Not quite sure Covey did not fair catch that punt.

[Spjegutes]

after watching it in slow mow I think Covey made a motion for fair catch see video and snap I took of that play

http://tinypic.com/m/j16j29/2

https://vine.co/u/1261114312060547072

• This topic was modified 9 years, 2 months ago by Spjegutes.
• This topic was modified 9 years, 2 months ago by Spjegutes.
• This topic was modified 9 years, 2 months ago by Spjegutes.
• This topic was modified 9 years, 2 months ago by Spjegutes.
• This topic was modified 9 years, 2 months ago by Spjegutes.
• This topic was modified 9 years, 2 months ago by Spjegutes.

[Hockeybeard]

I think that is a reaction to changing directions…he moved forward and angled towards the sideline, and then made a couple big hops back – I think his arm is just raising in response to shiftin weight backwards.

A still picture does not do it justice.

[Spjegutes]

I agree on the still picture watch the video link

• This reply was modified 9 years, 2 months ago by Spjegutes.

[TheJuggernaut]

Luckily the back judge is watching Hobbs catch the ball, instead of keeping his eyes on Covey.

[UteStuckInSeattle]

It could certainly be interpreted as a fair catch signal. Luckily it wasn’t.

Given how things were going for us in that game, we probably still would have driven and scored.

[Anonymous]

Two touchdowns called back ok so Utah wins by 28 instead. The false start no call and fair catch sign.

[GadValleyUte]

From that rear angle it looks like the arm goes over his head, but on the lateral angle it looks like it goes in from of him to me. He might have gotten away with something. The announcers said it didn’t look like it to them. Also what would happen if we signaled fair catch after Hobbs had the ball? I know if he had done it before the ball is dead, but you can’t fair catch a ball that has already been advanced can you? From the video this is not the car he clearly makes this motion before the catch but I was curious. Here’s a link to the lateral view that I think looks like the motion is in front of his body, but that could be from the elevated position of the camera. Bottom line nobody called it and I doubt it will be attempted again by this team anytime soon.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SU0vCDfeGF0

[NorthEZUte]

It’s not a fair catch until the ball is caught in your hands, you can wave your arms signaling but until the ball is in your possession it doesn’t matter what you do.

[Spjegutes]

Here are the NCAA 2015 rules

SECTION 8. Fair Catch
Fair Catch
ARTICLE 1. a. A fair catch of a scrimmage kick is a catch beyond the neutral zone by a
Team B player who has made a valid signal during a scrimmage kick that is untouched
beyond the neutral zone.
b. A fair catch of a free kick is a catch by a player of Team B who has made a valid
signal during an untouched free kick.
c. A valid or invalid fair catch signal deprives the receiving team of the opportunity
to advance the ball. The ball is declared dead at the spot of the catch or recovery or
at the spot of the signal if the catch precedes the signal.
Rule 2 / Definitions FR-31
d. If the receiver shades his eyes from the sun without waving his hand(s), the ball is
live and may be advanced.
Valid Signal
ARTICLE 2. A valid signal is a signal given by a player of Team B who has obviously
signaled his intention by extending one hand only clearly above his head and waving
that hand from side to side of his body more than once.
Invalid Signal
ARTICLE 3. An invalid signal is any waving signal by a player of Team B:
a. That does not meet the requirements of Article 2 (above); or
b. That is given after a scrimmage kick is caught beyond the neutral zone, strikes the
ground or touches another player beyond the neutral zone (A.R. 6-5-3-III-V); or
c. That is given after a free kick is caught, strikes the ground or touches another
player. [Exception: Rule 6-4-1-f

[GadValleyUte]

So you’re saying combination of article 1c and article 3a would be growing grounds to hold the ball where Hobbs caught it. That makes sense, but the more I watch them the more I’m convinced Covey’s left arm doesn’t make afair catch signal. It is a just a by product of lateral movement. If people were watching the ball like the ref was it would never cross the radar.
What would have been awesome was if the camera man would have followed the ball and all we initially saw was Hobbs run it back and marveled at how easy it was and then see in the replay the fake. That would have been a cool way to experience it.

[Spjegutes]

Yea that was my thoughts Gad valley – it would be dead at the point in which hobbs caught it. The back judge is not even looking at Covey however and I agree it is not a valid signal . The back angle is what caught my attention . Interesting how different angles show different things and how it can be easy for a ref to miss a call. We have all the time in the world to look at it and analysis it.

[UTE Stuck in VA]

That’s just a poor angle. From the other angles, it is clear that the arm is in front of him, moving side to side as he moves back and to the side. His hand doesn’t go higher than his shoulder.

[bopahull]

A fair catch signal has to be a clear hand above the head, if the signal isn’t clear then the kick returner is fair game. Covey made no such signal.

[GadValleyUte]

After that fake fair catch that UCONN pulled in like 2008 or 2009 (guy raised his hand above his head so it looked like a fair catch, but didn’t wave it, then took off for a TD after the catch while the return team watched and didn’t touch him, he even cleared it with the ref before the play so it was totally intentional) I think they amended the rules: see article 1c above so that you couldn’t do that sort of thing again. the rules as I read them now state a invalid or unclear signal is now basically a fair catch and the ball can’t be advanced. The argument goes: If Covey made a fair catch signal or made something closely resembling a fair catch signal then the ball should have been dead where Hobbs caught it. That’s a valid point. However I agree with you the movement his left arm makes doesn’t really look like a fair catch signal when seen from the side. Clearly doesn’t go anywhere near above his head and seems like its just part of his normal re-positioning motion. I think the only thing we “got away with” was a well designed and executed play. Kinda sad we used it in a blowout. I get why Kyle kept the afoot on the accelerator, but the way we were moving the ball I think we could have dialed that up another day. I guess it does always put that play in opponents minds and maybe that opens things up for the return game in ways I don’t know how to anticipate.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 2 months ago by GadValleyUte.

[Will Taylor]

You’re totally right!!
They missed that one

[Guba]

You need to keep in mind that the angle of the screen cap posted above is a high angle from behind and above. A referee on the ground directly behind Covey would not see his hand raised above his head. There was no fair catch signaled at all.

[UTE98]

As I keep staring at the pic, I keep asking myself, why oh why did the Oregon players not notice the back judge looking on the complete opposite side of the field.

Smart teams will start putting a spy on the back judge to see where the play is going.

[Tony (admin)]

Watched it in context of the full game last night. Didn’t look like a fair catch to me.

[Author]

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