Moving the chains?... Oneida fans believe they were cheated out of first down

 

"On fourth and one, Zach Couch carried the ball off right guard for a 1-yard gain to the 29-yard-line…first down, right? No. Video taken by an Oneida videographer in the press box clearly shows the South Greene chain crew moving the sticks as the play unfolded."

 

The video looks very compelling but it, of course, doesn't show everything that you would need to say with certainty they were cheated...but it looks like they may have been.

 

I've witnessed this live in a Youth game several years ago as the chain gang would kick the sticks a yard or so every play...so I've seen how easy this can happen if everyone on the chain gang is involved.

That's pretty dirty if they indeed did this maliciously.

In this day and time of Hudl I would think there would be a much more clearer picture that can be painted.

 

Namely where the ball was spotted on First Down to start the possession and how the chains were set up accordingly.

 

You can tell that he's not just taking up the slack but is pulling the other stick with him, by the way he has to kinda jerk the stick a couple of times to pull it the yard or so that it is moved.

It looks shady in the window we are given, but without seeing the other end of the chains or knowing where the original spot for First Down was it is hard to say what really happens.

 

Maybe there was a kink in the chains he was stretching out or the chains were wrapped around some object or foot?

Also shout out to South green for HORRIBLE jerseys!

 

I was going to do some investigating to see if there was another view you could find from their hudl page but you cant read the jersey numbers to even know who was on the field.

In this day and time of Hudl I would think there would be a much more clearer picture that can be painted.

 

Namely where the ball was spotted on First Down to start the possession and how the chains were set up accordingly.

 

There hopefully is, this all stems from one guys Facebook post of video that he took personally. Maybe if someone has a Huddle Account they could look at it and see.

Another explanation is the defensive sideline seems to be crowded and the team/coaches could be stepping on the chains. But the front stick seems to move from the :08 to the :10 in the video. If the kink was detected, it should of been corrected before the snap. The referee could of motioned for the first down and the line judge ( opposite chains) would of had the best look whether the line to gain was achieved. A good mechanic is to measure on all close 4th down plays, not to rush forward and give the first down or call it short.

Why you clip the chains, the officials should’ve measured it with the clip either way and this isn’t an issue.

Why you clip the chains, the officials should’ve measured it with the clip either way and this isn’t an issue.

 

I thought that I read in one of the stories the clip was moved too, during the play. That's why I wish the camera view was wider.

It's not a good look, he had a good 8 seconds during that clip before he yanks it while the Oneida player is diving. Check out the 3 still clips, the chains move at least 1.5 yards from their original placement. That's a big kink.

Like I said earlier, I saw a chain gang that were organized and they could do it both ways depending on who had the ball. When it was finally noticed they continued until a parent from the opposing team went over and stood on the chain to prevent them from doing it. Now this was youth football with youth league officials, so it wasn't too hard to do it. Next game between these teams had high school ref crew and impartial chain crew.

 

These guys at South Greene I'd bet have done this before.

 

These guys at South Greene I'd bet have done this before.

 

Which is why Kentucky and everyone else should use licensed officials for chain crew and clock operator starting in second round. Let’s more officials work more playoffs games and makes sure this garbage doesn’t happen.

Which is why Kentucky and everyone else should use licensed officials for chain crew and clock operator starting in second round. Let’s more officials work more playoffs games and makes sure this garbage doesn’t happen.

 

In Louisville, KFOA is responsible for doing chains for 8-10 of the local high schools. I wish it were more. I agree with you, officials should be working the chains, not dads and uncles and boosters.

In Louisville, KFOA is responsible for doing chains for 8-10 of the local high schools. I wish it were more. I agree with you, officials should be working the chains, not dads and uncles and boosters.

 

Or at least one official manning the original stick at the line of scrimmage who is in control of the three dads/uncles/boosters.