Asking for a measurement

[bigsportsfan]

I'm not blaming the SIU loss in any way on the refs, but there were several times in the game when it looked like each team should have at least asked for a measurement on a possible first down and I'm not sure either team ever did.

Are the rules the same as the NFL, where you can ask any time you want?

If you're on defense, it seems at least a decent strategy to either allow for more planning time or slow the momentum of the other team.

If it's legal to ask for a measurement, which I thought it was, then we need to do that more often next year.

 

[new sycamore fan]

I'm not sure if they allow the request or not, but what I do notice (in all of the games) is that they call to move the chains and signal first downs very quickly, not providing much of a chance even when you would think that a measurement would be appropriate. I think against SIU we maybe lost about 7 or 8 yards on ball spots. It seems like they do whatever the hell they want, and don't want to provide the ability to question a mark or request a measurement.

 

[Sycamore Proud]

I'm not sure if they allow the request or not, but what I do notice (in all of the games) is that they call to move the chains and signal first downs very quickly, not providing much of a chance even when you would think that a measurement would be appropriate. I think against SIU we maybe lost about 7 or 8 yards on ball spots. It seems like they do whatever the hell they want, and don't want to provide the ability to question a mark or request a measurement.

I agree with this. In some circles that is called good game management and keeping the game moving--good officiating. IMHO, it's cowardly officiating.

 

[Callmedoc]

I'm not sure if they allow the request or not, but what I do notice (in all of the games) is that they call to move the chains and signal first downs very quickly, not providing much of a chance even when you would think that a measurement would be appropriate. I think against SIU we maybe lost about 7 or 8 yards on ball spots. It seems like they do whatever the hell they want, and don't want to provide the ability to question a mark or request a measurement.

Yeah, you can ask all you want but they aren't required to measure

 

[niklz62]

Here's an officiating trick. Its more prevelant in college because fields are better marked. If 1st down starts on the 36 yd line then on 3rd down if the guy has a spot that is at least the 46 yd line then they dont need to measure.

they almost always start 1st down on a yd line and you never start 1st down between the 10 and 11 yard line. its either 1st and 10 from the 11 or 1st and goal from the 10.

when you get inside the 20's they sometimes are a bit more picky.

it used to be just 1st down but i see them using hashes all the time now. once youve done it for a while you notice the little things they do to make it easier on themselves. as an official (high school) i try to stick up for these guys but this year has aggravated me a little. i thought we got some bad calls(or no calls) against us. These guys are generally good officials that are pretty committed to it but sometimes they make mistakes, and in my opinion they have made the rules in college and pros too hard to interpret.

the last problem is that all of these guys will leave in a heartbeat to get in the big ten (or other large d1 conference)

 

[bent20]

What are the requirements for becoming an MVC official anyway? Anyone know?

 

[Bally #50]

What are the requirements for becoming an MVC official anyway? Anyone know?

Breathing.

 

[bent20]

Breathing.

Yeah, I'm not even sure some of the mechanized ones do that.

 

[niklz62]

well, i dont know what they are specifically but a lot of times people come from D3 conferences such as the heartland(rose hulman) or CCIW(some illinois schools). i think they have to live in a state that has a team in the MVC.

basically its ref for a while in high school, ref for a while in D3, go to a bunch of clinics on your own dime, kiss some butt, waste a bunch of time driving to terrible football games, make MVC staff take tests and do games.

the 12th step is to get in a FBS conference and make $2000 instead of $750