Arkansas v. Vanderbilt

[Derek]

Good game. Vanderbilt is not a punching bag anymore.

[RazorHawk]

What a terrible game Arkansas played, and was very lucky to win. It sure was an exciting game though. Hard to believe the Vandy placekicker missed the chip shot field goal at the end, that would have sent it to overtime.

[Dossenator]

I don't know how many more weeks my heart can take this...getting down by double digits and then playing well enough to win in the second half.

[GoBoilers]

I only caught parts of the game but, what was the article about a "cheap" shot about? http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/b ... aaf-wp8931?

[Dossenator]

I only caught parts of the game but, what was the article about a "cheap" shot about? http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/b ... aaf-wp8931?

AR player speared Vandy kick returner before the ball got there, celebrated his stupidity, was ejected. And literally had to be drug out of the stadium by an AR coach, mouthing off the entire time. I hope Petrino benches him this next week (and the Hogs could really use him against South Carolina). It was a cheap shot, and dissapointed me as a Razorback fan.

[Derek]

I only caught parts of the game but, what was the article about a "cheap" shot about? http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/b ... aaf-wp8931?

AR player speared Vandy kick returner before the ball got there, celebrated his stupidity, was ejected. And literally had to be drug out of the stadium by an AR coach, mouthing off the entire time. I hope Petrino benches him this next week (and the Hogs could really use him against South Carolina). It was a cheap shot, and dissapointed me as a Razorback fan.

Yeah, that was beyond pathetic. The celebration was what got him ejected. TOTALLY stupid.

If you didn't see the fair catch call, you should go apologize...not act like a thug as your drug out of the stadium.

[Dossenator]

I only caught parts of the game but, what was the article about a "cheap" shot about? http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/b ... aaf-wp8931?

AR player speared Vandy kick returner before the ball got there, celebrated his stupidity, was ejected. And literally had to be drug out of the stadium by an AR coach, mouthing off the entire time. I hope Petrino benches him this next week (and the Hogs could really use him against South Carolina). It was a cheap shot, and dissapointed me as a Razorback fan.

Yeah, that was beyond pathetic. The celebration was what got him ejected. TOTALLY stupid.

If you didn't see the fair catch call, you should go apologize...not act like a thug as your drug out of the stadium.

The Vandy player never signaled a fair catch (he was blocking the sun as he was trying to find the ball...but never called for a fair catch). What bothered me the most was his behavior after he was ejected. You talk about a poor attitude. I assure you Petrino will not be kind to him this week.

Here is video proof of no fair catch being signaled: http://kegsneggsblog.com/2011/10/29/vid ... dirty-hit/
And after watching it, I don't have a problem with his initial celebration after a big hit.

[RazorHawk]

Yeah, that was beyond pathetic. The celebration was what got him ejected. TOTALLY stupid.

If you didn't see the fair catch call, you should go apologize...not act like a thug as your drug out of the stadium.

I did not realize drugs were also involved.

[billybud]

Even if it is no fair catch...nailing the receiver before he can catch the ball is against the rule....you must allow him the opportunity to make the catch. Defenseless receivers are protected for a reason while they are looking skyward for the ball.

The guy just plowed the receiver down while the receiver was looking up for the ball...bad form and a penalty. Celebrating a bad hit while taking a penalty makes it thuggish.

[Dossenator]

Even if it is no fair catch...nailing the receiver before he can catch the ball is against the rule....you must allow him the opportunity to make the catch. Defenseless receivers are protected for a reason while they are looking skyward for the ball.

The guy just plowed the receiver down while the receiver was looking up for the ball...bad form and a penalty. Celebrating a bad hit while taking a penalty makes it thuggish.

I agree 100%. He hit the guy early, but I see nothing wrong with the hit itself. The Vandy guy will learn quickly when to and when not to call for a fair catch. If the ball had arrived a second or two earlier and touched the receiver before then hit then nothing would have been wrong with the play. Wade is running full speed when he makes the tackle but that is what they are taught to do (he is standing pretty much upright when he makes the hit...and he is a little guy 5'10", 180 pounds). His attitude was terrible....and he did come across as a thug (he is from Jacksonville, FL...maybe that explains his thuggish behavior and bad attitude).

[RazorHawk]

It appeared to me, that he not only was early, but also led with the helmet. His reaction to the play was the issue, and I think he probably thought he had timed the hit perfectly and made a great play. I have seen many worse hits not be given an ejection.

This was undoubtedly a penalty, and not sure why the crew failed to tack on the 15 yards to the end of the play. They said the penalty was declined. Not sure they should not have had an additional 15 yards.

[billybud]

Even if it is no fair catch...nailing the receiver before he can catch the ball is against the rule....you must allow him the opportunity to make the catch. Defenseless receivers are protected for a reason while they are looking skyward for the ball.

The guy just plowed the receiver down while the receiver was looking up for the ball...bad form and a penalty. Celebrating a bad hit while taking a penalty makes it thuggish.

I agree 100%. He hit the guy early, but I see nothing wrong with the hit itself. The Vandy guy will learn quickly when to and when not to call for a fair catch. If the ball had arrived a second or two earlier and touched the receiver before then hit then nothing would have been wrong with the play. Wade is running full speed when he makes the tackle but that is what they are taught to do (he is standing pretty much upright when he makes the hit...and he is a little guy 5'10", 180 pounds). His attitude was terrible....and he did come across as a thug (he is from Jacksonville, FL...maybe that explains his thuggish behavior and bad attitude).

Really? He is from Florida and that explains it...kind of a jerkish reply IMHO.

The Razorback plowed the guy head high in the chin...before he had the ball...it was a bad hit on a bad play. What do you mean "learn when to call for a fair catch"...the Vandy return guy had every expectation that he would be allowed to catch the ball per rule. It's exactly like saying, when a lineman gets his knee torn up on a chop block..."well, next time he'll look to see if any one else is coming at him".

[donovan]

Rules are clear when you can call for a fair catch. Seems to me the receiver knew the rule well. I He was certainly within the rules. The hit was early and the antic afterward sophomoric. And he was dragged out of the stadium by the coach because he would not shut up.

[Dossenator]

Billybud I was joking about the Florida comment (an attempt at being funny and it clearly is not funny). I do apologize. I got on to Donovan for making comments about Arkansas (and if their are residents of any state that should be sensitive to comments like this it should be a resident of Arkansas...like myself). You are right it was uncalled for, and I will not do it again.

Like Razorhawk said, the player probably felt like he timed the hit correctly. As soon as the tip of a finger touches the ball you are fair game....no fair catch signal, so you do not have to let the receiver cleanly catch the ball. Being a punt returner has to be the toughest job in football: you have to be aware of the players running full speed and you are the target, you have to make a split second decision (can I catch the ball without being destroyed and make positive yards), do I signal fair catch, or do I simply let the ball drop and stop where it may.

I said it was a bad play, that the AR player acted like a thug (especially after the ejection), and also stated I hope Petrino benches him this next Saturday.

[billybud]

Thanks Doss...

The refs would have blown the ball dead where the receiver caught it if he had caught it and run...

The ball is dead when a valid or invalid fair catch signal is given....any raising of the hand above the shoulder is ruled a fair catch signal...waving the hand is a valid fair catch signal.

How do I know? FSU's Greg Reid had a punt return for a TD called back last week for a invalid fair catch signal. Also, the refs are really calling a hit when the lead is with the crown of the helmet, even when the runner seems to contribute.

Here is a video from Saturday that incenses NC State fans....FSU's LB stops the NC State QB on 3rd down. Helmet to helmet...QB knocked out of game. Penalty, first down.

It looks to FSU guys like the QB was running, the LB set up to tackle, and then the QB slid right into his helmet. Bang, bang. Intent did not matter. It was ruled leading with the crown...penalty.

http://cdn2.sbnation.com/imported_asset ... TY-HIT.gif

and, if you look carefully, you'll see that it was the shoulder pad that hit...the tackle was set up properly to stop the QB from making the first down.