Punt Reception Interference, Colleges

[gerntz]

I wrote about this play in the FAU/USF thread I started.

FAU punted to USF. USF blocker, not punt returner, was moving back & blocking a FAU gunner in front of the right side of the USF returner. The USF punt returner was moving up and to his right, right towards the blocker & FAU gunner.

Slightly before the ball arrived the blocker & gunner made contact with the blocker backing towards the returner as a result of the force of the gunner. The returner was also moving forward to attempt the catch. The blocker & returner then made contact, the returner thus muffing the ball. As best I could see, the FAU gunner & the returner never made contact though in close proximity but with the USF blocker always between them. IMO that gunner never came as close to that returner as the SC defenders came to Little when he muffed his punt reception.

Interference was called on the gunner of course & that FAU recovered the ball about the USF 15 trailing by only 4 is irrelevant - other than to the possible outcome of the game.

So was the call correct? I say no because a) the gunner never contacted the returner & it's his blockers responsibility to stay out of his way, not the gunner's, and b) the gunner wasn't all that close given another player was between him and the returner at all times.

What say you?

[DenCat]

The gunner moved the blocker into the returner. That is probably the reason the flag was thrown. Lighthouse might have some "professional" insight to this call.

[gerntz]

The gunner moved the blocker into the returner. That is probably the reason the flag was thrown. Lighthouse might have some "professional" insight to this call.

Not completely true. The returner was moving towards the blocker also. Besides, the gunner didn't know where the returner was going, he was just trying to get away from the blocker however he could.

Regardless, doesn't the blocker have responsibility to not get in the returner's way?

[lighthouse]

I'm sorry it's taken so long but my SEC contact was on vacation.

To cut to the chase, they blew that call. Anytime a blocker on the receiving team is contacted by the opponent, and the result is contact with the receiver, the contact is ignored and it's a free ball. The call on the field stood because that isn't a reviewable play.

[gerntz]

I'm sorry it's taken so long but my SEC contact was on vacation.

To cut to the chase, they blew that call. Anytime a blocker on the receiving team is contacted by the opponent, and the result is contact with the receiver, the contact is ignored and it's a free ball. The call on the field stood because that isn't a reviewable play.

Thanks, lh. Did you or your contact see a replay of it?

And can't they choose to pick up the flag?

[lighthouse]

Thanks, lh. Did you or your contact see a replay of it? And can't they choose to pick up the flag?

I didn't see a replay, but it was used for training purposes. They can always pick up the flag, but at the time they thought it was the right call.