I didn't think it was an illegal play when I saw the CUSA tv replay on Saturday, but now I'm not so sure, thanks to UAB Football's own Twitter feed.
I'm not sure of the college rule, but the NFL rule prohibits what UAB did. Each of the defenders who leaped took three to four steps toward the line of scrimmage. That would constitute a running start. Also, both of the UAB defenders who leaped came in contact with the down lineman in front of them when they landed. That type of leap and landing would have drawn a flag in the NFL. Not sure about NCAA rules on this.
Here is the rule: Page 94
The two defenders were lined up 2 yards behind the LOS. Both ran forward. Penalty??? I've never seen it called.It is a foul if a defensive player who runs forward from beyond the neutralzone leaps or hurdles in an obvious attempt to block a field goal or try. Itis not a foul if the player was aligned in a stationary position within oneyard of the line of scrimmage when the ball was snapped.
Just looking at the rules, On the blocked FG, I think since it was 3rd down, a penalty should have been called and we'd have had one untimed down. If it was 4th down, I believe possession would have been changed (I believe the foul would be treated as a dead ball foul).
Penalties for live-ball fouls during field goal plays are administered byrule. To accept points on a successful field goal, Team A must declinepenalties for Team B live-ball fouls. By accepting the penalty for a TeamB live-ball foul, Team A elects to cancel the score and have the penaltyenforced at the previous spot. Penalties for live-ball fouls treated as deadballfouls and those for dead-ball fouls after a field goal down are enforcedat the succeeding spot.On first, second or third down, Team A’s field goal attempt is blocked anddoes not cross the neutral zone. A23 recovers the ball and is tackled shortof the line to gain. RULING: Team A’s ball, next down.
Not sure what calls your complaining about. Tech played awful Saturday. They had a handful of WTF moments.
This team isn't smart enough to know that they lost the game with the above penalties. Just dumb plays.
- 2nd Quarter: Ineligible man downfield. 2 Lineman were roadblocking a guy 5 yards downfield because J'Mar was scrambling. He ended up rolling right and had Kam for a big gain. Hard to fault the Linemen for doing that seeing how much J'Mar tucks and runs.
- Cooper's hit looked like targeting. And with the awful camera angles that they were showing us, there's no way you'd overturn it. They actually called UAB for Unsportsmanlike Conduct there and offset the penalty, but the ejection remained.
- Kam unsportsmanlike: STOOPID. He should know better. You can't taunt by pointing at players while they are on the ground. Whether you like it or not (I don't), YOU CAN'T DO IT. In every league that's a taunting penalty. Backed up Barnes 15 yards, and missed the XP.
- James Jackson: he tried to be subtle with it, but that's a dumb penalty as well. He ran at the returner and while 5 yards out of bounds gave him a slight shove. It wasn't much but was clearly uncalled for and the correct call. The angle the ref was at likely made it look worse than it was.
- Amik: Taunting. This was a CLEAR one that the refs either didn't see, or decided to not call it. He made a good play on a pass breakup and stood over the WR, bend down taunting him. Amik has NFL type talent, but his trash-talking and taunting are going to get him in trouble.
They called the game both ways handing UAB 8 penalties as well. Take away Kam and JJ's idiotic penalties and we would have both been penalized 8 times for 60 yards. Both teams. Both teams also had 4 more penalties that were declined or off-set.
This loss is NOT on the refs. Dawgs have to MAN UP.
Did Cooper lead with the crown of his helmet? I didn't think so. The receiver was not defenseless. He had already made the catch and ran 5 yards before Cooper tackled him.
Have you considered those Dogs?
They both took ran forward at the snap
https://twitter.com/uab_fb/status/916859983630872576
Watching the play, it does not look too bad. But reading the rule, I think they broke the rule. They have to stand in a stationary position and leap without running forward. They did not do that.
Good old Memorial Gym