Expert: Vic Winnek - 7/27/2006

Question
During Michigan's last drive of the 2005 Penn State/Michigan game, Jason Avant made a reception along the sideline where he was facing the QB a the time he caught the ball.  At the moment his hands touched the ball, only his toe was touching the ground, which was in-bounds.  Then, his momentum (or gravity) brought the heel of his foot down on top the sideline.  It was ruled a complete pass, with no review.  Was this the correct call?

Answer
Was this the correct call?  Normally, I would not answer such a question concerning whether someone's judgement was correct or not.  However, I believe your question is sincere.  

I have not seen the play you describe.  I have searched the internet the last 72 hours looking for the play but to not avail. So to give you my opinion on the proper rule, I will only be able to comment on the play as you discribe it.  Please know I answer techincal questions and explain the game, its rules, etc. so as to create a better understanding of the game.  The Big Ten Officials are excellent and their Supervisior - Dave Perry is excellent.

The Facts as you explain:

1. A "reception" was made along the sideline where the reciever [who was facing the QB at the time he "caught" the ball.
AS YOU STATE THERE WAS A RECEPTION AND A CATCH. Thus the play has to be correct.

2. At the moment the receiver's hands touched the
ball, only his toe was touching the ground, which was in-bounds.
TOUCHING THE BALL IS NOT CONTROL. TO HAVE A CATCH, THE RECEIVER MUST CONTROL THE BALL - GRASP IT AND BE GROUNDED AND IN BOUNDS.  HERE YOU EXPLAIN THE RECEIVER'S TOE IS IN BOUNDS. THUS HE IS GROUNDED IN BOUND.  THE ENTIRE FOOT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE GROUNDED ONLY A PART OF IT.  LIKEWISE, IF ONLY HIS TOE WAS ON THE SIDELINE HE WOULD BE DEEMED OUT OF BOUNDS.  SO IN ANALYZING THIS PLAY WE NEED TO KNOW IF THERE WAS A CATCH.  YOU STATE IN THE FIRST PART OF YOUR FACTS THAT THERE WAS A CATCH.  THUS THERE HAD TO BE CONTROL.

3.Then, the receiver's momentum (or gravity) brought the heel of his foot down on top the sideline.
FROM A TECHNICAL STANDPOINT THE TERM MOMENTUM ON PASS/KICK PLAYS IS A TERM OF ART AND DOES NOT APPLY HERE.   HOWEVER I BELIEVE I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE ARTICULATING. THE TOE WAS IN BOUNDS IS KEY.  WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW IS: UNDER FACT #2, DID THE PLAYER/RECEIVER CONTROL THE BALL WHEN HIS TOE WAS DRAGING INBOUNDS.  IF SO IT IS A CATCH. IF NOT IT IS AN INCOMPLETE PASS.

YOU DISCRIBE A "bang - bang" type of play. I suspect you saw it replayed in slow motion or frame by frame or a still shot. The covering officials did not have this luxuary when ruling on it in real time. As you have described it it appears to be a catch inbounds and the receiver immediate went out of bounds when his foot landed on the side line. The time from his toe draging in bounds to the time his foot touched the sideline is considered a run. However if he would have then dropped the ball, we ould have considered the play an incomplete pass.  But the fact that he maintained control of the ball tell me it was a catch inbounds.

From a philosophical standpoint, officials don't want to under estimate the athletic ability of players and will lean toward rule in favor of the completion of an athletic attempt.

I hope this answers your question.  

Victor Winnek
NCAA Football Official