@yothn I could see the refs not being flexible on it if it's not clearly defined. A delayed knee is kind of a grey area, and all it would take is some DL flying over the pile when a QB is sort of doing the "I'm gonna take a knee, but not yet" shuffle and knocking the ball loose or hitting the QB in the head and then we have a big ol' controversy.
Maybe it is clearly defined and that is why Cig was pissed. I dunno. I love seeing Cig pissed though.
From the NCAA Rule Book:
Ball Declared Dead ARTICLE l.
o. When a ball carrier simulates placing their knee on the ground.
@gros-louis it looked to me like he started to take a knee before realizing Iowa wasn’t rushing and stood back up.
@iunorth I don't know the best play either, any real play would have a small risk of a turnover. That's why Iowa was trying to force it.
@yothn Rhett on Big Red Carpet had a good analysis, but basically said it was a misintrepretion of the rule, after checking with their rules folks at BTN. Agreed with the earlier poster, it's meant to stop someone from faking a kneel and then making a play. Definitely think they should have clarified, before doing it again, but he said he got 2 different explanations, so maybe the first one led him to believe it would be allowed? Tough when you're asking officials to determine intent. I do wonder if the safety was meant to be an FU to the officials.
@thehoosierhuddle I heard someone say that they've practiced it and it was intended to take time off the clock, not an in-game decision by Fernando.
@kkott after 3 days of thinking it through... ha ha... it probably is the safest play, depending on how much time is left on the clock.
1. Running straight backwards and then running around in the end zone when you get there would take up the most amount of time.
2. Up 6 or more, a safety would still leave the opponent down more than a FG.
3. The ensuing safety punt is A LOT safer than an actual normal snapping punt.
So IF Fernando didn't end up burning enough time, and the safety was called with a second or two left. Iowa would still have had to return the safety punt, or throw a 70+ yard hail mary as time expires, to win. Both less likely than a punt block or punt return for TD, I would think.
Like nearly all plays, I probably should just assume that Cig and the fellas know what they're doing more than I do! Ha ha.
@kkott Cig said that after the game. IU practices a “Victory Delay” where you take a few step back before kneeling. However, it looked like Mendoza started to kneel early, which ends the play, instead of just taking a few steps back.
Every team practices the intentional safety. The issue I think people have is they ran it from the 40 and not the 15…
I have no problem with the safety as they ran it. It got the game over and a win on the books. All that matters.
@kkott after 3 days of thinking it through... ha ha... it probably is the safest play, depending on how much time is left on the clock.
1. Running straight backwards and then running around in the end zone when you get there would take up the most amount of time.
2. Up 6 or more, a safety would still leave the opponent down more than a FG.
3. The ensuing safety punt is A LOT safer than an actual normal snapping punt.
So IF Fernando didn't end up burning enough time, and the safety was called with a second or two left. Iowa would still have had to return the safety punt, or throw a 70+ yard hail mary as time expires, to win. Both less likely than a punt block or punt return for TD, I would think.
Like nearly all plays, I probably should just assume that Cig and the fellas know what they're doing more than I do! Ha ha.
With 3 seconds, heh could've launched it high into the air near the sidelines. And if they call intentional grounding, it's still game over right? Quarter can't end on a defensive play, but it can an offensive (I think).
@gros-louis can do what the Jets did against the Colts in 97(?) and launch the ball through the back of the end zone.
I believe Cigs success has raised the pressure on coaches to win across the US. Pretty sure coaches don't like what he's done here. AD's can now point to IU and expect similar, which is not realistic. Hell, we can't replace Cig now and expect to keep this up. He is the reason. He out works them all. Fat SC coaches are having a time. I love it. Go Hoosiers.
@mobilehoosier you are right. All those other coaches got to be wondering how Cig is doing it! He has his blue print. He has let us see a little of it but there is a lot more he keeps close. But what a fun ride for us fans!
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