Something you never seen before

[Dossenator]

Ark punts to NT and NT player catches the ball on 10 yard line. When he catches the ball he starts hopping in place. He was about to be lit up by several Ark players. They all stop as NT player is hopping, and they start running off the field. The NT player then runs 90 yards with his entire team for a TD. No Razorbacks in the picture.

[Mountainman]

.......just saw that on replay, don’t recall ever seeing something like it before.

[Dossenator]

Worst part Ark was about to blow up the NT guy. That had to be something they worked on.

[Mountainman]

Worst part Ark was about to blow up the NT guy. That had to be something they worked on.

No doubt, the guy was right there to make the play....... but hell, where were the other 10 guys???? Considering where the ball was fielded, the whole bunch got caught sleepwalking.

[Dossenator]

https://sports.yahoo.com/north-texas-fools-arkansas-fake-fair-catch-90-yard-punt-return-td-203941051.html

[Dossenator]

Explanation of how the trick play came about and how coaches asked refs before kickoff if they could run it.

https://www.google.com/amp/amp.si.com/college-football/2018/09/17/north-texas-trick-play-fake-fair-catch-keegan-brewer

[Dossenator]

Looks like NCAA rules committee may make fake fair catch plays against the rules:

https://247sports.com/Article/NCAA-North-Texas-Arkansas-touchdown-fake-fair-catch-punt-rule-change-122046089/Amp/?__twitter_impression=true

[Spence]

It is smart asking the refs before if it was legal. They basically guaranteed it to be legal. They took away a quick decision.

[donovan]

This trick play term is bandied around like it is a sacrilege to run a play that is a surprise. There are no trick plays, it is a euphemism for a team that gets caught with their jocks down.

[billybud]

I've seen it before...Terrell Buckley...FSU vs Cuse

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxnqee-IEoY

But...I give style points for the more recent...the hops

[Spence]

This trick play term is bandied around like it is a sacrilege to run a play that is a surprise. There are no trick plays, it is a euphemism for a team that gets caught with their jocks down.

Yep. Every play is an attempt by the offense to fool the defense. That is call strategy. The whole point is to gain an advantage on the other team. Just because it is done in an unconventional way doesn't make it any less legal.

[Dossenator]

North Texas definetly took advantage of how teams are approaching the new rules on kick offs. Most are fair catches now and they noticed most teams are quickly running to the sideline as soon as they see a fair catch signal. They preach to these guys about safety and not getting the penalties. The Ark players were unsure and instead of demolishing the guy held up. That is the problem with this play. If the Ark linebacker would have followed through with the tackle the NT player could have been seriously hurt.

I tip my hat to them. Sucks for my team but they saw a trend and now teams are more passive with the new rules.

[donovan]

If safety is the issue there seems to me to be an easy fix. Receiver calls for a fair catch, ref immediately blows the whistle and ball is placed where it was caught. If the receiver drops the ball then there is a 10-yard penalty from the spot the ball was dropped or stopped. So the guy has to try and catch the ball or if it bounces toward the goal line the ball is placed on, say the two-yard line if it goes into the end zone. If he does not call a fair catch and it goes into the end zone then the ball goes to the 20. The main idea, signal and there is no physical contact. Good idea...don't know but if safety is the issue, eliminate the unprotected contact. Of just play the game on Nintendo or whatever that is. Remember the football game where the metal sheet vibrated and the players moved helter-skelter. Maybe that would work.