COLLEGE FOOTBALL OFFICIATING, LLC 2014 CFO BI-WEEKLY RULES QUIZ 4--SOLUTIONS For each of the following select the correct answer. There is only ONE correct choice for each question. For any fouls that are not offset, assume that the penalty is accepted unless it is declined by rule. Note: References are to the 2014 rulebook posted in pdf form on the CFO/Arbiter web site. ************************************************************************ 1. Second and seven at the B-30. Defensive tackle B77 is in the neutral zone (no contact) at the snap. Ball carrier A22 breaks free and is at the B-5 when he begins a “goose-step” into the end zone, drawing a flag from the officials. This is the second time in the game that A22 has been charged with unsportsmanlike conduct. a. The offside penalty is declined by rule and the touchdown counts. b. The fouls offset and the down is repeated. c. Both penalties are enforced in the order of their occurrence. d. A22 is allowed to remain in the game since the fouls offset. REFERENCES: 9-2-1, 9-2-6-a, 10-1-4 COMMENTS: The unsportsmanlike conduct foul occurs while the ball is alive, so it is offset by the offside foul. A22 must be ejected because of committing his second UNS foul during the game, regardless of offsetting fouls. 2. Third and 20 at the A-40. B77 sacks quarterback A11 at the A-35. After the ball is dead B77 stands over A11 and curses him, which draws a flag from the referee. a. First and 10 at the 50. b. First and 10 at the B-45. c. Fourth and 5 at the B-45. d. Fourth and 10 at the 50. REFERENCES: 9-2-1-Penalty COMMENTS: Penalties for UNS fouls by the defense include an automatic first down. The penalty is enforced at the succeeding spot. 3. Second and seven at the B-10. The game clock is running late in the fourth quarter. Guard A66 in a three-point stance lifts his hand from the ground and is flagged for a false start. When the play is shut down there are 25 seconds on the game clock. Team A has one timeout. Team B informs the referee that they want the 10-second runoff. a. Team B may decline the penalty and accept the 10-second runoff. b. Team A must use its final timeout and thus avoid the 10-second runoff. c. Team A may use its final timeout and thus avoid the 10-second runoff. d. The game clock must start on the snap. REFERENCES: 3-4-4-d COMMENTS: Team A is not required to burn its timeout, but it is an option. They might prefer to save the timeout at the expense of the 10-second subtraction. 4. Second and seven at the B-10. The game clock is running late in the fourth quarter. At the snap Team A has five players in the backfield. When ball carrier A22 is tackled at the B-5 the game clock shows 25 seconds. a. Team B may decline the 10-second runoff and accept the penalty. b. Team B must accept the penalty in order to have the 10-second runoff. c. The 10-second runoff rule does not apply to this situation. REFERENCES: 3-4-4-a COMMENTS: Since the illegal formation foul does not stop the clock, the 10-second subtraction rule does not apply. 5. Second and 10 at the B-30 late in the first half. Guard A66 in a three-point stance misses the snap count and lurches forward, committing a false start. The game clock is stopped with 8 seconds remaining. B77 then commits a dead-ball foul for unsportsmanlike conduct. Team B indicates that they want the 10-second runoff. a. Both penalties are enforced and the period is extended for one untimed down following the 10-second runoff. b. The 10-second runoff does not apply because the fouls offset. c. The half is over on the 10-second runoff and the penalty for B77’s foul is declined by rule. d. The half is over on the 10-second runoff and the penalty for B77’s foul is enforced at the start of the second half. REFERENCES: 3-4-4 COMMENTS: Because the dead-ball foul occurs after the play is over, and the live-ball foul results in ending the half, effectively the dead-ball foul occurs after the half is over. Thus the penalty is enforced to start the second half. NOTE: Had this play occurred in the fourth quarter the penalty for the dead-ball foul would not be enforced since the game would be over due to the 10-second subtraction. 2 6. Team A punts on fourth and 12 at the A-25. Team A is flagged for an illegal shift. During the kick B72 blocks below the waist at the B-45. Receiver B28 signals and makes a fair catch at the B-40. a. No option: Fouls offset and the down is repeated. b. Team B may refuse offsetting fouls; they will have the ball at the B-30. c. Team B may refuse offsetting fouls; they will have the ball at the B-25. d. None of the above. REFERENCES: 10-1-4-Exception 2 COMMENTS: Team B had “clean hands” so they have the option to allow or refuse offsetting fouls, in order to keep the ball. 7. On a try attempt at the B-3, B80 blocks the kick. B40 recovers the ball and returns it until A18 tackles him with a horse-collar tackle at the A-45. During the return B50 blocks below the waist at the B-45. a. The fouls cancel. The down is not repeated and the try is over. b. The offside penalty is cancelled and the horse-collar penalty is enforced on the kickoff. c. Offsetting fouls. The try is repeated at the B-3. d. None of the above. REFERENCES: 8-3-4 COMMENTS: Because Team B had not fouled before gaining possession, the try is over. 8. Fourth and 10 at the A-30. When the punt is in the air right defensive end B88 blocks below the waist at the A-40. His block is from the front, within the 10-2 region. B33 catches the punt at the B-30 and is tackled at the A-35. a. Legal block. b. Illegal block below the waist. Postscrimmage kick enforcement. 15-yard penalty at the B-30. c. Illegal block below the waist. Postscrimmage kick enforcement. 15-yard penalty at the spot of the foul, which is the A-40. d. Illegal block below the waist. Penalty enforced at the previous spot and the down repeated. REFERENCES: 9-1-6-c, 10-2-3 COMMENTS: Because B88’s block below the waist is during a down involving a kick it is illegal. The penalty is enforced under postscrimmage kick rules. 9. Third and five at the A-40 early in the first quarter. Quarterback A12 drops back to pass. Under a heavy rush, at the A-30 he throws the ball forward and it falls to the ground at the feet of back A44. A44 is pass-protection blocking at the A-35 and is not aware that the pass has been thrown. a. Foul, intentional grounding since A44 has no opportunity to catch the pass. b. If the referee rules intentional grounding the penalty is five yards at the spot of the foul plus loss of down. 3 c. The game clock starts on the referee’s signal. d. Legal play. REFERENCES: 7-3-2-h COMMENTS: The rule for avoiding intentional grounding does not require the receiver to have an opportunity to catch the pass. He must simply be in the area. 10. B47 intercepts a pass at the B-3. His momentum carries him into the end zone where he fumbles the ball. It rolls into the field of play and out of bounds at the B-8. a. The momentum exception applies. Team B’s ball, first and 10 at the B-3. b. The momentum exception does not apply. Safety. Two points for Team A. c. The momentum exception does not apply. Team B’s ball at the B-8. REFERENCES: 8-5-1-a-Exception, 7-2-4-b COMMENTS: Because the rule governing a forward fumble out of bounds returns the ball to the spot of the fumble, the effect is the same as if the ball had never left the end zone. Thus the exception to 8-5-1-a applies. Rogers Redding Secretary-Rules Editor NCAA Football Rules Committee October 15, 2014 4 .