Recovering Onside Kickoffs (UNC/LSU game)

[CoachHec]

Last nights UNC/LSU game had an onside kick that was recovered by kicking team (UNC). Brent and Herbie were going nuts because:

1) UNC didn't give the LSU frontline to recover the onside kick as UNC hit them before the ball got to them on the ground,
2) The ball didn't travel 10 yards before the ball reached the contact made by UNC on LSU players.

Obviously, I KNOW you can't hit the returner as he's trying to catch the ball in the air. But correct me if I'm wrong: I thought the rule was that the KO team can hit anyone on the return team as before the ball got to KO Return team long as the ball was kicked on the ground.

[jkoester]

I think, because I'm too lazy to look, that NCAA rules say that you cannot hit anyone on the return team until the ball goes 10 yards or they touch it.  We play under NCAA rules here in MA, and I remember I couldn't run certain onsides kickoffs because of that.

I thought it was a bad call, that UNC was illegal on that one based on my recollection.  I'll try to find the rule, I have the NCAA rulebook around here somewhere...

[jkoester]

Found it in the 2009 NCAA rule book.

Team A is the kicking team.

"No Team A player may block an opponent until Team A is eligible to touch a
free-kicked ball"

Then:

"ARTICLE 3. a. No Team A player may touch a free-kicked ball until after:
1. It touches a Team B player (Exception: Rules 6-1-4 and 6-5-1-b);
2. It breaks the plane of and remains beyond Team B’s restraining line
(Exception: Rule 6-4-1) (A.R. 2-11-5-I); or
3. It touches any player, the ground, an official or anything beyond Team B’s
restraining line.
Thereafter, all players of Team A become eligible to touch, recover or catch the
kick"

So, the way I read that, kicking team can't hit the receiving team until the ball goes 10 yards and/or the receiving team touches the ball.

[mahonz]

The LSU player took a half step forward placing him 9.3 yards away from the kicking team and touched the football a split second before that UNC player hit him. Then another UNC player recovers the ball. Miles is probably less upset today and Brent must go !

Legal play that did require a booth review....it was really close.

But to answer your question...John is correct. You cannot hit a KOR player until the football has traveled 10 yards in the air or on the ground or before the receiving team touches the ball if it does not travel 10 yards.

Fun 4th quarter.  Wish they had pulled off the upset.

Coach Mike

[Belebuch]

I live in LA -Gator fan- I wish they did also.
My Gators didnt look great either but hopefully Urban gets em up to speed.

Tiger fans are pretty uneasy since yesterday. Its all ive heard at work all night.

[KFMagee]

The LSU player took a half step forward placing him 9.3 yards away from the kicking team and touched the football a split second before that UNC player hit him.

Mike - I think THAT was the reason for the booth review... and I didn't see it that way... I saw the #49 player touch the LSU guy a fraction before the ball touched his hands...   

LSU has a TON of team skill speed (#10 and #7 make Deion Sanders look like "granny")... but their QB sucks.  His play alone will cost that team at least two games this year.

[jkoester]

For what it's worth, I thought it was pretty clear that the player hit before the football did, but hey, that's people for you.

And if it was that close, can't overturn the call on the field...

Not to mention, I have no idea what standard the college game applies, because last year I recall some HORRIBLE calls that were very clear on replay, and they didn't overturn.  Seems like they apply some impossible standard to overturn...

[Michael]

Was the timing of the hit even reviewable?

I imagine the question of who touched the ball first, and where it was touched, in relation to the ten-yard rule, were both reviewable, but the timing of the hit wasn't.

If a catch on the sideline is reviewed to see if the receiver got a foot down, and the ref sees pass interference on the review, there's nothing he can do about it, as far as I know.

As long as we're on the subject of this weekend's college games, was anyone else wondering why Ole Miss took 2rd and 15 rather than 3rd and 10 for Jacksonville State on the last drive?

[mahonz]

Glad I didnt have to make that review call.

I thought it touches his foot right as #49 hit him high...then hurt himself in the process.

That kinda hustle probably influenced the guy in the booth !

Had it not hit his foot he probably gets a clean grab.

I agree with John though...so close dont over ride the crew on the field.

Coach Mike

[CoachHec]

Thanks for the responses fellas. Now would it be the same under NFHS rules?