"6 men in the backfield" penalty

[JayJ79]

Anyone else ever had "6 men in the backfield" called against them on punt plays?

It was called about 4 times in the UNI/NDSU game (with both teams being called).
Looking at the tape, it looked like there was 7 players on the line on those punts, so I don't understand it.
Granted, the linemen were just a tad farther back than the center/longsnapper, but that seems to be the case all the time that I've seen.

Anyhow, it was called on both teams multiple times, so I have to believe that they were just lining up the way that they practiced it, and thus I'm guessing that both teams didn't think their formations were illegal.


Any thoughts?

[93henfan]

Anyone else ever had "6 men in the backfield" called against them on punt plays?

It was called about 4 times in the UNI/NDSU game (with both teams being called).
Looking at the tape, it looked like there was 7 players on the line on those punts, so I don't understand it.
Granted, the linemen were just a tad farther back than the center/longsnapper, but that seems to be the case all the time that I've seen.

Anyhow, it was called on both teams multiple times, so I have to believe that they were just lining up the way that they practiced it, and thus I'm guessing that both teams didn't think their formations were illegal.


Any thoughts?

The refs were probably right, but were probably also being activist refs. It was probably the topic of the last MVFC refs meeting and that crew took it to heart.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

Anyone else ever had "6 men in the backfield" called against them on punt plays?

It was called about 4 times in the UNI/NDSU game (with both teams being called).
Looking at the tape, it looked like there was 7 players on the line on those punts, so I don't understand it.
Granted, the linemen were just a tad farther back than the center/longsnapper, but that seems to be the case all the time that I've seen.

Anyhow, it was called on both teams multiple times, so I have to believe that they were just lining up the way that they practiced it, and thus I'm guessing that both teams didn't think their formations were illegal.


Any thoughts?

The refs were probably right, but were probably also being activist refs. It was probably the topic of the last MVFC refs meeting and that crew took it to heart.

seemed like it... both NDSU and UNI had tackles who liked to line up just behind the centers numbers... which I agree is likely a point of emphasis... but it was annoying as shit...

i get why the rule is there and all... and i get that preventing a return of the flying wedge is probably a good thing... it's still an annoying call - in a couple cases on saturday the tackle was close enough (albeit on the edge) and they flagged it (one on each team) this crew just seemed overzealous in general

[spelunker]

No kidding, let them play. That was the most ticky-tack game I've ever seen officiated, on both sides.

[houndawg]

No kidding, let them play. That was the most ticky-tack game I've ever seen officiated, on both sides.

Wait til you see the MVC refs buckle to the crowds wishes at the UNI dome.

[clenz]

No kidding, let them play. That was the most ticky-tack game I've ever seen officiated, on both sides.

It was almost bad to watch the way the refs were throwing the flag...

[UAalum72]

I remember it was called twice on Albany in one game on extra points.

Heard later it was a rookie ref.

[spelunker]

No kidding, let them play. That was the most ticky-tack game I've ever seen officiated, on both sides.

It was almost bad to watch the way the refs were throwing the flag...

I heard they got new ones at halftime, others were worn out...

I didn't see much difference in the formations on the DVR later. The whole front line was equal and lined up on the long snappers feet

[clenz]

It was almost bad to watch the way the refs were throwing the flag...

I heard they got new ones at halftime, others were worn out...

I didn't see much difference in the formations on the DVR later. The whole front line was equal and lined up on the long snappers feet

I didn't see anything wrong with the formations either other than maybe everyone on the line was too far off???


Not sure what the refs were trying to prove Saturday, but they proved they don't belong doing D1 football

[Rob Iola]

...
Not sure what the refs were trying to prove Saturday, but they proved they don't belong doing D1 football

Like the SEC refs who called Georgia (and then LSU, after they scored the winning TD) for the bogus (and phantom) "pointing at the crowd" penalty a couple weeks ago? point of emphasis, you know...

[clenz]

...
Not sure what the refs were trying to prove Saturday, but they proved they don't belong doing D1 football

Like the SEC refs who called Georgia (and then LSU, after they scored the winning TD) for the bogus (and phantom) "pointing at the crowd" penalty a couple weeks ago? point of emphasis, you know...

Point of emphasis = call it even if it doesn't exist because we can't let the teams or players deciding the game without our help.

[DJH]

No kidding, let them play. That was the most ticky-tack game I've ever seen officiated, on both sides.

Wait til you see the MVC refs buckle to the crowds wishes at the UNI dome.

Houndawg is already making built in excuses!! Hilarious!

[JayJ79]

...
Not sure what the refs were trying to prove Saturday, but they proved they don't belong doing D1 football

Like the SEC refs who called Georgia (and then LSU, after they scored the winning TD) for the bogus (and phantom) "pointing at the crowd" penalty a couple weeks ago? point of emphasis, you know...

I do think they go a bit overboard with that this year.
I agree with penalizing the player when they do that stupid somersault-into-the endzone thing,
or if they are truly taunting.

But I don't see anything wrong with a little celebration, like holding the ball out or a bit of highstepping. If you're offended by something as trivial as that, then perhaps you shouldn't be playing football.

[CSUBUCDAD]

Any time you see a spike in certain penalties it usually means that call was missed several times the week previously

[JALMOND]

Anyone else ever had "6 men in the backfield" called against them on punt plays?

It was called about 4 times in the UNI/NDSU game (with both teams being called).
Looking at the tape, it looked like there was 7 players on the line on those punts, so I don't understand it.
Granted, the linemen were just a tad farther back than the center/longsnapper, but that seems to be the case all the time that I've seen.

Anyhow, it was called on both teams multiple times, so I have to believe that they were just lining up the way that they practiced it, and thus I'm guessing that both teams didn't think their formations were illegal.


Any thoughts?

Six in the backfield means that there are five on the line. I believe that is the penalty.

[clenz]

Anyone else ever had "6 men in the backfield" called against them on punt plays?

It was called about 4 times in the UNI/NDSU game (with both teams being called).
Looking at the tape, it looked like there was 7 players on the line on those punts, so I don't understand it.
Granted, the linemen were just a tad farther back than the center/longsnapper, but that seems to be the case all the time that I've seen.

Anyhow, it was called on both teams multiple times, so I have to believe that they were just lining up the way that they practiced it, and thus I'm guessing that both teams didn't think their formations were illegal.


Any thoughts?

Six in the backfield means that there are five on the line. I believe that is the penalty.

I think he know what it meant, but has a hard time believing that there was 4 or 5 times during that game that the same punt formation was done illegally.

[JayJ79]

Six in the backfield means that there are five on the line. I believe that is the penalty.

thanks. that higher level math is always so tricky.

[JALMOND]

Six in the backfield means that there are five on the line. I believe that is the penalty.

thanks. that higher level math is always so tricky.

I get lost whenever numbers get higher than eleven. I was surprised I could answer the question.

[dbackjon]

thanks. that higher level math is always so tricky.

I get lost whenever numbers get higher than eleven. I was surprised I could answer the question.

I was too, since you are a Portland State Grad (warming up for PSU game smack)

[JayJ79]

Cap'n just told me that "6 men in the backfield" is also one of the titles from his video collection.

(just kidding with ya, Cap'n)

[isumatt]

There has to be 7 on the line, otherwise its iullegal formation..a rule from the NFL all the way down to High School

[JayJ79]

There has to be 7 on the line, otherwise its iullegal formation..a rule from the NFL all the way down to High School

I'm aware of that. But looking at the tape, there appears to be 7 on the line for all those punts, which is what confuses me.