Expert: Thom Brooks - 10/27/2008

Question
In college football, if the football physically touches the ground while firmly held by a player, is the play dead at that point of contact ?  Example: LB knocks QB off balance, but QB keeps knees from touching turf by balancing on three points of contact (two feet, and football held in hand).  This also occurred in Michigan vs Michigan State game, except ground contact caused QB to fumble football.

Answer
Vincent, hello!

The ball would be dead if the LB knocked the QB to the ground and if any part of the body came into contact with the ground as a result of the LB knocking him off balance.  If the QB had fumbled, he could have picked up the ball and run or thrown.  

I don't know the results of the play that you mentioned in the game but it could have been a blown call because the official thought the QB was down or that his forward progress had been stopped???

I've attached some websites for you to review.  I received several emails on that same game, with one being the runner touching the pylon but landing out of bounds with both feet.  I don't know how the play resulted, nor if the runner was pushed out of bounds?  I'll go to YouTube to see if anyone has the film.

Take care,


Thom Brooks



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http://www.ncaapublications.com/Uploads/PDF/Football_Rulesadc982b5-03fb-4e27-828...


http://www.ncaa.org/library/rules/2006/2006_football_rules.pdf




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