Fair catch play

[BabbForHeisman]

I truly do not think he saw the fair catch signal. If that is the case it should completely change the analysis of some here. Until I am told different by the player, I’m going with that scenario.

I don't think we'll ever know the truth (and it doesn't really matter)...but he was about 10 yards away from the returner when the fair catch was signaled, with no blockers in between. Clear line of sight. If he wasn't looking at the returner making the fair catch call, I don't know where he possibly could have been looking.

His momentum from his initial running pace was taking him to the left of the returner. Then the returner quickly moved that way to catch the ball. Instincts kicked in and he lowered his shoulder with the ball carrier now in his path.

Wasn't great. Wasn't dirty either.

[RaginDave]

https://video.search.yahoo.com/searc...7&action=click

I’m not sure he does not have the two yards distance before the catch is made also . . .

check out the picture. Player does not have the ball and he is inside the 2 yards already.

[KajunKrazy]

I never saw him wave his arm even on the replay, and he was making a football move of starting to run, our player didnt lead with his head and gave a clear hard hit, but it was a spark that fire up the team. I'm not sure if Marshall made another first down after that call.

Overall, the refs were horrible ( I don't know which division they were from) and seeing how chippy the game got, I say that we are going to have another team in the conference that plays dirty ball in the trenches

He clearly waved his arm.

[RaginDave]

I never saw him wave his arm even on the replay, and he was making a football move of starting to run, our player didnt lead with his head and gave a clear hard hit, but it was a spark that fire up the team. I'm not sure if Marshall made another first down after that call.

Overall, the refs were horrible ( I don't know which division they were from) and seeing how chippy the game got, I say that we are going to have another team in the conference that plays dirty ball in the trenches

I thought they mentioned that they were MWC officials, but I could be wrong.

[BabbForHeisman]

check out the picture. Player does not have the ball and he is inside the 2 yards already.

This is also a pretty clear illustration of how the returners motion played into this. You can take a good guess from this picture about where the defender's line of motion was. But half a second earlier, the returner would have been a step or two further to the right in this picture. Those paths weren't going to cross until the returner moved.

[Go_UL]

He clearly waved his arm.

[CajunVic]

check out the picture. Player does not have the ball and he is inside the 2 yards already.

This picture shows William clearly over two yards. Williams is off to the left of him so distance is further than the yard markers show.

[BeauCajun]

Correct. There was no wave. Just a quick windmill motion.

[RaginDave]

I could not get it any closer but again receiver does not have the ball. Wilson gets 2 more steps in before the hit. He was inside the 2 yards when he catches the ball. I don’t think that was debatable.

[RaginScotsman]

One play won’t define this game. At least for us. Some Marshall fans are hanging on to it and saying we’re a dirty team. I don’t think a thing could be further from the truth. If anything, we are disciplined. Our guy just made a mistake. Let it go.