College Football/Questions
| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
| 35yr old D3 football walk-on | 2/8/2012 | Vic Winnek |
| Q: How difficult would it be for a 35yr old former High School QB to walk on to a D3 football team? ... A: Ken, There is no real way to answer this question or to quantify your chances or to ... | ||
| Thanks | 1/9/2012 | Vic Winnek |
| Q: Vic, Thanks for your answers on the Danny Coale catch. I like your all caps response to my 2nd ... A: Joe That was a very good observation, the kicker did take a stutter step but at the snap. Because ... | ||
| Pass Interference penalty | 1/8/2012 | Vic Winnek |
| Q: Why does there seem to be inconsistent ball placement when pass interference is called? Sometimes ... A: Bob Thank you for the question. The officiating crew does not get to arbitrarily decided ... | ||
| Danny Coales sugar bowl catch | 1/4/2012 | Vic Winnek |
| Q: Why was Danny Coales catch in ot Sugar bowl called incomplete. He clearly got his elbow and one foot ... A: Joe Thanks for your question, this is an excellent question and certainly will be a play that will ... | ||
| Kick-Off Return from the Endzone | 1/3/2012 | Vic Winnek |
| Q: How far must the ball be advanced across the Goal Line on a Kick-Off Return for it to be considered ... A: Al The ball must be completely out beyond the goal line - the entire ball. The two games on 1.2.11 ... | ||
| college football overtime | 1/2/2012 | Vic Winnek |
| Q: what if both teams after the 3rd overtime are still tied? A: Jennifer If both teams are tied at the end of the 3rd Quarter the game goes to another extra period ... | ||
| College overtime defense scoring | 12/22/2011 | Vic Winnek |
| Q: I am a college football junkie. As many overtime games I watched I have never seen the defense ... A: Steve, Yes. The defense (Team B) may score during extra periods. Under the rules for Extra ... | ||
| defensive baiting | 12/18/2011 | Vic Winnek |
| Q: in a college game defense was called for "stigging" and I haven't ever heard of that penalty before. ... A: Greg thanks for the question. First there is No such foul as "Stimming". That is a made up term ... | ||
| Graduate Assistant Eligibility | 12/12/2011 | Vic Winnek |
| Q: Mr. Winnek, I have heard there is a new NCAA rule regarding on-field graduate assistant positions, ... A: Sorry, but Eligibility questions are outside my area of expertise. I had read something very ... | ||
| End of NCAA football game | 12/5/2011 | Vic Winnek |
| Q: Wake Forest football game at Boston College. At the end of the game individuals took down the goal ... A: Stephen Thanks for the question. Most likely the reason the goal posts were taken down after the ... | ||
| Punting rule and the end zone | 11/28/2011 | Vic Winnek |
| Q: I recently watched two college games where this was called both ways. The kicking team punts the ... A: Brad, To answer your question the violation occurs when the hand touches the ball beyond the plane ... | ||
| Offensive pass interference | 11/25/2011 | Vic Winnek |
| Q: Watching the Iowa vs. Nebraska game right now. Tight end of Iowa went down field, approximately 10 ... A: Tom The restriction for contact by the offense starts at the snap. It becomes OPI when the pass is ... | ||
| field goal attempt over top of goal post | 11/21/2011 | Vic Winnek |
| Q: what determines when a field goal attempt is good when the ball goes directly over the top of the ... A: Jason Under NCAA rules for a Field Goal to be good, the ball must travel between the uprights and ... | ||
| Out of Bounds rules | 11/20/2011 | Vic Winnek |
| Q: In the NFL, if a player steps out of bounds then comes back into the field of play and is the first ... A: Mike Yes, if the eligible reciever goes out of bounds on his own [not blocked or pushed out of ... | ||
| NCAA Instant Replay | 11/19/2011 | Vic Winnek |
| Q: Upon review a college football play, do the officials look at videos in slow motion or real time ... A: Bill Great Question. The Replay official, communicator and technician review the play in real time ... | ||
| Live ball | 11/8/2011 | Vic Winnek |
| Q: I played football as a kid through high school and I recently noticed that many divison I centers ... A: Simeon, The old rule used to be the snapper could not raise the ball more than a 45 degree angle ... | ||
| Illegal forward pass | 11/4/2011 | Vic Winnek |
| Q: In NCAA, Big Ten Football, is a forward pass legal if only one leg is behind the line of scrimmage ... A: Mark Thanks for the question. NCAA rules govern all college football. The key to understanding the ... | ||
| College football Overtime | 11/3/2011 | Vic Winnek |
| Q: In overtime, Can a college football team win by 13 points? For example: Florida State is on ... A: Denis, Yes the team could score and win by 13 points. The ball remains alive once the defensive team ... | ||
| Replay official calling a penalty | 11/1/2011 | Vic Winnek |
| Q: Fact set: Quarterback is scrambling on a pass play and approaches the line of scrimmage as he's ... A: Jim, A penalty is no supposed to be called based on a replay - that is officiating from the press ... | ||
| Replay official calling a penalty | 10/31/2011 | Vic Winnek |
| Q: Fact set: Quarterback is scrambling on a pass play and approaches the line of scrimmage as he's ... A: Jim Thanks for the question. Is this is question a result of the Missouri game this weekend? ... | ||
| Marquel Wade hit. Arkansas vs Vanderbilt | 10/30/2011 | Vic Winnek |
| Q: Should Wade have been ejected from the game. And if so what farther sanctions could the SEC impose ... A: Phillip Thank you for your question. I did not see th eplay you describe live, as I was working my ... | ||
| intentional grounding | 10/29/2011 | Vic Winnek |
| Q: In the Wisconsin-Michigan State game last week, UW quarterback Russell Wilson was flagged for ... A: Seth I think you understand the rule. There are two types of intentional grounding categories: 1) ... | ||
| Recruiting | 10/26/2011 | Vic Winnek |
| Q: What is the best way to get noticed, and get recruited from a foreign country to America? A: Simon I cannot give you an answer as to the best way as there are so many factors that go into the ... | ||
| Extra point delay of game | 10/25/2011 | Vic Winnek |
| Q: I am actually asking about a high school game If team A scores a touchdown with no time on the ... A: Jim Thanks for your question about delay of game penalty on an Extra point with no time remaining. ... | ||
| motion | 10/24/2011 | Vic Winnek |
| Q: My question is: when man goes in motion, which direction is he allowed to go? Specifically, if he ... A: Jay, A back may go in motion sideways or backwards at at the snap. He may not go forward at the ... | ||
| fumble recovery | 10/23/2011 | Vic Winnek |
| Q: May a player who is out of bounds dive onto the playing field and recover a fumble which is in the ... A: Gene, The answer to your question is yes, as long as the individual is a player who was been ... | ||
| Kicking Shoe revisit | 10/20/2011 | Vic Winnek |
| Q: I know a question about kicking shoes was asked before. Can a kicker alter the kicking shoe. Can a ... A: Michael, I agree with your assessment that such equipment that has been altered is illegal, ... | ||
| NCAA. chain and time stopage | 10/19/2011 | Vic Winnek |
| Q: Got a biiig College game this Friday. Need some info. 1.- Do we stop the clock when a first down is ... A: Ernesto Where is your college game? I am a little concerned because you need to know the timing ... | ||
| The English Language | 10/15/2011 | Vic Winnek |
| Q: Are NCAA referees not judging games between the institutes of highest learning in our country? I ... A: Please know that each play during the game is reviewed by replay official or technical ... | ||
| Dangers of playing QB & rules to protect | 10/12/2011 | Vic Winnek |
| Q: I'm wondering about the physical beating taken by a QB, beyond the obvious occasional sack or tackle ... A: Gaylen Yes the play is dead when the runner or ball carrier's knee or knees touch the ground in high ... | ||
| Dangers of playing QB & rules to protect | 10/11/2011 | Vic Winnek |
| Q: I'm wondering about the physical beating taken by a QB, beyond the obvious occasional sack or tackle ... A: Gaylen I do not have the statistics of how many times in a college game the QB gets knocked down, ... | ||
| possession change / muffed punts | 10/10/2011 | Vic Winnek |
| Q: Does possession of the ball change when a ball is punted? During the Texas/OU game Texas ended up ... A: Chris This was a scrimmage kick play [punt] so think of it this way, Texas was giving up trying to ... | ||
| punted ball hits receiving | 10/9/2011 | Vic Winnek |
| Q: punted ball hits receiving team player while blocking, can punting team recover the ball? NCAA rule ... A: Brian As you describe the play the, by rule, the touching of the ball the by the Receiving team is ... | ||
| personal foul in high school football | 10/5/2011 | Vic Winnek |
| Q: Our team had a 3rd and goal from the 8 yard line our qb was tackled for no gain at which time the ... A: Baron The official was correct under National Federation of High School rules. This is one of the ... | ||
| Kickoff rules | 10/4/2011 | Vic Winnek |
| Q: We get a lot of teams from the USA side and all give us the "you don't know the rules" example. ... A: Ernesto, The game of football is in good hands with you and your crew. You are correct. The ball ... | ||
| Intentional grounding | 10/3/2011 | Vic Winnek |
| Q: Saw an interesting scenario yesterday. On a halfback option pass, the halfback saw no opportunity to ... A: Stew, This is the correct ruling. The intentional grounding is intended to be given to the player ... | ||
| pass interference in end zone | 10/1/2011 | Vic Winnek |
| Q: In A&M / Arkansas game the ball was on the 19. Pass interference by defense in end zone. Ball ... A: Alan, The ball snapped at the 19 yardline with DPI in the endzone, means the penalty occured more ... | ||
| Football Tryout Rules | 9/30/2011 | Vic Winnek |
| Q: My grandson is a senior football player this year. He's been invited to visit a college to ... A: John As indicated in my profile and instructions, I no longer answer compliance questions due to ... | ||
| punts kicks | 9/24/2011 | Vic Winnek |
| Q: hey vic! when did this rule come about not being able to advance a ball punted or kicked if it was ... A: Kenneth I am traveling for my football game I am officiating this weekend and will tied up all day ... | ||
| NFHS/NCAA interpretation | 9/23/2011 | Vic Winnek |
| Q: When a runner with the ball in his hand before falling down touches the ground with the ball still ... A: The safety is correct. The foul is enforced on the succeeding Kick off which if from the B 20 ... | ||
Vic Winnek
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
Will Answer all queries RE: Rules of Football - NCAA & Federation; Officiating; Instruction on Football; Mechanics & application of rules; Setting up Instructional programs and clinics for: Officials, coaches and media; Liability Issues (Legal & Insurance questions)arising from coaching, playing, refereeing, product liability. Serve as an Consultant and Expert Witness in Football Related Matters in Tort and Contract (Standard of Care for: officials, coaches, players, assignors, BOD; Player, equipment, field & stadium Safety; Fee issues, independant contractor workers compensation. History of the College football game -its evolution. MY PURPOSE IS TO INFORM & EDUCATE FANS, MEDIA, THOSE INTERESTED IN FOOTBALL ABOUT: THE RULES, THEIR APPLICATION, PHILOSOPHIES; OFFICIATING; LEGAL ISSUES INVOLVING FOOTBALL. I WILL NOT RESPOND TO BASHING OF TEAMS, COACHES OR OFFICIALS. I will not dignify rude or disparaging comments with a response, nor entertain questions that use profanity or questions that suggest Football officials are corupt, such an insinuation is ridiculous and ludicrous.
Experience
24 years officiating High School & College football, NCAA Referee, Umpire, Back Judge & Line Judge 2 years Arena Football-substitution official Instructor of NCAA & Federation Officials, Played prep and college football; coached High School football; Athletic trainer; 23 years of instruction in Officiating Football
Organizations
Past President of Calif. Football Officials Assoc; Western Collegiate Football Officials Assoc.; CFOA-Long Beach Unit Board of Directors CFOA-South Bay Unit & Long Beach Unit, Pres. Executive Council of Calif. Football Officials Assoc.; CIF Presidents' Council on Officiating; Chairman Ethics Committee
Publications
Referee Magazine; California Football Officials Assoc. Instructor's Guide; NACC Div. 1-AA football officials' clinic; CFOA instrutional materials; Articles written: Line of Scrimmage mechanics, Forward Progress, Side Line Warnings, 2006 NCAA New Timing Rules; various instructional materials, UWLA Law Review
Education/Credentials
BA USC 1987
JD UWLA School of Law 1996
3 Years Reno Football Officials Clinic
4 Years UCLA Football Officials Camp
Big 12 Mini Clinic
NFL Grass Roots Clinic
Aloha Clinic, Honolulu, HI
West Coast Alliance Clinic
Awards and Honors
NCAA Div. 1 FCS & Div. III, 9 post season Bowl Games, play-offs, CIF Div. 1,2,3,5,8,9,10,12 Final, 10 years CIF Semi-finals, 19 years of CIF play-offs, California State High School Football Div. 1 Championship, Southern California Jr. College Championship, NCAA Div. III Semi-Final
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.