As far as Urban Meyer is concerned, Florida’s game-tying PAT attempt in the fourth quarter of their 31-30 upset loss to Ole Miss on Saturday wasn’t the result of a poor kick or a mix-up in the line. He’s pointing the finger at Kentrell Lockett, the Rebels player who blocked the kick, saying he used an illegal move to make the play.
Meyer told the GAINESVILLE SUN that Lockett “hurdled” the line to get to the kicker, a play that is technically illegal. Shades of the Bush Push, anyone? Video of the play after the jump. The blocked PAT is about 50 seconds in (after jump):
According to Meyer, he tried to alert officials to similar plays earlier in the game, but his protests fell on deaf ears:
“It’s illegal to hurdle a player to block a field goal and we warned (an official) early and they did it the whole game,” Meyer said. “I grabbed the (official) on my sideline early in the game and I said, ‘Listen, they’re doing this,’ and the guy made a comment that (Lockett) went through a gap. The way we teach field-goal protection, there should be no gaps.
“It wasn’t John. They hurdled the protection, so we’ll find out (by watching film) if that’s what happened and I’ll tell them that that’s against NCAA rules. I don’t think the kick was low.”
You can watch the video and make your own conclusion. And looking at it, Meyer has a point. NCAA football rules are pretty clear - any time a defensive player leaps over an offense player still on his feet, including being in a three-point stance. And it’s pretty obvious that’s what Lockett did.
But at the same time, that wasn’t the last play of the game. Florida had one last chance to drive to field goal range, and couldn’t pick up a fourth and one. This with the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and human bowling ball Tim Tebow behind center.
Here’s a hint, Coach Meyer: don’t call long bombs with the game on the line and your team driving for a game-winning FG, and don’t draw up a fourth down play that sends your QB right into the back of an offensive lineman, and you don’t have to worry about blocked PATs.
5:13 pm on September 28th, 2008
The Rule in question is:
Rule 2-14-1a
Hurdling is an attempt by a player to jump with one or more feet or knees foremost over an opponent who's still on his feet. (Exception: the runner)
Rule 2-14-1b "On his feet" means that no part of the opponent's body other than one or both feet is in contact with the ground.
(Live Ball Foul)
Rule 2-14-1c covers hurdling an opponent in 3 or 4 point stance. (Dead Ball Foul)
So, the question is "Did the defender met the conditions of Rule 2-14-1a and b"?
7:09 pm on September 28th, 2008
no. and who cares? they've lost. they can go cry to mommy all they want.
8:32 pm on September 28th, 2008
Typical gator crybaby bs. Urban Crier.
9:10 pm on September 28th, 2008
even Weiss admitted that even though pushing the runner is illegal, he'd tell every one of his players to do the same thing.
isn't the old saying that if you're not cheating a little, you're not really trying to win?
9:45 pm on September 28th, 2008
So Urban's belief that an OM player couldnt' have moved through a gap because, as Florida teaches it, there should be no gaps in FG protection?That sounds like a problem for Urban, not the officials. Every line has "gaps" where one player meets the next. His guys got lazy, took it for granted, and got blown up.As I recall, the refs busted a call on a 3rd and 10 catch by Hodge - Meyer can call this even.What a whiner; your coach should be above this petty finger-pointing. Man up, check your sack and accept the loss.
10:00 pm on September 28th, 2008
Right. Poor Urban, robbed by the inept refs. Yep, pretty inept as evidenced by overturn pass reception by Ole Miss in his favor; intentional grounding called as ineligible receiver; lousy spot which was only caught when he whined wanting a measurement on that last possession. The Ole Miss guy jumped thru the gap and made a great play. Grow a pair, Urban.
10:27 pm on September 28th, 2008
When i saw the video it seemed liek to me that the O-Lineman went low on him. What's the guy supposed to do? Let him chop block him & take his knees out?
10:59 pm on September 28th, 2008
That video right there is as clear as day… Kentrell cleary.. .clearly goes through the gap. Stop crying Urban.
11:57 am on September 29th, 2008
HE WENT THRU THE GAP
1:19 pm on September 29th, 2008
As a gators fan, it shouldn't have had to get to that point againt a 20 point 'dog, Regardless, i'd love to see what the jackass commenters above would have to say when its their team getting a huge non-call..
3:47 pm on September 29th, 2008
Meyer should be more concerned about Mullen's poor play calling. Running Rainey up the middle is poor play calling. 4th and nearly 2 yards and running the very play that the entire country knows you're going to run is flat out dumb. The toss sweet or option worked all day for nearly 10 yards a pop, but when it matters, they try to take our completely inept offensive line and make a push against a bigger, more physical D line? Poor play calling. Even so, Tebow's fumbles and inaccuracy cost us the game, not the blocked extra point.