Don't believe I've ever seen a play clock utilized at Papa John's. Why-----I don't know.

Are you timing the refs? Are you waiting till the ball is set to start timing?

 

Actually, we do at several games. I agree with a lot of posters on here, I think its a pretty big problem that lots of teams take advantage of. We could actually get a much longer count if we went with when the ball is set but do you go by that or when the judge blows the whistle?

I wonder what the cost would be to have a play clock and would you have to have one at both ends?

You see the play clock used in the championship games because in part you cna trust the people running the clock. I know most officals do not consider a play clock at a school as the "offical" clock.

 

Now as far as running off large amounts of clock goes there are "legal" ways to do it. Of course we have all been at games where the person running the clock didn't start it on time or stop it or any number of things. If the RB takes his time getting up and does not hand the ball to the offical you can run off a good 20 sec or so before they can even chop the ball ready for play. Between things like that and running down the gam eclock you can run off 50-60 sec or so a play. If there is a pile you can stretch out more with the offense getting off the pile slowly.

All I know on this is they get VERY upset at me when I time them from when the ball is marked 'ready-for-play' and they let our opponent take 28, 29, 30, 31, etc. seconds and I start counting it out loud. (Actually had one guy -- VERY ANGRILY -- threaten to throw a flag on me for 'illegal use of technology' because I was using my stopwatch...I'm not kidding).

 

I always get the "we're gonna let 'em have a few extra seconds, coach. You'll get the same clock as them." Problem is, we are an UP-TEMPO team that rarely gets to 18-seconds so we don't WANT the extra seconds.

 

I hate this because I think it 'rewards' teams who have to have their qb run to the sideline to get the play rather than the coach having a system to get plays in according to the published rules of the game. Also, if that coach employs an offensive philosophy of 'shortening the game' the officials are assisting them in a way that's inconsistent with the rules of the game we're all supposed to play by.

I think if the refs don;t trust the clock then their needs to be an official in the booth running the clock and play clock.