The Bobcat Nation

Here is a rules question that one could argue helped us immensely at the end of the UNC game.

During our last drive of the game, when we were trying to basically keep the ball on the ground and chew up the clock. The play clock and game clock were ticking down (I don't remember how much time was left but it was around 1:30). When the game clock got down to around 15 seconds, the refs stopped the clock and gave us a "sideline warning". They then restarted the play clock AND the game clock.

Because of that, we were able to chew up more time on that play while letting the play clock tick down to next to nothing. As a result, when fourth down came, we didn't have to snap the ball because the game was over.

One could argue that without this sideline warning, UNC would have forced us to snap the ball on fourth down, and if we didn't get a first they would have had one play on offense at the end of the game.

My question is: I understand the sideline warning, and restarting the play clock. But why was the game clock restarted? It would seem that at the end of the game, a team that was trying to chew up the clock (like us) could take advantage of this.....which we did. Is this a "hole" in the rules that should be fixed? Or, did the refs just mess up (given other calls during the game.....this is a distinct possibility)?

Part of the new clock rules that took effect this year are restarting the game clock after penalties.

The game clock now starts after changes of possession, the first play from scrimmage following a kick or punt, and penalties. As was before, the clock stops after an incomplete pass or a player running out of bounds.

The rules changes were placed in effect to take away the "free" time outs and to speed up the pace of the game.

Cledus wrote:Part of the new clock rules that took effect this year are restarting the game clock after penalties.

The game clock now starts after changes of possession, the first play from scrimmage following a kick or punt, and penalties. As was before, the clock stops after an incomplete pass or a player running out of bounds.

The rules changes were placed in effect to take away the "free" time outs and to speed up the pace of the game.

So what is to stop an offense who is trying to grind out the clock from abusing this new clock rule?
This is what we did against UNC (I don't think intentionally...it just happened). But if this is a "hole" in the new rules, it's got to get fixed right away.....it is wide open for abuse.

I am not sure what is to stop clever penalties in this situation. But the officials do have the opportunity to throw a delay of game flag if in their judgement that is what the intent of the violation was. In that case I am pretty sure the clock won't start until the snap if the delay is by the offensive team who has the lead in the game.

I think I see what you're saying. You're saying what's to stop a team from taking four delay of game penalties so they could chew up the clock without even snapping it? Is that correct?

In cases like those, the clock would indeed stop to prevent that kind of abuse.

It's kind of like trying to sort out traveling-through-time paradoxes. It'll blow your mind so it's best just to nod your head and let it be.

I'm not a big fan of the new clock rules (not for the reason in this thread...although this doesn't help).

But if they do keep these new rules, they should not apply in the last two minutes. That might help cut down on potential abuse.

Cledus wrote:I think I see what you're saying. You're saying what's to stop a team from taking four delay of game penalties so they could chew up the clock without even snapping it? Is that correct?

In cases like those, the clock would indeed stop to prevent that kind of abuse.

It's kind of like trying to sort out traveling-through-time paradoxes. It'll blow your mind so it's best just to nod your head and let it be.

Well....yes and no. Yes, it is blowing my mind.
I think we got away with one (once again...not intentionally). Because of these new rules (if indeed the new rules are what is happening here) there was at least one less play on our last possession. If there had been one more play, or possibly two more plays, then UNC would have had at least one last play on offense with little time left.

Bottom line, I don't think that it is fair to restart the play clock AND the game clock for a team on offense with the lead, who has just commited a violation in the last two minutes of the game.

NEW CLOCK RULES ARE STUPID AND A PAIN IN THE ASS.

THEY NEED TO REVERT BACK TO THE WAY THEY WERE, THE WAY THEY WERE FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS OR SO.

HelenaCat95 wrote:Here is a rules question that one could argue helped us immensely at the end of the UNC game.

During our last drive of the game, when we were trying to basically keep the ball on the ground and chew up the clock. The play clock and game clock were ticking down (I don't remember how much time was left but it was around 1:30). When the game clock got down to around 15 seconds, the refs stopped the clock and gave us a "sideline warning". They then restarted the play clock AND the game clock.

Because of that, we were able to chew up more time on that play while letting the play clock tick down to next to nothing. As a result, when fourth down came, we didn't have to snap the ball because the game was over.

One could argue that without this sideline warning, UNC would have forced us to snap the ball on fourth down, and if we didn't get a first they would have had one play on offense at the end of the game.

My question is: I understand the sideline warning, and restarting the play clock. But why was the game clock restarted? It would seem that at the end of the game, a team that was trying to chew up the clock (like us) could take advantage of this.....which we did. Is this a "hole" in the rules that should be fixed? Or, did the refs just mess up (given other calls during the game.....this is a distinct possibility)?

Very astute observation. I noticed that as well. It screwed UNC out of about 30 seconds. I also notice the score board indicated that they had one time out left that they did not use( which I think was wrong) but when they called what I thought was their last time out the official said it was their second charged timeout.

I also noticed several times in the late going of the 4th quarter we were snapping the ball with 15 or more seconds left on the play clock rather than running the clock down more.

While I am at it I had one more observation related to game managment. Once again we get the ball back late in the first half with momentum and a bit of time but without timeouts. I wish they could get through the first half without wasting their timeouts.