I don't know that it's changed that much. I was taught to play through the whistle and if I didn't hear a whistle, I was head-hunting.

 

In this situation, the refs were either really, really on top of things and didn't blow the whistle on purpose or they were really, really clueless and didn't blow the whistle out of mistake. Non of the 22 players knew what was going on. One team was heading off in defeat and the other was heading off in celebration. The coaches on the sidelines were the ones that realized the whistle didn't blow.

 

Headhunting to the whistle is a 15 yard penalty today if it is the least bit out of the play of the ball, including pursuit as little as 10-15 yards behind the ball.:irked:

The "whistle" does not end the play, the play ends itself. Also, I think the knee was down on this one!

This exact same situation happened 11 days ago here in Kentucky. Game winning field goal blocked, team runs off celebrating while a player takes it in. Russellville/Edmonson County.

 

http://www.newsdemocratleader.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Panthers+pull+out+wild+win%20&id=3841675-Panthers+pull+out+wild+win&instance=secondary_stories_left_column

Headhunting to the whistle is a 15 yard penalty today if it is the least bit out of the play of the ball, including pursuit as little as 10-15 yards behind the ball.:irked:

 

Back in the day, you could ear hole someone about 30 yards down the field on a running play :lol:

I'd like to see Murray and Beechwood watch this together. :lol:

His knee is clearly down when he picks up the ball. If there was a review available at the game, I have little doubt this would have been ruled a dead ball.

I agree, knee down, game over.

I agree, knee down, game over.

Yep he was down, play over.

 

BTW if someone had "played to the whistle" and nailed the holder after the block, they would have in all likelihood got 15yds for late hit and team would have got another shot anyway.

I read the article that went with them video yesterday. The losing coach said the whistle blew, however, if you look at all the refs, not a single one looks like they're blowing the play dead. All remain standing there. If they had blown it dead, they would've been running off the field. But as mentioned, his knee was down when he picked up the ball.

Clyde created a similar thread with a video couple of weeks ago: Check Out How This Team Lost a Game!!

 

Or you can just go straight to the Youtube video.

 

Anyway, both plays are absolutely the result of teams not pounding the fundamentals into the players' heads.

I'd like to see Murray and Beechwood watch this together. :lol:

 

Watched the replay on the local news, the whistle clearly blew and the broadcaster was pointing it out to verify it was the correct call.

Dang, that's a tough ruling.

Hard to tell but it appeared the kid recovered the ball with his knee down at which point the play should have been dead. Again, not 100% sure if his knee was down.

 

Interestingly enough the rule would have allowed the kicker to step back and kick it again but the holder would not have been allowed to put his knee down.

Looks like a good time to pull this one back out: