Expert: Thom Brooks - 10/24/2009

Question
I am watching the Iowa State U Nebraska game (10/24) and the ball was pulled away from the runner (3rd quarter) down near the 10 yard line.  It looked to me that forward progress was stopped and at that time the ball came out of the runners hands.  This action caused the runner to then fall forward.  So I question how forward progress is defined.  If it is an instant in time then I think the call was wrong.

Answer
Dan, hello!

I would need to see the play to give my opinion, but it sounds like the official decided Forward Progress was stopped and the play was dead.  The whistle does not have to blow to determine when the play is dead.  I do not know the results of this play, nor if there was any penalty that made the play dead.  

Players and officials see things on the field that one cannot see from the stands, or television, but the call could have been wrong.  They are instant in time calls, so maybe the official called it wrong or maybe it was a great judgement call.  Are you thinking it should bave been called a fumble or that the play was stopped too soon?  




Take Care,

Thom Brooks
BrooksInsuranceSchool.com

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