Expert: Vic Winnek - 11/20/2005

Question
In the final drive of the OSU-Michigan game, Anthony Gonzales stepped out of bounds and then returned to make a spectacular catch that put the Buckeyes on the three-yard line.  My friends contest that it's not an illegal touch because he was "forced out" initially.  However, I was under the impression that being forced out was only an exception when a player was in the air receiving the ball.  Gonzales stepped out of bounds 17 yards prior to touching the ball, not mid-air.  If memory serves me from the Northwestern-Michigan game, that's a loss of downs and either a 5 or 15-yard penalty.  It was an obvious call, in my opinion, considering it took place right in front of a line judge at the first down marker.  I can't believe the replay officials didn't even see it.  They showed it in slow motion on the replay.  Any help on this issue would be great.  Thanks!

Answer
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Thanks for the question.  I did not get a chance to see that game or the play you are talking about as I was working another game yesterday.

On a Forward Pass Play, If the receiver was forced out of bounds, he may be the first offensive player to touch or catch the ball  provided:  He returned inbounds immediately (this is a judgement call by the covering official which is liberally applied depending on the acts of the Rec. and DB and Sideline).   AS you describe the play, there is no foul!  It is a leagal play.

If he had steped out on his own without being forced out, the official would have thrown his hat or bean bag at the spot.  If the catches the ball, it is live a flag will be thrown to the spot and the the foul is Illegal Touching, loss of down no yardage is assessed.  It is treated like an incomplete pass.

Not sure where the the ball was snapped from and where receiver was at the time of the snap.  Most likely the FJ not the LJ would have been responsible for the call.  Althought the LJ could help.  Further under the Big Ten policy, I am not sure, but I do not think that aspect of the play is reviewable.  The replay officials does not officiate from the box.  He reviews plays within the policy and affirms or overturns rulings on the field.

In NCAA rules the airborne receiver being forced out is totally different from the NFL.  NCAA doesn't have that rule, its rule requires the airborne receiver to be carried out.  There are some other exceptions from a philossophical standpoint that vary from conference to conference under very  limited situations (endzone plays and forwaard progress).