Goaltending in football?
Bob Marshall
pulled off a play that has only occurred once in the history of the NFL.
R.C. was known for his great leaping ability, so in the waning moments of
a game when the opponent lined up to attempt a long game-winning field goal,
Weeb Ewbank (Colts' coach) positioned Owens in front of the goal posts. Sure
enough, the kick was going to barely clear the crossbar, but Owens leapt up
and swatted it away.
My question is this. Is this still a legal play? If so, why doesn't anyone
try it? If not, what is the infraction called? Goaltending :-) ?
--
=============================================================================
Bob Marshall Clouseau: "Does your dog bite?"
Lockheed Missiles & Space Co. Innkeeper:"No..."
Sunnyvale, CA Clouseau: "Nice doggie!"
Dog: "Rowr, rowr, rowr, chomp!"
mars...@lmsc.lockheed.com Clouseau: "You said your dog doesn't bite!"
Innkeeper:"That is not my dog."
=============================================================================
Stephen Joseph Smith
Bob Marshall <mars...@lmsc.lockheed.com> wrote:
>Thirty-two years ago R.C. Owens (playing for the Baltimore Colts at the time)
>pulled off a play that has only occurred once in the history of the NFL.
>R.C. was known for his great leaping ability, so in the waning moments of
>a game when the opponent lined up to attempt a long game-winning field goal,
>Weeb Ewbank (Colts' coach) positioned Owens in front of the goal posts. Sure
>enough, the kick was going to barely clear the crossbar, but Owens leapt up
>and swatted it away.
There really should be a video of "Unforgettable NFL moments" and this
should be in it.
>My question is this. Is this still a legal play? If so, why doesn't anyone
>try it?
Yes, it is still a legal play.
No one tries it because most kicks don't barely clear the crossbar any
more, and most players with the leaping ability of R. C. Owens are in the
NBA.
- Stephen
Michael M. Welch
Also, I would guess that if the kick is far enough out that it might
just barely clear the crossbar, that means it's gonna be kicked at a rela-
tively. So, even players that can leap would likely have a better shot of
blocking the kick at the line of scrimmage than as it crosses the bar.
- Michael
--
Michael Welch
mwe...@netcom.com
Frank Serpas III
>Yes, it is still a legal play.
Actually, it's not. In the 1993 NFL Rule Book, in
Rule 12 (Player Conduct)
Section 3 (Unsportsmanlike Conduct)
Article 1 between (n) & (o)
it says:
"Note: Goal-tending by any player leaping up to deflect a kick as it passes
above the crossbar of a goalpost is prohibited."
Personally, I'd allow goaltending. If a team wants to try it, let 'em.
*******************************************************************************
Frank Serpas III ser...@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu
...............................................................................
>>Saints WWW page- http://ccwf.cc.utexas.edu/~serpas/saints.html
T. M. Cuffel
Frank Serpas III <ser...@huey.cc.utexas.edu> wrote:
>Stephen Joseph Smith <sjs...@cs.umd.edu> wrote:
>
>>Yes, it is still a legal play.
>
>Actually, it's not. In the 1993 NFL Rule Book, in
>
>Rule 12 (Player Conduct)
>Section 3 (Unsportsmanlike Conduct)
>Article 1 between (n) & (o)
>
>it says:
>
>"Note: Goal-tending by any player leaping up to deflect a kick as it passes
>above the crossbar of a goalpost is prohibited."
This would seem to apply to a ball that has already broken the plain of
the goalpost. Blocking it anytime before looks ok.
--
A correct fanatic is no less objectionable than an incorrect one.
- Me
Arthur Hlavaty
: Stephen Joseph Smith <sjs...@cs.umd.edu> wrote:
: >Yes, it is still a legal play.
: Actually, it's not. In the 1993 NFL Rule Book, in
: Rule 12 (Player Conduct)
: Section 3 (Unsportsmanlike Conduct)
: Article 1 between (n) & (o)
: it says:
: "Note: Goal-tending by any player leaping up to deflect a kick as it passes
: above the crossbar of a goalpost is prohibited."
: Personally, I'd allow goaltending. If a team wants to try it, let 'em.
I agree. I remember when George Blanda kicked a 50+-yard FG to beat the
Chiefs in the last seconds, Hank Stram stationed Morris Stroud, a 6-10
defensivce end, under the goal post and he almost reached it. If the
Lions had stationed a tall enough player or high enough jumper at the
post, Tom Dempsey wouldn't have made his 63-yard FG.
--
Arthur D. Hlavaty hla...@panix.com
Church of the SuperGenius In Wile E. We Trust
Mark Mickunas
>>try it?
>
>Yes, it is still a legal play.
>
>No one tries it because most kicks don't barely clear the crossbar any
>more, and most players with the leaping ability of R. C. Owens are in the
I would wager that if Alvin Harper would quickly shed his pads he could
clear the crossbar by 2 or 3 feet.
But you are right, the chances of the football barely clearing are slim.
The player's chances are better if they jump at the line of scrimmage
to block it at the onset.
Come to think of it, why isn't Alvin in there when opponents are kicking
against Dallas?
--
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Erik Lauer
>Come to think of it, why isn't Alvin in there when opponents are kicking
>against Dallas?
Leon might not have as much air under his feet, but his hand will be almost
as high (he is taller and has longer arms, bigger hands). Leon will be closer
to the kicker, meaning he does not have to be quite as high. In addition, if
the other team runs a fake, Leon will probably put a lot more preassure up
the middle than Alvin (and is much less likely to get injured in the process).
Erik
shankar-wpd.sgi.com
> But you are right, the chances of the football barely clearing are slim.
> The player's chances are better if they jump at the line of scrimmage
> to block it at the onset.
Or if they climb up on the goalpost and stand on the crossbar.. :-)
(Wouldn't that be a sight: a soccer-style "wall" standing on the crossbar?)
--
Shankar Unni E-Mail: sha...@sgi.com
Silicon Graphics Inc. Phone: +1-415-390-2072
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From: sha...@sgi.com (Shankar Unni)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro
Subject: Re: Goaltending in football?
Date: 22 Dec 1994 21:18:51 GMT
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