Starting the clock

[westlbcyclone]

Someone, please, correct me if I am wrong. Doesn't the chain gang need to be set before the clock can be started after a first down? Or do they just need to know the spot, set the ball, and go?

At the end of the first half, every 1st down ISU got the clock would only stop for about 5 seconds and then start back up again. The announcers mentioned it, and you could clearly see the chains still moving into position. It ended up not mattering, and actually probably helping ISU since it kept running and they scored, but it just seemed wrong.

 

[besserheimerphat]

You are right, the clock is supposed to stop until the chains are set. I know the Big 12 added another official to spot the ball in an attempt to allow teams to run faster when they want to, but the chains are still supposed to be set. Maybe next year we'll get two sets of chains on each sideline?

Later in the game (when we were starting to try to milk it, maybe 6 minutes left) Wimberly went out of bounds and they didn't stop the clock. I remember the announcer saying that "he should have stayed in bounds to keep the clock running" but the refs apparently never stopped it.

 

[Brad4Cyclones]

You are right, the clock is supposed to stop until the chains are set. I know the Big 12 added another official to spot the ball in an attempt to allow teams to run faster when they want to, but the chains are still supposed to be set. Maybe next year we'll get two sets of chains on each sideline?

Later in the game (when we were starting to try to milk it, maybe 6 minutes left) Wimberly went out of bounds and they didn't stop the clock. I remember the announcer saying that "he should have stayed in bounds to keep the clock running" but the refs apparently never stopped it.

There was 7 minutes left in the game at that point. The announcer didn't know what he was talking about

 

[CY88CE11]

These refs were pathetic all around. There were probably 8 pass interferences I saw both ways; one was called. They could not have had much worse of a game without tackling a runner.

 

[cydline2cydline]

You are right, the clock is supposed to stop until the chains are set. I know the Big 12 added another official to spot the ball in an attempt to allow teams to run faster when they want to, but the chains are still supposed to be set. Maybe next year we'll get two sets of chains on each sideline?

Later in the game (when we were starting to try to milk it, maybe 6 minutes left) Wimberly went out of bounds and they didn't stop the clock. I remember the announcer saying that "he should have stayed in bounds to keep the clock running" but the refs apparently never stopped it.

He was forced out. Had someone tell me during the Iowa game that is a rule now. It was a hawk fan so take it for what it's worth

 

[westlbcyclone]

He was forced out. Had someone tell me during the Iowa game that is a rule now. It was a hawk fan so take it for what it's worth

FWIW, that's also how it works in NCAA 14... So the hawk fan might be right? Oof, that hurt just typing.

 

[scyclonekid]

The refs sucked donkey balls.

 

[Erik4Cy]

refs were ATROCIOUS. luckily it didn't benefit a team one way or another...they just acted like the rule book didn't apply to them.

 

[besserheimerphat]

He was forced out. Had someone tell me during the Iowa game that is a rule now. It was a hawk fan so take it for what it's worth

I went all through the 2013 rulebook and didn't see anything specifying a ball carrier pushed out of bounds, but there is a section saying that if the referee determines one teams is trying to unfairly conserve or consume playing time they can decide to start the clock either on the ready or on the snap. I could see that being interpreted as pushing a player out of bounds instead of tackling him in the field of play, but seems a bit of a stretch. I thought Wimberly ran out of bounds mostly on his own.

 

[Cydwinder]

For most plays, the only person on the chain gang that needs to be set is the dial-a-down operator. This marks the official spot and the play can begin as the actual chains are still being set. I live with one of the guys who runs the chains at ISU and this is what he said should happen.

 

[theshadow]

Later in the game (when we were starting to try to milk it, maybe 6 minutes left) Wimberly went out of bounds and they didn't stop the clock. I remember the announcer saying that "he should have stayed in bounds to keep the clock running" but the refs apparently never stopped it.

When a player goes OB with more than 2:00 remaining in a half, the clock is restarted on the ready for play (instead of the snap). That change was made in 2008.

As quickly as the referee was restarting play tonight, you might not have even noticed the clock stop -- however briefly.

 

[CloneinWDSM]

I can't remember what play it was, but 2 of my friends yelled at the same time, "is that a chick ref" and then proceeded to receive texts of the same variety.

Cool story bro, I know.

 

[besserheimerphat]

When a player goes OB with more than 2:00 remaining in a half, the clock is restarted on the ready for play (instead of the snap). That change was made in 2008.

As quickly as the referee was restarting play tonight, you might not have even noticed the clock stop -- however briefly.

Wow, can't believe I missed that rule... I'd bet you're right, the ref started the clock so quick I hadn't noticed it stopped.

 

[Rogue52]

There was a chick ref at the game tonight. She seeme to be in training too as the staff was frequently talking to her in a teaching manner.

 

[Doc]

The non-profit NCAA charged $8 for their rule book last time I tried to actually check a rule...

 

[00clone]

There was a chick ref at the game tonight. She seeme to be in training too as the staff was frequently talking to her in a teaching manner.

So...the guys were telling the gal how football works...shocking.

:wink:

 

[atlantacyclone]

That one missed interception call was incredible. How do you not review that?

 

[Cycsk]

For most plays, the only person on the chain gang that needs to be set is the dial-a-down operator. This marks the official spot and the play can begin as the actual chains are still being set. I live with one of the guys who runs the chains at ISU and this is what he said should happen.

Cool. He probably goes to meetings where they update groups of chain gang guys on the rules. Does he know about any chain gangs that have ever done anything to help their team? Not him, of course.

 

[ArathornClone]

Referees were running the new Jet Tempo - crews from C-USA are beginning to experiment with this.

 

[LivntheCyLife]

I've always thought the whole ready for play thing seems so arbitrary. Seems like the play clock could always start when the ball carrier is down. Then after a set time has elapsed, the game clock starts and the ball is ready for play. If the ball hasn't been spotted in that amount of time, the clock is stopped until it is. It gets rid of all variation in pile-ups, spotting, chains etc and solves issues like the Wisconsin-ASU ending.