Play in the Sussex Tech - CR game

[whodey00]

Not sure if anyone saw this play or not. WBOC had it on the highlights. The link is a video clip from Twitter.

Sussex Tech broke a big run down near CR’s sideline. A CR player appears to leave the bench and layout Tech’s running back. The refs ejected the CR player and awarded Tech a touchdown. Now I’m not sure if the player was ejected for targeting or leaving the bench. In the video you can see CR only has 10 men on the field. The player in question is standing near the coach and it’s hard to tell if he was on the field or if he came off the sidelines. I’m also not sure why Tech was awarded a touchdown. CR had defenders that looked like they were about to make the play. Not sure what to think about it

 

[Roddav3557]

Was there anything done to the coach that sent the player in? It seems like the coach purposely sent the player in at that exact moment to make the play. If so, there is foul play by the coaching staff.

 

[84rider]

He was the 11th man on defense, only 10 guys on the field at the snap, he may of been just in play on the sideline talking to the coach

 

[BackinBlack86]

I guess the question is if the D only has 10 on the field when the play starts is the 11th allowed to come in after it starts or basically anytime? I have heard folks say he can. I can't see how they could award the TD though? but again I am not versed in this particular rule.. never seen it go down like this before.. If there were 11 on field and a 12th interfered than yes you can award the score

 

[runningman12001]

I guess the question is if the D only has 10 on the field when the play starts is the 11th allowed to come in after it starts or basically anytime? I have heard folks say he can. I can't see how they could award the TD though? but again I am not versed in this particular rule.. never seen it go down like this before.. If there were 11 on field and a 12th interfered than yes you can award the score

This is what Sean Greene posted on Twitter:
This is HS not NFL. But the NFL rulebook says it could be judged as a "Palpably Unfair Act" (Rule 12.3.4) - The offender "may" be DQd. "The Referee enforces any such distance penalty as they consider equitable and irrespective of any other penalty... may award a score" #DelHS
Quote Tweet

 

[runningman12001]

What I view is that the boy appears to be standing next to his coach on the sideline until well after the ball is snapped and does not elect to come onto the field until the ball has been advanced >15 yards. It looks egregious or deliberate to me but I wasn't there and have no idea what was going through the young man's head.

 

[pksundevil]

There’s no doubt the player was on the sidelines. Come on. This is outright unsportsmanlike and they were right to award the TD. There is no defense, and if I’m the AD, I’m talking to the coach and other players to see if he was directed to run on.

 

[Yunforce]

Looked to me that most CRs bench was way too close to the sideline/ field. One coach looks like he is on the field. The player could have been standing on the field as well. The flag was thrown before the hit so the call was definitely for coming off the sideline. Definitely a rare occurance.

 

[Rockem sockem]

Looked to me that most CRs bench was way too close to the sideline/ field. One coach looks like he is on the field. The player could have been standing on the field as well. The flag was thrown before the hit so the call was definitely for coming off the sideline. Definitely a rare occurance.

The visitors sideline is close to the field on the Tech field. The initial flag thrown looks like he was throwing it for a sideline warning. The CR player almost runs into the ref while running onto the field.

 

[MightyMik]

made it big on Barstool Sports

 

[pksundevil]

Good. Now the administration Can’t ignore it.

 

[Roddav3557]

This play is crazy! The more I look at this clip, you see the coach on the sideline looking for this player before the play, finds him after the snap, waits for the perfect time to push that player out there to make the blindside tackle. This kid was not already on the field. Was this the head coach or defensive coordinator? If that was my son, who took that hit like that, on an unsportsmanlike play like that, I would be in somebody at the top office the next day. I pray the kid who got hit like that is okay. There’s no way that coach deserves to be on that sideline or any others.

 

[Downstate4]

This play is crazy! The more I look at this clip, you see the coach on the sideline looking for this player before the play, finds him after the snap, waits for the perfect time to push that player out there to make the blindside tackle. This kid was not already on the field. Was this the head coach or defensive coordinator? If that was my son, who took that hit like that, on an unsportsmanlike play like that, I would be in somebody at the top office the next day. I pray the kid who got hit like that is okay. There’s no way that coach deserves to be on that sideline or any others.

100% agree.. Coach did push him out there... Bad part .. Coach watch the play developed and once the running back got pass his defense he nudge the player on the field.. I say fire coach.. He knew what he was doing the whole play.. That was real dirty..

 

[Chill44]

This is TERRIBLE! Smh I’m glad Custis is okay! He had a night! 256 rushing yds on 24 carries along with 4TDs.....I still can’t believe a coach allowed this to happen smh hats off to Tech coaching staff for keeping composure because I don’t know how I would’ve reacted if I had a son or player in that situation

 

[Rockem sockem]

The more I look at this video the more ill intent of the coach is disturbing. The CR coach put in a linebacker as the missing personnel. However, the missing personnel was a defensive lineman. That CR coach is needs to be fired immediately. However, with DIAA being blindly guided I doubt anything will occur to the coach or the program.

 

[youjustme]

The more I look at this video the more ill intent of the coach is disturbing. The CR coach put in a linebacker as the missing personnel. However, the missing personnel was a defensive lineman. That CR coach is needs to be fired immediately. However, with DIAA being blindly guided I doubt anything will occur to the coach or the program.

My main problem is not who he put in or even the hit. The main problem is that he felt it was OK to throw a kid out there after the play started. If the play was on the other sideline, he probably won't have did it because it would not have mattered. He saw play develop, and something in his panicked mind thought it was OK to "sic" the the player on the runner. Now if the kid was technically "on the field" but just decoying by the coach, I could see someone make the argument that you can have you 11 defensive players wherever you want on your side of the ball. The kid seems to be a little in front of the other players before he commits to runner. BUT, who would think that a coach would sandbag a player in such a crucial situation "just in case" the play happened to come to your own sideline. I think the panicked insertion theory holds more water. Coach should be suspended with prejudice.

 

[DoItWrite]

The more I look at this video the more ill intent of the coach is disturbing. The CR coach put in a linebacker as the missing personnel. However, the missing personnel was a defensive lineman. That CR coach is needs to be fired immediately. However, with DIAA being blindly guided I doubt anything will occur to the coach or the program.

The DIAA cannot fire the coach. That's not their job. My guess is that this situation is being discussed today by the school administration, the district, the Henlopen Conference and the DIAA. The DIAA prefers that discipline come from a more local level. It's only Monday, the first business day after the game. Give it a day or two.

 

[delawarenole]

Not sure if anyone saw this play or not. WBOC had it on the highlights. The link is a video clip from Twitter.

Sussex Tech broke a big run down near CR’s sideline. A CR player appears to leave the bench and layout Tech’s running back. The refs ejected the CR player and awarded Tech a touchdown. Now I’m not sure if the player was ejected for targeting or leaving the bench. In the video you can see CR only has 10 men on the field. The player in question is standing near the coach and it’s hard to tell if he was on the field or if he came off the sidelines. I’m also not sure why Tech was awarded a touchdown. CR had defenders that looked like they were about to make the play. Not sure what to think about it

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If he truly came off the bench that’s an automatic TD at any level of football

And I know it is dangerous but honestly it’s an absolute classic if he did, only other time I remember this is the 1960’s highlight of the Alabama kid doing it in the Cotton Bowl.

After watching it he does clearly look to be on the field talking to the coach and the play starts - he is actually in front of the chains which are always right on the edge of the sideline. Not sure what the illegal substation rules are for a D player coming on like that. But the kid obviously felt guilty as he tried to get back on the sideline and hide.

What a mess. Glad the RB wasn’t hurt that was a nasty hit.

 

[FanOfTheGame51]

Y'all cannot be serious. Near the sideline talking to a coach? Decoying? That's not even laughable, that's sad. we've got to do better. Clearly the player crosses the refs face to make the play and he throws a flag before contact. The play was dirty. That's it.

 

[Titanium Shadow]

If you watch closely, it looks like the coach realizes before the snap that they are missing a player and he turns around to find someone to send in. But before he can, the play starts. It looks like the coach hesitates as the play develops before pushing the player onto the field. Impossible to tell what was said by the coach to the player, but if the coach pushes a kid and tells him to get on the field, you can't really blame the kid for doing as he was told. The kid should have been still ejected from the game, but any long term punishment should be against the coach and not the player.

 

[delawarenole]

Y'all cannot be serious. Near the sideline talking to a coach? Decoying? That's not even laughable, that's sad. we've got to do better. Clearly the player crosses the refs face to make the play and he throws a flag before contact. The play was dirty. That's it.

Dude he was on the field it’s not even illegal. Same damn thing happened in the Auburn game vs Ole Miss.

I don’t think it was meant to happen the way it did. Think they were short, coach grabbed a kid and the kid saw what was happening and ran on the field. It’s that simple, imo Coach should have held him back but I know that kid he’s not a dirty player.

 

[delawarenole]

Y'all cannot be serious. Near the sideline talking to a coach? Decoying? That's not even laughable, that's sad. we've got to do better. Clearly the player crosses the refs face to make the play and he throws a flag before contact. The play was dirty. That's it.

definitely don’t think it was a decoy or planned - think it was a spontaneous stupid mistake

 

[DuckCreekCrusader]

Read most people's thoughts on this forum, as a former varsity level high school football coach it is absolutely ridiculous that this even happened. First, the player was NOT on the field during the snap and right there it is an illegal substitution. Second, sideline interference deems an automatic TD and player ejection. Finally, that coach should have never sent the player in.

It seems like a big mistake but at the end of the day, it is about player safety and this negligence needs to be addressed at some level.

 

[First_state_gridiron]

Apparently the player appears to be appealing his suspsension with DIAA

https://publicmeetings.delaware.gov/Document/64176_Agenda.pdf

 

[FanOfTheGame51]

That appeal has a 0% chance

 

[DoItWrite]

I can't see that the appeal has a shot, but stranger things have happened. According to a report on Channel 47, the CR players are placing blame squarely on the coach. Somehow, this incident has not elicited a peep from either The News Journal/DelawareOnlline or the Delaware State News.

https://www.wmdt.com/2019/11/cr-says-diaa-is-investigating-football-incident/

 

[Roboballguy88]

All the players are on social media blaming the coach he will probably be fired

 

[delawarenole]

Read most people's thoughts on this forum, as a former varsity level high school football coach it is absolutely ridiculous that this even happened. First, the player was NOT on the field during the snap and right there it is an illegal substitution. Second, sideline interference deems an automatic TD and player ejection. Finally, that coach should have never sent the player in.

It seems like a big mistake but at the end of the day, it is about player safety and this negligence needs to be addressed at some level.

He is standing in front of the chains so think he was on the field.

the call and the TD were absolutely correct.

my whole point is I think they panicked and did something stupid don’t think he was being malicious

 

[delawarenole]

I can't see that the appeal has a shot, but stranger things have happened. According to a report on Channel 47, the CR players are placing blame squarely on the coach. Somehow, this incident has not elicited a peep from either The News Journal/DelawareOnlline or the Delaware State News.

https://www.wmdt.com/2019/11/cr-says-diaa-is-investigating-football-incident/

Honestly it was on the coach

 

[BackinBlack86]

I count 3 players, 3 coaches and 3 chain gangers on field at the start of the play.. but there is language in the NFHS rule book that subs need to clearly enter the field and participate fully in the play. They are not allowed to attempt to deceive by hanging in bounds by the sideline, not that deception was the purpose here but it falls under that rule. Central could have easily been called for too many players on field as well as sideline warnings on the coaches. I tend to agree with Noles assessment.. I will post the NFHS rules relating to this later from work..

 

[DuckCreekCrusader]

I count 3 players, 3 coaches and 3 chain gangers on field at the start of the play.. but there is language in the NFHS rule book that subs need to clearly enter the field and participate fully in the play. They are not allowed to attempt to deceive by hanging in bounds by the sideline, not that deception was the purpose here but it falls under that rule. Central could have easily been called for to many players on field as well as sideline warnings on the coaches. I tend to agree with Noles assessment.. I will post the NFHS rules relating to this later from work..

False- Player was NOT on the field to start.

 

[BackinBlack86]

Granted none of these rules spell out specifically what happened in this incident there certainly is room for interpretation and opinion by the refs. I think Unfair Acts is where it lies and that is all the refs opinion


SECTION 7 SUBSTITUTIONS

ART. 6 . . . During a down, a replaced player or substitute who enters the field, but does not participate, constitutes illegal substitution.

NOTE: Participation by a replaced player or substitute is illegal participation as in 9-6.


SECTION 6 ILLEGAL PARTICIPATION

ART. 4 . . . It is illegal participation: a. When any player, replaced player, substitute, coach, athletic trainer or other attendant enters and participates during a down.

d. To use a player, replaced player, substitute, coach, athletic trainer or other attendant in a substitution or pretended substitution to deceive opponents at or immediately before the snap or free kick.

PENALTY: Arts. 1, 2, 3, 4a, g – Illegal participation – (S28) – 15 yards, live-ball, basic spot; Arts. 4b-f – Illegal participation (S28) – 15 yards, live-ball, previous spot.

SECTION 10 UNFAIR ACTS

ART. 1 . . . A player or nonplayer or person(s) not subject to the rules shall not hinder play by an unfair act which has no specific rule coverage.

ART. 5 . . . Neither team shall commit any act which, in the opinion of the referee, tends to make a travesty of the game.

PENALTY: Arts. 1, 2, 5 – Unfair act – (S27) – the referee enforces any penalty he/she considers equitable, including the award of a score;

 

[BackinBlack86]

False- Player was NOT on the field to start.

You need to get your eyes checked or your seeing what you want to see. Go to the first video in this thread and watch it a full screen and pause before snap.. Its obvious actually there are 5 coaches on the field..

 

[DuckCreekCrusader]

20/20 vision here chief. Coached down there a bunch, notice the line judge to the left. He’s called a line judge bc he’s ON THE SIDELINE. you’re see green turf and thinking it’s the field of play. Simply incorrect.

matter of fact, player are behind the coaches and behind the sticks.

 

[BackinBlack86]

Whatever Chief.. I need a overhead view dammit.. lol actually could care less about this game no play-off implications.. carry on

 

[BackinBlack86]

But I do see what your saying DCC... Who the hell lines a field like that anyway? Supposed to have thick white lines on sidelines.. ..haha

 

[delawarenole]

False- Player was NOT on the field to start.

That’s the big question, honestly with out being able to see the line it looks like half the tram was on the field!

IF he was on the field it’s not even a penalty but think the refs did the right thing and called it regardless.

I still blame the coach a lot more then the kid