Expert: Vic Winnek - 1/9/2007

Question
Just for clarification, I saw an earlier message which referred to contact with someone who does have his feet on the ground allowing for a touchdown.  Did I misunderstand?  Thank you.
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
During the 2007 Rose Bowl, a USC player caught the football in the air, had clear possession, was hit by an opposing Michigan player who I believe was touching the ground (not sure), and then hit by another Michigan player who knocked the ball loose.  The USC player's feet never touched the ground before the ball was knocked loose in the endzone.  It was ruled NO touchdown.  Was this ruling correct?  And did you see the play in question?
-----Answer-----
Aly,
Thank you for your question.  For there to be a "catch" the USC player must possess the ball and return to the ground.  The fact that he did not land on the ground while in possession of the ball there is no catch.  This was the correct Call.
thank you for your question and Happy New Year.  If you have any further questions please feel free to contact me or post another question. Hope this helps.


Answer
FOLLOW UP REPLY clarification - The question involved a receiver from USC whose feet were NOT on the ground in the EZ.  

It also involved contact by a defensive player against the USC receiver who's feet were not on the ground.

First to understand the ruling you have to understand the nomenclature. The question used the term "catch" incorrectly. The term "catch" has a specific definition that requires a player have firm possession of the ball, and return to the ground while maintaining possession. The reason the call was correctly ruled an incomplete pass during the game was because the player did not have firm possession to complete the catch.  The feet touch the ground in this question is not the reason for the ruling.

To explain the the element of the rule requiring the feet to touch the ground in order to complete a catch, please understand that in college a player must have just one foot inbounds touching the ground [touching a grounded player is also an area that can be explored in another question as there are several schools of thought among students of the game]while in firm possession and control of the ball.  If an airborne receiver fails to land inbounds it is ruled a NO CATCH, unless the he is "carried" out of bounds by a tackling opponent.  It is not like the NFL that uses the term "pushed" out of bounds.  The NCAA rule uses the term "carried out".

This question gives rise to several other topics: i.e. forward progress; definition of returning to the ground; complete vs. incomplete; rule differences etc.

I hope this reply serves as clarification.