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College Football/Fumble recovery

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Expert: - 9/26/2010


Question
In the NCAA, can a player return from out of bounds to recover a fumble a be the first player to touch the ball?
Thanks,

Answer
Chris
Good question and there seems to always be some degree of confusion about whether players can return from out of bound to participate in a football act.  The answer to your question is YES, a player may return from out of bounds to recover a fumble.

I believe the confusion comes from rule differences between the NFL and NCAA rules as well as restrictions under NCAA rules that an offensive player who voluntarily goes out of bounds may not be the first to touch a legal forward pass.

Under NCAA rules a player may return from out of bounds on a scrimmage play to recover a fumble.

Thanks for the question.  I apologize for the slight delay in my response to your question, but I am an active on field NCAA official and was out of town working a game and Sundays work in the FOX Control Center assisting Mike Peoria with the monitoring of NFL games.

Vic Winnek
NCAA Football Official

College Football

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Vic Winnek

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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

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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

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BA USC 1987
JD UWLA School of Law 1996
3 Years Reno Football Officials Clinic
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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

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