I would like to upload the videos as part of this thread, but I unfortunately need some help. The video's are important to what I'm saying below so any help would be appreciated. Feel free to message me and tell me how.
I am starting this on a new thread because what’s included on this new thread is important and I don’t want it to get lost in the other thread, which is become a bit “off the rails”.
First and foremost, the Providence (“PC”)/St. Francis (“STF”) game was a very good game, and I think everyone needs to understand that fact. The players and coaches deserve better than this!
I had the good fortune to be on the sidelines for STF when all of this went down. I have good friends that are GREAT Coaches and better people at STF and I’m putting this on its own thread because it’s just that important.
I’m trying to included the video of the kneel-down for everyone’s reference. Watch it and you will agree that the young man at STF did absolutely nothing wrong, nor did anyone else on either side.
Facts are as follows:
Bottom Line:
Please, someone, answer me this:
If nothing else, get rid of that officiating crew!
I am starting this on a new thread because what’s included on this new thread is important and I don’t want it to get lost in the other thread, which is become a bit “off the rails”.
First and foremost, the Providence (“PC”)/St. Francis (“STF”) game was a very good game, and I think everyone needs to understand that fact. The players and coaches deserve better than this!
I had the good fortune to be on the sidelines for STF when all of this went down. I have good friends that are GREAT Coaches and better people at STF and I’m putting this on its own thread because it’s just that important.
I’m trying to included the video of the kneel-down for everyone’s reference. Watch it and you will agree that the young man at STF did absolutely nothing wrong, nor did anyone else on either side.
Facts are as follows:
- Game was played at STF
- 50 Seconds remained in the game
- STF has the ball 1st and 10 at the PC 42 yard line
- PC has two timeouts
- The entire video clip is 29 seconds (+/-). .
- At the 8 second mark, the Head Official can be seen signaling the start of the play clock
- STF takes a knee at the 28 second mark.
- Obviously, there is no play clock violation at 25 seconds (which is the change of possession play clock).
- 2.2 seconds ran off the clock on 1st down when STF took a knee.
- I think all who view the video will agree that the kneel-down was without issue.
- PC made NO CONTACT with any STF Player.
- A flag was thrown against STF for “delay of game” and the clock was stopped by the Head Official.
- STF was penalized 5 yards with a loss of down.
- The Clock will NOT start again until the ball is snapped, WITHOUT PC calling a timeout.
- STF was not made aware that they lost the down and took another knee.
- The scoreboard read 1st down (see video)
- The chains read 1st down until (see video)
- both teams aligned to start the play
- the Sideline Judge walks toward the “stick” on PC’s sideline and makes a motion to the chain-gang, and..
- down is changed to 2nd on the chains just prior to the snap.
- PC, again, makes no contact…why? They all thought it was 1st down again as well.
- PC calls “Time Out” and has one time-out remaining
- This 1st/2nd down, which was a kneel-down which took 2.8 seconds off the clock after the officials made the clock operator reset the clock from 42 seconds.
- When STF inquired about the down, The Head Official (to Paraphrase) stated “I told Providence you were taking a knee so they wouldn’t hit, but your guy took too long to take the knee, so I penalized you for a delay of game and took the down away from you”. This can be verified by anyone on the STF sideline and was overheard by many. I heard the coaches stating this after the game as well.
- 3rd down (which should be 2nd down), STF is forced to run a play, and NOT kneel-down to now try to gain a 1st down. They gain a few yards and now it’s full-on contact by PC.
- Providence calls their last time out.
- There remains 38.2 seconds left in the game.
STF is forced to punt, and Providence eventually gets awarded a touchdown to win on the final play of the game, despite the ball being on the ground and visible to all in attendance.
Bottom Line:
- STF should have been able to run out the clock, if not for the Head Official making up his own rules DURING a football game.
- If not for the penalty, STF would’ve followed the following script, which is exactly what you should do with the clock starting at 50 seconds on the 1st down snap:
- 1st and 2nd downs – kneel downs – 44..0 seconds remain on the play clock after down Providence used both time outs.
- 3rd down – kneel down or short running play. Clock will run down until 3-5 seconds remaining depending on how long it takes the ref to set the ball and STF uses a time out and expends another second of clock time and takes the penalty. Let’s say 4 seconds remain
- 4th down – STF can do ANY of the following
- runs backwards and takes a knee as the clock expires
- running play which will burn the time off the clock
- punts the ball out of bounds
Please, someone, answer me this:
- HOW CAN OFFICIAL THROW A FLAG ON A TEAM FOR DELAY OF GAME, WHEN THERE IS NO DELAY?
- WHY WOULD AN OFFICIAL TELL PROVIDENCE THAT STF WAS TAKING A KNEE AND NOT TO MAKE CONTACT? THIS I GET, BUT THIS BECAME THE ISSUE WITH WHAT THE HEAD OFFICIAL INTERPRETED AND WHY HE MADE UP HIS OWN RULES.
- A DELAY OF GAME PENALTY DOES NOT CARRY A LOSS OF DOWN. IN FACT, THERE ARE ONLY A FEW WAYS A TEAM CAN LOSE A DOWN VIA A PENALTY. DELAY OF GAME IS NOT ONE OF THEM…NOR IS OFFSIDES.
- CAN A GAME OFFICIAL SIMPLY PENALIZE A TEAM BY TAKING AWAY A DOWN? DO THE RULES GIVE THEM THAT ABILITY? THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS QUESTION!!
- SHOULD OFFICIALS THAT DO THIS BE ALLOWED TO OFFICIATE A GAME AGAIN? IS THERE NO PENALTY? IS THERE EVER ANY ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THESE OFFICIALS THAT MAKE HUGE ERRORS OR MISTAKES WITH “INTENT” LIKE THIS?
If nothing else, get rid of that officiating crew!
