coulda but didn't

[API50 0]

Just before the end of regulation play and bama had time for one or two plays, Shula elected to pass to a receiver and let him run the ball. It almost worked...but....what if the runner had stopped before he was tackled at the ten and thrown a completed pass to a receiver in the endzone. What would have happened?

Had the Bama receiver-runner thrown a completed pass into the end zone from the 10-yard line, Alabama would have been penalized back to the Tiger-15 where they could then bring on their field-goal kicker.

Right or wrong call by the ref?

[eagle76 1]

I may be mistaken but-

A penalty on the offense on the last play of a half (either one) results in the automatic end of half/game with the results of the play being voided out. If this play was not the end of the half (still one or more seconds remaining) the penalty in this case for an illegal forward pass, would have been taken from the original line of scrimmage.

[API50 0]

Is the penalty is five yards from the spot of the infraction or the original line of scrimage?

[ValleyTiger 2,894]

Mute point. Penalty at the end of either half by the offensive team ends the half. If he was to have throw the illegal forward pass the game would have been automatically over.

[AUloggerhead 2,252]

Mute point? The rules are not silent on this case.

1. A 2nd forward pass during the same play is an illegal forward pass. (Rule 7.3.2.c) Penalty is 5 yds from the spot of the ball AND loss of down.

2. An illegal forward pass completed in an opponent's end zone makes the ball dead. (Rule 7.3.3.c)

So, if Shulla had time for "1 or 2 plays" then this strategy is counter-productive. If the play was on 4th down, possession changes & uat loses (YEA!) If the play was on 3rd down, uat is now looking at a 4th down 32 yd FG attempt instead of a 27 yd FG attempt. Why risk losing a down AND backing your team up 5 yds from where your receiver's forward progress ended? Makes no sense.