out. The ball wound up being intercepted by another MSU player before it touched the ground. What does the rule book say about this?
12/13/99 Answer from Don - Instead of saying kicked, say the leg struck the ball. This is incidental contact and would be disregarded. Thanks for the question.
12/3/99 Question from Mike - Don, in the Kentucky game I noticed that on punts, they lined both their wideouts on the same side of the field, but they both appeared to be on the line of scrimmage. Why would this not be considered ineligible man downfield, when they both left to cover immediately? Is there some special rule for punt situations?
12/13/99 Answer from Don - It would only be considered if a pass was attempted. This is why the officials must know who the ineligibles are on a scrimmage kick formation. Thanks for the question.
11/23/99 Question from Harper - Is it a foul if you call a time out and your team does not have any time outs remaining?
11/25/99 Answer from Don - It is not a foul. The officials just disregard it and the 25-second clock continues. What usually happens is the 25-second clock runs out and the team is charged with a delay of the game. Thanks for the question.
11/17/99 Question from Chris - It appears that when Pig Prather returned a punt to the Alabama 10 yard line, there was a holding call. Why did the officials spot the ball back in Miss. State's territory from the spot where Pig actually fielded the punt? Also, the play in the game where MSU completed a pass on third and eight to get a 1st down, after a brief officials conference, was overruled and the ruling by the officials was that Alabama had called a timeout prior to the snap of the ball thus nullifying our first down and the end result was that we didn't get a first down on the repeat of third down. Just curious to know the justification behind that call in such a critical juncture of the game.
11/25/99 Answer from Don - Rule 2, Section 25, Article 11, Post scrimmage Kick Spot: The post scrimmage kick spot is the spot where the kick ends. Team B retains the ball after penalty enforcement from the post scrimmage kick spot. Time Out: Anytime a player on the field request a timeout the officials will give it to him if it is before the snap.
11/17/99 Question from Kay - What is the rule concerning where an official can call a game? Is there a rule stating an official cannot call a game at a school within the state in which he resides?
11/25/99 Answer from Don - Officials can not work at schools that they attended or for coaches that they played for or with in college. Officials may choose not to work a game in a state or city that they reside in for personal reasons.
11/14/99 Question from Rex - I am an avid SEC football fan and a Mississippi State fan in particular. I have never had any problems with the officiating in the past, but this year it seems to have gotten out of control. Obvious calls are being missed and nit-picky calls that have never been heard of are coming out. I would like to know, during half time, are the officials critiqued on their first half performance? Thank you.
11/25/99 Answer from Don - The officials are not critiqued at half time. There is an Observer in the press box that is hired by the Southeastern Conference that will critique the officials after the game and forward that information to the Conference office. Coaches will send their game film and a list of any plays that they want to Conference office to review.
11/10/99 Question from Rob - Would you please explain the rule regarding crack-back blocks? During the MSU-UK game, MSU receiver Kelvin Love was called for a crack-back block on a running play which went around his side of the line. Love lined up wide on the line, then, after the snap, came back towards the middle of the field and blocked the UK outside linebacker. To me, it looked like the block was NOT in the back, and my understanding is that this type of block is only illegal if it is in the back. MSU was penalized 15 yards as a result of the play.
11/14/99 Answer from Don - Rule 7-1 Article 2e: Offensive players at the snap positioned more than seven yards in any direction from the middle lineman of the offensive formation or in motion toward the ball at the snap are prohibited from blocking below the waist toward the original position of the ball. In the play you described the wide receiver would have to block the defender in front and above the waist for it to be a legal block. Thanks for the question.
11/10/99 Question from Mike - I understand that you were the official that signaled time out on LSU's last play in the Alabama game. If that is correct, can you explain what happened because it sure looked like LSU was deprived of one last play. Thank you.
11/14/99 Answer from Don - First, let me say I was not the Official. It has been reported in a few papers around the South that it was me, but, as you know, they don't always get things right. I can't say any more about that because of The Commissioner's Regulations. I will tell you about our mechanics of putting the ball in play and you can be the judge.
All of our Referee's in the Conference take between 12 to 15 second to mark the ball ready for play. We do this so the coaches know how much time they have to get a play into the game. You take the 12 to 15 seconds plus the 25 seconds you are given to put the ball in play and this gives each team about 35 to 40 seconds. We do this on every play. It's done this way from the first play of the game to the last play of the game. We never hurry this mechanics. When the QB was downed there was 9 seconds left on the game clock. Thanks for the question.
11/08/99 Question from R. - If a bad exchange occurs on a field goal attempt on 3rd down can the holder spike the ball and the team have another attempt?
11/14/99 Answer from Don - If by " bad exchange " you mean that the ball strikes the ground, then the spiking of the ball would be intentionally grounding. If the holder fields the ball cleanly he could spike the ball.
11/08/99 Question from John - Can you tell me if there is now or ever was a rule that allowed the receiving team on a kickoff to pass the ball? Thank You.
11/14/99 Answer from Don - Rule 7-2 Article 1: Backward Pass. During a live ball a runner may hand or pass the ball backward at any time, except to throw the ball out of bounds intentionally to conserve time. This would include a free kick. I'm not aware of any rule that ever allowed a forward pass on the kick-off.
11/04/99 Question from Ken - Why is it illegal for a defender to put his hands on an offensive players face mask, but a running back can stiff arm a defender in the face mask and even grab the face mask and never get called for it?
11/14/99 Answer from Don - It is not illegal for a player to, as you say, "put" his hand on a facemask. It is illegal for any player to grasp, twist, or turn the facemask. A runner has the same restrictions as any other player. He can stiff-arm as long as he doesn't grasp, twist, or turn the facemask.
11/04/99 Question from Andy - Exactly what is a 'free kick' such as after a safety? I noticed in the LSU game, they kicked from the 20, but used a tee. I thought they could not use one, what gives?
11/10/99 Answer from Don - Free kick is the term that we use to kick the ball at the start of each half and follows each try or field goal. It must be a place kick or a drop kick. After a safety the kicking team has the option of using the place kick, drop kick, or punting the ball. Thanks for the question.
11/01/99 Question from Richard - Could you please comment on the following situation? Team A leads Team B 7-6 with 5 seconds left on the clock. Team A is kicking off to Team B. Team B receives the kickoff and returns the ball for a touchdown. However, team B is flagged for an illegal block at the Team A 20 yard line. No time is left on the clock. Team A has no choice but to accept the penalty and give Team B the ball at about the 30 yard line with no time on the clock and one untrimmed play. Team B kicks a field goal and wins the game. Team B is, in effect, benefiting from their own penalty. Is this a correct ruling? I believe something similar happened in a USM game. Is this just a quirk in the rules?
11/03/99 Answer from Don - The ruling on the play you described is correct. It's covered in rule 3, Article 3-a, extension of periods. A period shall be extended until a down (other than a try), free from live-ball fouls, has been played when a penalty is accepted for a live-ball foul(s) not penalized as a dead-ball foul that occurs during a down in which time expires. The only thing that could happen to Team B that would cause them to lose the game is the kick return for a touchdown. Hopefully they will kick the ball on the ground not giving Team A a chance to return it. Thanks for the question.
10/26/99 Question from Angel - Aren't the halftime performers (bands, cheerleaders, etc) allowed to stay on the field for the entire halftime? Is there a rule against a football player coming back out prior to the end of halftime and practicing on the field while the band is playing?
10/25/99 Question from David - Is there a rule that regulates when teams may come out on the field for warmups? During the MSU-LSU halftime some players for LSU came out several minutes before the halftime show and proceeded to warmup in the middle of the halftime show.
11/01/99 Answer from Don - There is no written rule. But, there is a gentleman's agreement against stuff like what happened at the game. The Commissioner is going to bring it up when he meets with the AD's in December. When the half ends the officials put 20 minutes on the game clock. They go and get the captains with 5 minutes left and bring them to mid-field for the second half decision. That is done 3 minutes prior to kick-off. The teams will come out with about 3 minutes before kick-off. It is the home team's responsibility to see that the field is clear 3 three minutes before the second half kick-off. Thanks for the question.
10/18/99 Question from Charlie - Team A lines up two receivers on the left and one receiver on the right. The intended receiver is the one out on the left (A1). At the snap, the inside receiver on the left (A2) side cuts out to defender B1 and starts blocking him. The outside receiver (A1) cuts under the inside receiver (A2) and becomes free over the middle. Is it illegal for the inside receiver (A2) to block B1 just off (two yards or so) the line of scrimmage before the ball is thrown?
Thanks for your help.
10/19/99 Answer from Don Shanks - Rule 7-3. Art.8b: Offensive pass interference by a Team A player beyond the neutral zone during a legal forward pass play in which the forward pass crosses the neutral zone is contact that interferes with a Team B eligible player. "It is the responsibility of the offensive (Team A) player to avoid the opponents(Team B)". Hope this answers your question. Thanks
10/12/99 Question from Harold - Can a defensive player be charged with roughing the passer if he has committed himself to a tackle or hit on the quarterback and cannot stop himself as in a leap prior to the quarterback having passed or handed off the ball? Just what is the rule on that?
10/13/99 Answer from Don Shanks - In the SEC our referee's use the two step rule. If a rusher is within two steps of the QB it's not a foul. The exception would be a blow to the head of the QB. This will always be a roughing foul and flagrant offenders will be disqualified. All the head coaches in the conference want the QB's protected. Thanks for the question.
9/14/99 Question from Peyton - I seem to remember that at one time a touchdown could not be scored if it resulted from a forward fumble. There was such a fumble in the Notre Dame - Michigan game, and it was ruled, at first, a touchdown, then that ruling was reversed and the ball carrier was declared down before the fumble. What is the present rule regarding a forward fumble into the end zone when the fumble is recovered by a member of the team on offense?
09/20/99 Answer from Don Shanks
Rule 7-2 Article 2. Backward pass or fumble may be caught or recovered by any inbound player.
If recovered by the fumbling or passing team, the ball continues in play. Exception: When on fourth down, before a change of team possession, a Team A fumble is recovered in advance of the fumble by a team A player other than the fumbler, the ball is dead and returned to the spot of the fumble. If the fumble is recovered behind the spot of the fumble by a Team A player other than the Team A fumbler, the ball is dead at that spot.
Article 4.b. when a fumble is out of bounds in advance of the spot of the fumble, the ball is returned to the fumbling team at the spot of the fumble. Fumbles out of bounds behind the spot of the fumble belong to the fumbling team at the out-of-bounds spot. If a fumble is out of bounds behind a goal line, it is a touchback or a safety.
EXAMPLE: Team A #34 going in for a TD fumbles the ball on the two-yard line. 1-The ball goes into the end zone and is recovered by B #88. 2-Ball goes through and out the back of the end zone. 3-Ball is recovered by Teammate # 74 in the end zone. 4-It is fourth down when #34 fumbles into the end zone and he recovers his own fumble. 5-It is fourth down and teammate #74 recovers the ball in the end zone.
ANSWERS:
1-Touchback, B 1st and 10 at the 20 yard line.
2-Touchback, B 1st and 10 at the 20 yard line.
3-Touchdown
4-Touchdown
5-Team B ball at the spot of the fumble. B 1st and 10 at two yard line.
Thanks for the question.
08/30/99 Questions from Lee - In Saturday's Texas/NC State game, the Texas punt return man called for a fair catch but muffed the ball at about the 15, he chased the ball, scooped it up at the 2, his momentum carried him into the end zone as he attempted to make a "U Turn" and he turned up field. He ran past 2 defenders and then stepped out of bounds at the 10 with his right foot just as he was about to be hit by a defender who had already committed. A flag was thrown for the out of bounds hit! After the smoke cleared, Texas received the ball at about the 18 or 20.
My questions are: Where should Texas have had the ball? Why did the official team come up with an explanation that the muffed punt should have been blown dead? The punt shouldn't have been advanced should it? Shouldn't Texas have gotten a 5-yard "delay of game penalty" for advancing the ball? Also, why did NC State get a 15 yard penalty for an out of bounds hit when the return man was clearly advancing the ball and his left foot was still in bounds at the time of the hit? Thank you.
09/01/99 Answer from Don Shanks - Rule2/7 Art.1.c: A valid, invalid or illegal fair catch signal deprives the receiving team of the opportunity to advance the ball, and the ball is declared dead at the spot of the catch or recovery or at the spot of the foul if the catch precedes the signal.
Rule3/4 Art.2b-1: Deliberately advancing the ball after it is dead is Illegal delay of the game. Penalty: Five yards from the succeeding spot.
Rule9/1 Art.2-h. : No opponent shall tackle or block the runner when he is clearly out of bounds or throw him to the ground after the ball becomes dead. Penalty: 15 yards from the basic spot or succeeding spot for dead ball fouls and first down for Team B fouls if the first down is not in conflict with other rules.
The receiver gave a valid or invalid fair catch signal, then muffed the ball, and then recovered it at the two-yard line. It should have been blown dead at that point. His advancing of the ball was an illegal delay and he has no protection from being hit or tackled legally. He was clearly out of bounds when he was tackled!
Penalty: They are administered in order of occurrence. First, the five yards for delay (half the distance to the goal). From the two to the one. Then 15 yards for the late hit. It would go from the one to the 16-yard line. 1st and ten for team B (Texas). Good question!
07/05/99 Question from Mike - I am a 7-year football official at the high school level. What advice do you have for me as far as communicating with coaches on the sideline? What is the best technique for handling the coach that " goes nuts" over a call? Thanks for any comments you might have.
07/11/99 Answer from Don Shanks - Communicating with the coaches on the sidelines is a tough question to answer in print. I could talk about this for hours. There are so many different situations that we are faced with during the course of a game. First, and most important is you can never allow yourself to get into a confrontation with a coach! You have to always be the Professional. They are going to get excited during the game. They are going to question some of the calls during a game; it is their job.
Before the kick-off you introduce yourself to the head coach. Tell him your name and the position you are working. You should work with your back to the sideline and keep moving as much as you can. It's hard to talk to a moving target. Your concentration should be focused on what is going on the field. If you hear what is being said behind you, then you are not doing your job.
During a timeout is when you can have a conversation with the coach if needed. If he wants to know about a play or penalty, get him that information. But never let that interfere with your officiating.
Last, always remember the only friends you have on the field are those other guys in black and white stripes, and that yellow flag you have in your pocket. That should always be the last resort! In over 20 years in the SEC I've only had one flag on a coach. And that was in my younger days. If you understand what your job and mission is then you should have very little trouble with the coaches.
I've just covered a few of the many situations you will have on the sidelines after you officiate long enough, but it's a start. The season is just around the corner. Hope you have a good one. Thanks for the question.