Hey-Ref

The wall you see is the resevoir in Eden Park. It has since been torn down. When you cross the I-471 bridge, look up there to the fountain in Mirror Lake now.

This photo was found and originally shared by two '63 NHS grads, David Collins and Mitch Wolfe. I don't know them, and the email was forwarded several times. You will note the baseball field and football field were already there before the stands were being built. Note the home plate and backstop area beyond the far endzone. Beyond that is where the current NHS school building stands. At the time of this photo, the high school was located several blocks away in Newport. The far hilltop at the top of the picture is actually Mt. Adams, across the Ohio River in Cincinnati.

This is the construction of the original Newport Stadium in the 30's. If anyone has a photo of the new look, it would be great to see these side by side.

To add to the information from offside... Illegal motion involves only one player moving illegally at the snap. Illegal shift involves multiple players. All A players must be set for 1 second before the snap, or before any A player may go into legal motion. If all team A players do not get set, or there is more than 1 A player in motion at the snap, this is illegal shift, a live ball foul.

Rule 9-2-2 .. The runner may not grasp a teammate. Illegal Use of Hands, 10 yard penalty.

It is legal to spike the ball to stop the clock in HS if the snap is taken directly hand-to-hand from the snapper. This is an exception to the illegal forward pass rule.

FBRules' interpretation is totally accurate. Once the receiver makes a move to run a pass route, then he is no longer a potential blocker, and the defender cannot contact him. It is up the the defender to know if the receiver is running a route or blocking for a runner, and adjust. Rule 9-2-3d... A defensive player shall not contact an eligible receiver who is no longer a potential blocker. A receiver is no longer a potential blocker when he makes move or cuts to get into his pass route. Since pass interference restrictions for team A begin at the snap, it is OPI if the receiver blocks beyond the NZ before going into his pass route. So receivers may not chuck the DE or OLB before running his route. As for the crack back block mentioned above... If a wideout comes down the line toward the DE or LB he is still a potential blocker, and can be blocked by the defender. It must be clear that the receiver is running a route to get protection from contact.

As for the receiver and defender behind the NZ on a pass behind the NZ... Neither an A nor a B player may hold an opponent in the backfield before, during or after a pass. They may not block from behind or below the waist either. All these are fouls regardless of the type of play being attempted. However, blocking legally (from front or sides, above waist) before the ball arrives is legal if the contact occurs before the ball is touched if it is in or behind the NZ. By rule, there is no pass interference on a pass in or behind the NZ, but only if the forward pass crosses the NZ. You can have other fouls though, such as illegal block or holding, or a personal foul.

I think the logic is that the rule has been there for so long, and until more recent years, most kickers could not ever reach the GL with a free kick anyway, so it was never an issue. On punts and FG attempts the same rule applies. Once any free kick or scrimmage kick crooses the plane of the GL it is a touchback (unless it is a successful scoring kick) in all high school (NFHS) games. I think eventually this rule will be changed, and you will see it be "tested" in a few states before being adopted nationwide. It gets more discussion every year from fans , and someone will propose it eventually. Kicks in the EZ in NCAA and NFL can only be returned if they are caught. Once they touch something (ground, goal post, fence, etc.) behind the GL they are TB's.

On a pass behind the neutral zone there cannot be pass interference by either team. However, you can have a foul for holding, illegal block, or a personal foul, if the contact is illegal. You may make contact with the receiver, or the receiver may make contact, but it must be otherwise legal contact. It must not be from behind or below the waist or unnecessarily rough.

There has been a change in this area, but not what you expect. An ineligible receiver downfield touching the pass was called OPI, with 15 yards and LOD. Now this is illegal touching, 5 yards and LOD. But the penalty for all other forms of OPI is still 15 yards and LOD. I've heard no talk of changing this penalty. Some think it severe, but it actually mirrors DPI, which is 15 yards and a new series for A.

The problem with KHSAA's 6 division alignment is there just are not enough schools to warrant this. There will be fewer than 40 schools per division, and 32 of them make the playoffs. Some schools are going to the playoffs before they ever snap the ball. And what of the 22 teams that don't go to the playoffs? At least in Ohio the schools that make the playoffs deserve it by winning games. Playoff berths are hard to come by in Ohio, no matter how you fill the brackets. I just think if they want this many in the playoffs, then allow them all in. I'd feel better about that. In some case with the new alignment they have eliminated some of the best competition from the playoffs by putting perennial rivals in different divisions. That's how to dilute the meaning of State Champion. And I don't think enough thought went into the non-divisional scheduling issues this new alignment presents certain schools.

OHSAA Football Division Enrollment Schools I 529 or more 116 II 363 to 528 119 III 261 to 362 118 IV 188 to 260 120 V 131 to 187 119 VI 130 or less 124 Total Schools 716 32 teams in each division make the playoffs. In Indiana all schools get in, but only play 9 regular season games. KY should not change the format so 90% of schools get into the playoffs. If you're going to go that far, make it 100%. The problem is that too many schools were complaining about not winning state titles, and were blaming the private schools for their predicament. The KHSAA change the rule this way instead of separating public and private. In my opinion, neither change is appropriate. State championships should be difficult to win. That is what makes them special. And as far as what is good for the kids... How wise is it to tell a team that's 1-9 or 2-8 they are playoff caliber?

Observations: 1. The current system provides 4 classes with 32 playoff teams in each. Of those approximately 1/3 have .500 or less winning percentage. So the current playoff system allows too many poor team into the playoffs. 2. If the future 6 class system allows 32 per class into the playoffs, then 192 of 214 statewide schools will make the playoffs. About 90% in, and 10% out. This make no sense to me. Playoffs are not only a venue to showcase your team while playing for a title, but it is supposed to be a reward for a successful season. 3. Ohio has 6 divisions, but there are 719 football playing schools in Ohio, 120 schools per division.

1. I can't wait for the first cool, clear Friday night under the lights, when dew forms on the grass during the 2nd half. 2. I can't wait for the sights, sounds and smells of high school football, the lights, The National Anthem, burgers cooking, and pads crashing, 3. I can't wait for the first post game meal with my crew, including a couple drinks of fermented grain, and the stories and jokes that accompany such a meal.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/preps/2006-06-07-nj-steroid-testing_x.htm

http://news.nky.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20060512/NEWS0103/605120416

Get your recruiting questions answered here: http://www2.ncaa.org/portal/legislation_and_governance/eligibility_and_recruiting

Become and official and never worry about where to sit again! http://www.nkoafootball.org

Not sure what your question is but here goes. First, there are two officials under the posts, one under each upright. So the mechanic I stated above works no matter which side you are under. That makes it an easy call every time. The video I linnked above I said ther official was not in position. Notice there was only one official at the post, and he did a great job to move to the psot closest to the kick before rulling, and he got it right. The official who was out of position is the line judge who should have been back there with the back judge. One more time. If you are in position this is an easy call to make, no matter where the kick is.

Look, without sounding like I'm complaining... Longer posts sway more that shorter ones, so if swaying gives you problems calling kicks, then shorter is better. However, if the official is under the post, there is no way to get the call wrong. You look right up the post and see where the ball passes, inside is good, over or outside is no good. And it is still the only place to know for certain if a kick is good. No matter how high the posts are. The kick may be close, but it is not hard to call. Now for an entertaining kick, with an official in the wrong position ckeck this out: http://home.comcast.net/~minnmo/football/Cancila_Kick___WMV.wmv

JoeFan, that is not a look of embarrassment. Knowing if a kick is successful or not is quite easy when you stnad directly under the post. Officials are trained to look at each other and nod (for good) or shake (for no good) so that they both give the same signal. This is because an official under the right post cannot tell if the kick was good if it was close to the left post. As I stated in an earlier post, calling FG's and PAT's is as easy as being in the right position. And there is only one right position, under the goal post. No other view anywhere in the house has a good view at all. So you see, there is a perfect angle, and only the officials have it.

From an official's perspective.... Calling a field goal or try good or not is as easy as being in the right position, directly under one of the uprights. Each official under the uprights looks straight up the post, as if looking down the barrel of a rifle. If the ball passes completely on the inside of the post the kick is good. If any part of the ball passes over the top of the post, it is no good. It matters not how high the post is. No one in the stadium has a better view of the kick than the two officials under the goal post. No One!

Ok I'm confused! What is offensive pass interception?

I think 4 classes for approximately 210 football programs is the right balance. I also think there are too many teams that qualify for playoffs. There are 128 berths in playoff system, which is more than half. About 1/3 of those have .500 or less winning percentages.