Expert: Thom Brooks - 10/25/2008

Question
In the game today, the Michigan player caught the ball while in the air, the
ball was clearly in his posession on the OUTSIDE of his body and extending
outside the sideline. While he flew through the air, his foot (not the ball)
touched the pylon, and his first foot on the ground was about 12" out of
bounds.

The call on the field was that the reciever was out of bounds, the catch was
ruled an incomplete pass.

Then upon review, they over-turned this call and claimed it was a
touchdown.

At no time did the ball itself ever actually cross the plane of the end zone. At
the time the reciever gained posession, the ball was clearly outside the field
of play, and landed out of bounds.

An excerpt from the NCAA 2008 Football Rules:

SECTION 2. Out of Bounds
Player Out of Bounds
ARTICLE 1. a. A player or an airborne player is out of bounds when any
part of his person touches anything, other than another player or game
official, on or outside a boundary line (A.R. 4-2-1-I and II).
rule 4-2 / Ball in Play, dead Ball, ouT of Bounds fr-81
*******************************
b. A player or an airborne player who touches a pylon is out of bounds.
*******************************

With the call on the field being incomplete, AND the OFFICIAL RULE book
clearly stating the rule about an airborne player who touches a pylon is out of
bounds, HOW ON EARTH can a call be OVER TURNED?

Is there any recourse when a case like this occurs and it was clearly an
incorrect judgement?

Im not even an MSU fan (ASU is unfortunately my team.. :-) but I got into an
argument with a friend of mine, and thats why this came up.

Anyone with the authority to discuss this have an answer?

Sincerely,

Answer
Chris, hello!

I didn't see the play but it sounds that the ball was imcomplete unless it was ruled that he was either:

1.  Pushed out of bounds by the defense.
2.  Ruled that one foot was down.
3.  Or the call was just missed.

He would not have to have the ball cross inside the pylon because the line extends beyond the pylon (if he was in bounds).  

If I see the replay, I will write back to you.  

Take care,

Thom Brooks