tommyo@ihuxw.UUCP (Tom O`Connor) (10/18/83)
While watching last night`s slugfest between G.B. and Wash., my brother, father and I got into a friendly argument about the rules. In the "You Make the Call" segment, it was stated that if a team misses a field goal and the defensive team catches the ball in the endzone, it could run it out instead of taking the ball on the 20 or the line of scrimmage, whichever is father. Well, Dad took it one step further. He said that even if a team MAKES a field goal, the other team can catch the ball and run it back. We reminded him that this would most lkely mean the return man would have to be out of the endzone (behind the uprights), thus out of bounds and not eligible to run the ball back. He insisted that as long he was between the sidelines that it was o.k. Well, a small wager was placed, and now we need a reliable source to settle the matter. Can anyone answer the question, and even better, cite a source? Tom O`Connor P.S. What a game! Almost 100 pts. and no Cosell !!!!
halle1@houxz.UUCP (10/19/83)
Tom, it seems either your Dad can't keep up with the times, or he really likes Canadian football. It seems like he's describing the situation for a rouge. In CF, if a kick goes into the end zone, which is much larger than in the American game, it must be returned, or else the kicking team gets one point. (Could the Northern Neighbors please clarify, correct, and/or expand on this point?) In American football, once a score is made, the clock stops. Thus play is dead. The ball cannot be advanced. If the ball was kicked over present goalposts, it's out of the field anyway. If it was kicked over the posts when they were on the goal line, even though it might be within the playing field, the ball is dead. As for running out a miss, if the runner is not careful, he could be caught for a safety, fumble the ball back, or lose it for a touchdown. If he doesn't return it to the line of scrimmage, it will be placed at the line of scrimmage. (That is a bad rule I feel. If he choses to run it back, he should take the consequences. That should not apply on a block.) By the way, did you know that a team used to be able to score a field goal on a kick off?
woods@hao.UUCP (Greg Woods) (10/20/83)
don't think this was ever legal and I'm sure I never
saw it happen. However, on that I could be wrong. I have seen *missed* field
goals returned, especially before they changed the rule where a missed
field goal was a touchback. Then, it was not uncommon for field goal
attempts to be made from outside the 50 yard line. In that case it was
necessary to have a return man back there to prevent the kicking team
from recovering the free ball for a touchdown.
GREG
--
{ucbvax!hplabs | allegra!nbires | decvax!brl-bmd | harpo!seismo | ihnp4!kpno}
!hao!woods