Game Thread: The University of Michigan vs the University of Alabama (Rose Bowl)

[Nat Mann]

That was a good no call. The kick was completed and the defender had turned around to play the return. At some point the punter is just another player on the field, regardless of how long they keep their leg out in front of them. The punter is lucky he didn't get flagged for tripping.

The burden is on the defender not to hit the punter. If he turned around, neglected to watch where he was going and hit the punter it's running into the kicker. And no, the punter didn't keep his leg up an unreasonable length of time.

 

[Wolvie]

The burden is on the defender not to hit the punter. If he turned around, neglected to watch where he was going and hit the punter it's running into the kicker. And no, the punter didn't keep his leg up an unreasonable length of time.

The punter has an obligation (as do all players on the field) to not trip opponents. This punter was unreasonably restricting this player from defending the return. Alabama was lucky it didn't get a flag there.

 

[Nat Mann]

The punter has an obligation (as do all players on the field) to not trip opponents. This punter was unreasonably restricting this player from defending the return. Alabama was lucky it didn't get a flag there.

The punter was standing on one leg at the time. I'm sorry, but the notion that the punter tripped the defender who wasn't watching where he was going is utter nonsense.

 

[Wolvie]

The punter was standing on one leg at the time. I'm sorry, but the notion that the punter tripped the defender who wasn't watching where he was going is utter nonsense.

Is it though?

 

[Nat Mann]

Is it though?

Yes. By your own admission the defender wasn't watching where he was going. The defender ran into the kicker who was in the process of bringing his kicking leg down. By the time contact was made the kickers leg was halfway down.

Saying that the kicker "tripped" the defender while still in the same place where he made the kick is absurd. End of discussion.

 

[Wolvie]

Yes. By your own admission the defender wasn't watching where he was going. The defender ran into the kicker who was in the process of bringing his kicking leg down. By the time contact was made the kickers leg was halfway down.

Saying that the kicker "tripped" the defender while still in the same place where he made the kick is absurd. End of discussion.

I'd agree that it wasn't so egregious that a flag should have been thrown. It was a good no call.

 

[Jordan23]

over who?

Still think they were better than Bama and Texas. They had a bad game against Bama but definitely are a top 4 team.