Expert: Vic Winnek - 11/1/2011

Question
QUESTION: Fact set:  Quarterback is scrambling on a pass play and approaches the line of scrimmage as he's passing the ball to an eligible receiver downfield.  

Question #1: What exactly has to be behind the line of scrimmage as the ball leaves his hand for the pass to be legal? Both feet, hand, all of the ball, part of the ball, some combination?

Question #2: If the pass was deemed on the field to be legal, and the play is then reviewed by the replay official (for whatever reason), and then found to be illegal (ie - QB was past the line of scrimmage), can the replay official call a penalty on the QB that was not called on the field?

Thank you for your reply.

ANSWER: Jim
Thanks for the question.  Is this is question a result of the Missouri game this weekend?

Answer #1: The rule requires that a Legal Forward pass by a Team A player be thrown from a point in or behind the neutral zone.  For the pass it be illegal the passers "entire body" must be beyond the line neutral zone.  The rule provides a forward pass is illegal if: "It is thrown by a Team A player whose entire body is beyond the neutral zone when he releases the ball."  Rule 2-19-3 states: A player has crossed the neutral zone if his "entire body" has been beyond the neutral zone.  The reference is not a foot, hand or the ball, but rather the entire body.

Answer #2: First you need to understand that the game is not to be officiated from the press box, so with that understanding you must also know that replay only rules on "facts" not judgement.  Whether a penalty occurred is a judgement and the replay official may not call a foul from replay. Replay has strict requirements what can be reviewed.  Reviewable plays involving passes include: 1) Pass ruled complete, incomplete or intercepted anywhere in the field of play
or an end zone; 2) Forward pass touched by a player or an official; 3) Forward pass or forward handing when a ball carrier is or has been beyond the neutral zone; 4) A forward pass or forward handing after a change of team possession; 5) Pass ruled forward or backward when thrown from behind the neutral zone. If the pass is ruled forward and is incomplete, the play is reviewable
only if there is clear recovery of a loose ball in the immediate continuing action after the loose ball. If the replay official does not have indisputable video evidence as to which team recovers, the ruling of incomplete pass stands.  If the replay official reverses an incomplete forward pass ruling and the ball is recovered, it belongs to the recovering team at the spot of the recovery and any advance is nullified.

Replay may get involved if there was a foul called on the play, but the replay official may not call a foul.  For example, First and 10 on the A-20. QB scrambles and throws a pass that is completed for a touchdown. The LJ flags the QB for being beyond the neutral zone when the pass is thrown. RULING: Reviewable play regarding whether QB’s entire body was clearly beyond the neutral zone when he released the ball.  If there is no flag then it is not reviewable for this purpose.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks again for this info, but one followup.  In the facts I presented (from the OSU-Wisconsin game), the officials on the field ruled the pass complete and without penalty.  If the review booth had found the QB's body to be completely beyond the neutral zone, would the field official then call a penalty for illegal forward pass, assess the penalty yardage, and then replay the down?

Answer
Jim,
A penalty is no supposed to be called based on a replay - that is officiating from the press box and not the field. In your play situation, the officials on the field ruled the pass complete and without penalty.  Therefore, replay could not get involved unless a penalty flag had been thrown and the issue for review was whether the passer was beyond the neutral zone.  As the rules are written this year, the officials after review cannot throw a penalty flag for a foul that was observed in replay.
The reason I asked if the question was from the Missouri game is because there was a replay situation that went to review and the rule book is silent about that.  The intent of replay was not to have reviewed the play but they did anyway to get the play right.  Replay in college football is still new and it is not mandatory yet, only optional.  So there are a number of glitches in replay and the replay rules; but we are trying to get it right.