re: Sternberger drop or fumble? You make the call..... (pics/vid inside)

quote:

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But it totally eliminates the possibility that Greedy will also fumble the ball as he runs with it. Once the play is dead, you simply cannot determine the unknowable outcome from that point

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The game is over at the time of the whistle/hand signal. We had the ball when that happened.


Found this for inadvertent whistle provisions, check out #4:

NCAA inadvertent whistle rules
4-2-b

If an official sounds his whistle inadvertently or otherwise signals the
ball dead during a down (Rules 4-1-3-k and m):
1. When the ball is in player possession, then the team in possession
may elect to put the ball in play where declared dead or replay the
down.
2. When the ball is loose from a fumble, backward pass or illegal pass,
then the team in possession may elect to put the ball in play where
possession was lost or replay the down.
3. During a legal forward pass or a free or scrimmage kick, then the ball
is returned to the previous spot and the down replayed.
4. After Team B gains possession on the try or during an extra period, then the try is over or the extra-period possession series is ended



ps - It really isn't even an inadvertent whistle issue. The whistle and hand signals occurred after LSU recovered the fumble. They can review the play and overturn it as a fumble instead of an incomplete pass and clearly see LSU recovered the fumble. You could say the whistles can be deemed inadvertent but that would mean the game is over anyway because LSU had already taken over possession of the ball (assuming replay ruled so).