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Last Updated: Dec 12, 2008 - 4:54:39 PM |
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With the defeat of the number one ranked Texas Longhorns last Saturday evening by sixth ranked Texas Tech, Alabama became the fifth team to be ranked number one in Division I college football this season, following Georgia, Southern California, Oklahoma and of course Texas. Who will ultimately end the 2008 season ranked number one has turned out to be even less predictable and uncertain than the 2007 season that had four number one teams and eight different teams ranked number two. The number one ranking in the polls hasn’t been held by this many teams since 1990 when Colorado, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame and Virginia each spent time at the top.
This year, Georgia was the preseason number one, but lost it’s top spot without losing a game. Southern Cal, by virtue of an impressive trouncing of Virginia, knocked the Bulldogs from the number one perch only one week into the season. The Trojans then lost their top spot four weeks later thanks to a horrible performance and stunning defeat by the Oregon State Beavers. Oklahoma’s reign lasted only 2 weeks. Number six Texas defeated the Sooners 45-35 on October 11, a Saturday that saw, for the second time this season, three of the top four teams lose on the same weekend, allowing Texas to jump from sixth to first.
Alabama’s turn at the top is their first since the final poll crowning them National Champions following the 1992 season. Their next game against fifteenth ranked LSU will actually be their first as a number one ranked team since October 27, 1980, having been picked third nationally in the 1993 preseason poll. Saturday’s game will also be Crimson Tide Coach Nick Saban’s first in Baton Rouge since leading LSU to the 2003 national championship and leaving for the NFL in 2004.
This weeks question, from Steve in Iowa County, asks “I was watching a game on T.V. last week and a defensive player made contact with a punter after the ball was kicked, knocking him to the ground. There was a flag on the play, but after some discussion amongst the referees, the white hat got on the microphone and said there was no foul on the play because the punter had both feet on the ground. What is the rule on roughing or running into the kicker?”
After the ball is kicked, and the punter has had sufficient time to return to the ground with both feet, he is no longer a kicker and therefore becomes a potential tackler that can be legally blocked by a member of the receiving team. As such he is no longer protected by the roughing/running into the kicker rule. When roughing/running into the kicker is called, the kicking foot has not returned to the ground. From your description of the play and the subsequent announcement made by the referee, it appears the officials got together and got the call right.
While watching a game last weekend, the play by play guys were commenting on a player who had been an academic All-American. Sometimes we forget that playing the game of football in the 21st century really does require an above average intellect. But not at every position I suppose. During a post game press conference some years ago, Alabama Hall of Fame Coach Bear Bryant was asked about a player who had made a game saving tackle, despite playing with what was usually a debilitating injury. Complimenting the player, the reporter stated to Bryant that his player “doesn’t know the meaning of the word FEAR.” “I’ve seen his grades”, quipped Bryant, “and he doesn’t know the meaning of a lot of words.”
Send your questions to ref@eiherald.com or write to P.O. Box 336, Victor, IA, 52347.
© Copyright 2008 by The East Iowa Herald
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