Knolles Law-RealEstate Tioga State Bank GUTHRIE SPORTS MED Tioga County Sports ReportDANDY MINI MARTS BX Williams Auto GroupLounsbury Agency


FOLLOWING FOOTBALL: FUMBLING & FANS (2018-10-19)

Coach Mike Chaffee from SVEC and coach Steve Virkler have chosen not to participate in Following Football this week. I have no issue with their decisions as this column is strictly voluntary on the part of the coaches. Besides, taking the time to answer the questions comes in addition to everything else that goes with their coaching duties, as well as their other jobs, families and any other commitments they may have.

I did not ask them their reasons for opting out, but part of it could be the fact that when I emailed out the questions in the wee hours Tuesday morning I forgot to hit the "send" button. I found the intended email in my draft folder Wednesday afternoon and sent it out, crossing my fingers the coaches would still be able to find time to respond.

Anyway, my gaffe just goes to show we are all human and do make mistakes from time to time.

With that said, I would like to discuss what seems to be an increase in the number of mistakes made by the referees this season. Having officiated some youth wrestling and adult softball back in the late 1990s and early 2000s, I don't like to bash officials because I know how tough and thankless the job of a "zebra" can be.

However, I do have an issue with the interpretation of the fumble rule. Primarily, it irritates me to see a ref blow the whistle and rule the quarterback down on a botched exchange just because the QB is on his knees and has "a hand on" the ball.

The rule, as it pertains to New York state, states: "The ball is in player possession when a player has the ball firmly in his grasp by holding or controlling it while contacting the ground inbounds."

My interpretation of the rule is that you can't have  a "firm" grasp of the football when you only have one hand on it. And, just because you are on your knees with your hand on the ball, it does not mean you have control of it either.

I saw the rule applied - inappropriately in my opinion - during fumbles in the Owego game against M-E and the SVEC game vs. Whitney Point - and twice in the same drive in the latter.

I watched Owego's Colt Mosher recover M-E QB Joe Mancini's fumbled center exchange and I'm pretty sure that, with the ease he did it, Mancini did not have any control of the ball.

In the SVEC game, there were two fumbles in which the WP players were ruled down. Golden Eagles QB Andy Davis fumbled the center exchange and SVEC's Noah Mack snatched it up. Two plays later, Trenton James coughed up the ball and a SVEC player retrieved it. Had I been the referee, neither Davis or James would have been ruled down.

The fumble in the Owego game had no impact on the outcome of the game, but the two fumbles in the SVEC game took valuable time off the clock late in the fourth quarter of the Eagles' 28-22 loss.

However, like I stated earlier, it just goes to show we are all human and do make mistakes, but it certainly is disheartening when it happens to your team.

Of course, if it were up to me, high school football would eliminate the rule downing a player when his knee touches the ground. It would certainly clear up the chaos involving fumbled center exchanges.

With that off my chest, let's hear from Newark Valley coach Ted Hardenstine.

Q: If you could change one rule, what would it be and why?

Hardenstine: I'm a defensive coach, so I would change something that would make my job easier. Maybe go back to making the forward pass illegal.

Q: Why are your team's fans the best fans around?

Hardenstine: Our fans are the best around because they are loud and they are loyal. They come out to support the team every week, regardless if we are home or away.

Q: What can the fans expect to see from your next opponent?

Hardenstine: Sidney has an explosive offensive attack. They have a nice power run game, and at the same time keep you spread out defensively by formation. Their passing game is very good, and they have some very talented wide receivers. Their defense is aggressive and runs to the football.


You've asked about helping ...
here's your chance. Click HERE