Reply to thread

Message: [QUOTE="Orangezoo, post: 1256734, member: 237"] He actually maintained possession until he rolled over. The ball was pinned next to his helmet and then came loose and he then secured it before it hit the ground. When you read through it... the play falls in the cracks. So it is a judgment call vs clearly identified in the rule book. All year if its a judgment call with no sure fire evidence of being one way or the other the call stands as called on the field. Neither the process via the football move or the maintaining control language of the rules clearly apply to this call. Its somewhat stuck in between. It is one of those that seems it can't really be more than called as it is on the field given not really "fitting" the rulebook. Here is how it reads in the rulebook : [B]Article 3 Completed or Intercepted Pass.[/B] A player who makes a catch may advance the ball. A forward pass is complete (by the offense) or intercepted (by the defense) if a player, who is inbounds: (a) secures control of the ball in his hands or arms prior to the ball touching the ground; and (b) touches the ground inbounds with both feet or with any part of his body other than his hands ; and (c) maintains control of the ball long enough, after (a) and (b) have been fulfilled, to enable him to perform any act common to the game (i.e., maintaining control long enough to pitch it, pass it, advance with it, or avoid or ward off an opponent, etc.). Note 1: It is not necessary that he commit such an act, provided that he maintains control of the ball long enough to do so. Note 2: If a player has control of the ball, a slight movement of the ball will not be considered a loss of possession. He must lose control of the ball in order to rule that there has been a loss of possession. If the player loses the ball while simultaneously touching both feet or any part of his body other than his hands to the ground, or if there is any doubt that the acts were simultaneous, it is not a catch. [B]Item 1: Player Going to the Ground.[/B] If a player goes to the ground in the act of catching a pass (with or without contact by an opponent), he must maintain control of the ball throughout the process of contacting the ground, whether in the field of play or the end zone. If he loses control of the ball, and the ball touches the ground before he regains control, the pass is incomplete. If he regains control prior to the ball touching the ground, the pass is complete. [/QUOTE]

Verification: What is a Syracuse fan's favorite color?