Tennessee's Fumble Into The Endzone

Anon1712931820

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Quick question for those who know, but I always thought that if the offense fumbles the football forward toward their own end zone and they recover it that the ball is considered dead at the spot of the fumble? This prevented teams from fake fumbles to pick up first downs or further yardage.

If that is the case should the UT QB's fumble not have been ruled dead at the 1 or half yard line since his fumble went forward into the end zone and was recovered by his own player?
 

gamalielkid

All-American
Mar 21, 2002
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Quick question for those who know, but I always thought that if the offense fumbles the football forward toward their own end zone and they recover it that the ball is considered dead at the spot of the fumble? This prevented teams from fake fumbles to pick up first downs or further yardage.

If that is the case should the UT QB's fumble not have been ruled dead at the 1 or half yard line since his fumble went forward into the end zone and was recovered by his own player?

Also, it kind of looked like Dobbs thru it on purpose. Wasn't it fourth down? Maybe I am wrong on that - apparently so because I never heard any mention of it being fourth down.

Go Big Blue!
 

dallasg23

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I think they brought it up last night during the game. Said something about it has to be a fourth down for that rule to be valid. Don't quote me on that due to the fact that only caught bits and pieces of the conversation. Also something about an NFL rule as well.
 

Anon1712931820

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I think they brought it up last night during the game. Said something about it has to be a fourth down for that rule to be valid. Don't quote me on that due to the fact that only caught bits and pieces of the conversation. Also something about an NFL rule as well.
Actually did some more research right after posting and found more about what they said last night regarding the NFL rule and during the last two minutes the player who fumbles can only be the one to recover.

Just seems like a rule that needs to be in place. The whole "Holy Roller" incident caused the NFL to make the rule about 4th down and the last two minutes, but if something should be illegal (offense cant advance the ball off a fumble recovery) in the last two minutes then why should it be legal in the first 58 minutes?

 

Anon1712931820

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Thanks for letting me know about third down. Question: For those who know, would that have made any difference on the fumble call?

Go Big Blue!
NFL has the "only person who fumbled can recover a fumble on 4th down", but I'm not sure that the NCAA has the same rule. Offense shouldn't be allowed to pick up yards on a fumble IMO. Should be dead where the ball as fumbled.
 

jauk11

Heisman
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Not a TD in the NFL, they think they are more sophisticated, in college only comes back if it is fourth down. But let's face it, that wasn't deliberate and they really dodged a bullet, much better chance on having it on the two inch line than taking a chance on the recovery. If the D (had a great chance) had recovered it all they needed was to gain a couple of yards and kick a field goal. Of course their kicker had missed a crip shot EP or there might not have been an overtime.

TU had a ton of luck, and needed all of it, who said cheaters never prosper. One of the rules I have lived my life by, and alas, Thug U and Transfer U are proving it to be false------so far. TU has their problems even now, but I think they have a much better chance of keeping on keeping on than Transfer U, they have had decades more practice than jurich.
 

gamalielkid

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NFL has the "only person who fumbled can recover a fumble on 4th down", but I'm not sure that the NCAA has the same rule. Offense shouldn't be allowed to pick up yards on a fumble IMO. Should be dead where the ball as fumbled.

Interesting. Sounds like a fair rule. I thought you couldn't advance to end zone. The Vols were lucky - still not sold on Butch Jones as a "x and o" coach. He recruits well, but he really didn't do that well with x's and o's at other stops. On paper he has a hell of team. Dobbs is still questionable with his decision making as well.

Go Big Blue!
 

jauk11

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NFL has the "only person who fumbled can recover a fumble on 4th down", but I'm not sure that the NCAA has the same rule. Offense shouldn't be allowed to pick up yards on a fumble IMO. Should be dead where the ball as fumbled.

Good point on the fumbler being able to recover it.
 

TTU/UK fan

Heisman
Oct 5, 2011
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Appalachian State looked like the better team lastnight. It honestly looked like the the better team was upset by luck. UT had everything go their way in that second half and still barely won in OT. But yes the rule is for 4th down. Still don't like the idea that you can fumble the ball and still get a touchdown out of it. App State played that play perfectly and still UT got lucky.
 

frost1

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Dobbs took a hard blow. no way he fumbled on purpose. App> St. gave them all they wanted.
 
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Appalachian State looked like the better team lastnight. It honestly looked like the the better team was upset by luck. UT had everything go their way in that second half and still barely won in OT. But yes the rule is for 4th down. Still don't like the idea that you can fumble the ball and still get a touchdown out of it. App State played that play perfectly and still UT got lucky.
App St was the better "TEAM" by far, but Tenn has tons more talent and atheleticism. THat and a little luck managed to win the game for them. In reality, it's awful hard for David to win against Goliath.
 

Mr Schwump

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App St was the better "TEAM" by far, but Tenn has tons more talent and atheleticism. THat and a little luck managed to win the game for them. In reality, it's awful hard for David to win against Goliath.

It's hard to win a close game at UT. Better have a big lead in the last 3-5 minutes because a lot of totally bizarre things will happen if you don't, lead by stripes swallowing their whistles.
 

Adolph Rollingover

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Also, the official can flag the "fumbler" for an illegal forward pass if in his judgment it was not a legitimate fumble. If the "fumble" occurs behind the line of scrimmage the official can blow the play dead as an incomplete forward pass or flag for intentional grounding if the other aspects of the penalty are met.
 

FilsonCat

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It was REALLY close to an illegal forward pass. It looked like Dobbs knew he was stopped short, extended, and threw the ball down and forward. He took one heck of a lick in the process. That was a great tackle to get him stopped.

I was really hoping the ASU would have been able to kick a winning field goal in regulation, but they had a Stoops-esque clock management fail.

ASU deserved this one, and fought like heck against a physically much more talented team. (Just looking at the size difference between the ASU defense and UT O-line was crazy. )
 

Grumpyolddawg

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Appalachian State looked like the better team lastnight. It honestly looked like the the better team was upset by luck. UT had everything go their way in that second half and still barely won in OT. But yes the rule is for 4th down. Still don't like the idea that you can fumble the ball and still get a touchdown out of it. App State played that play perfectly and still UT got lucky.

In the early part of the game AS was equal to UT, but the 2nd half, they were pretty much shut down offensively. AS got too conservative with the 2 score lead, UT helped them out by trying to show Dobbs had imporved his passing skills and feeding the ball to Hurd,
 

tntuk

Heisman
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Quick question for those who know, but I always thought that if the offense fumbles the football forward toward their own end zone and they recover it that the ball is considered dead at the spot of the fumble? This prevented teams from fake fumbles to pick up first downs or further yardage.

If that is the case should the UT QB's fumble not have been ruled dead at the 1 or half yard line since his fumble went forward into the end zone and was recovered by his own player?
If it had been 4th down, then yes. But the play was on 3rd down.
 

tntuk

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NFL has the "only person who fumbled can recover a fumble on 4th down", but I'm not sure that the NCAA has the same rule. Offense shouldn't be allowed to pick up yards on a fumble IMO. Should be dead where the ball as fumbled.
The NCAA has the same rule - Brent and Jesse mentioned it after the play last night.
 

Grumpyolddawg

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It was REALLY close to an illegal forward pass. It looked like Dobbs knew he was stopped short, extended, and threw the ball down and forward. He took one heck of a lick in the process. That was a great tackle to get him stopped.

I was really hoping the ASU would have been able to kick a winning field goal in regulation, but they had a Stoops-esque clock management fail.

ASU deserved this one, and fought like heck against a physically much more talented team. (Just looking at the size difference between the ASU defense and UT O-line was crazy. )

I was pulling for ASU as much as anyone, but that wasn't a forward pass, he was attempting to reach out and get the ball across the line like these guys are aways doing and got knocked into next week. He was knocked backwards and wasn't able to hold on to the ball
 

JDHoss

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It was no doubt a fumble. Dobbs really got waxed on that tackle. If he takes many more shots like that, he's not going to finish the season.
 

Anon1712931820

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The NCAA has the same rule - Brent and Jesse mentioned it after the play last night.
That is crazy to me. If it is illegal in fourth down then why is it legal on 1sr-3rd? I guess they think desperation only happens on 4th down. Rule should be offense can't advance the ball off their own fumble. Ball dead where the ball was lost if offense recovers.
 

tntuk

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That is crazy to me. If it is illegal in fourth down then why is it legal on 1sr-3rd? I guess they think desperation only happens on 4th down. Rule should be offense can't advance the ball off their own fumble. Ball dead where the ball was lost if offense recovers.
Yeah - kind of a weird rule. Seems like if the goal is to avoid fumbling the ball forward, you'd make the rule as you suggested.

UT would have had 4th and goal from the half-yard line anyway since they recovered. My guess is they would have scored anyway.
 

tntuk

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And in the NFL. not a college rule
Its the same rule in college.

In college on 4th down you cannot advance a fumble. Brent Musberger and Jesse Palmer both discussed the rule last night on live TV.
 
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Anon1712931820

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Yeah - kind of a weird rule. Seems like if the goal is to avoid fumbling the ball forward, you'd make the rule as you suggested.

UT would have had 4th and goal from the half-yard line anyway since they recovered. My guess is they would have scored anyway.
Butch may have had the acorns to do that, but after getting stuffed three straight times I could have seen them going for 3 and trusting their defense
 
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TracerVol

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Quick question for those who know, but I always thought that if the offense fumbles the football forward toward their own end zone and they recover it that the ball is considered dead at the spot of the fumble? This prevented teams from fake fumbles to pick up first downs or further yardage.

If that is the case should the UT QB's fumble not have been ruled dead at the 1 or half yard line since his fumble went forward into the end zone and was recovered by his own player?
Good o rocky top, rocky top TN GO VOLS!!!!
 
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Its the same rule in college.

In college on 4th down you cannot advance a fumble. Brent Musberger and Jesse Palmer both discussed the rule last night on live TV.

You may be right about the rule.. but i swear i heard musberger claim it was an nfl rule only..

...now that ive said that clown said it, i realize you are likely 100% correct..


** you are correct. Think that rule should be tweaked. I dont think any teams mistakes should be rewarded because of a lucky bounce.
 
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tntuk

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You may be right about the rule.. but i swear i heard musberger claim it was an nfl rule only..

...now that ive said that clown said it, i realize you are likely 100% correct..


** you are correct. Think that rule should be tweaked. I dont think any teams mistakes should be rewarded because of a lucky bounce.
I agree that it should be tweaked that no fumble can be advanced by the offense no matter the down.
 

jauk11

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That is crazy to me. If it is illegal in fourth down then why is it legal on 1sr-3rd? I guess they think desperation only happens on 4th down. Rule should be offense can't advance the ball off their own fumble. Ball dead where the ball was lost if offense recovers.

If you have another down to go why take a chance on recovering a fumble in front of you where the D probably has more players than you when you have to have a 2" gain to score?