Lefty your thoughts on this?

[buckeye_in_sc]

See copied Detroit Press article.

Did USC break an NCAA rule by having a player change numbers mid-game? October 25 2012 - Posted in: College Football - 0 comments The reason why Southern Cal should be under investigation for this, and should have been penalized during the game is due to the fact that they had two players wearing the same jersey. Not just the same number, the same jersey. It’s typical to see duplicate numbers on the field, and with teams having 100 players or more (including walk-ons), they pretty much have to. The only rule is that the players with the same number can’t be on the field at the same time, which usually means that teams have a player on the offensive and defensive side of the ball with the same. This way they don’t get players confused or mixed up. For example, on USC quarterback Matt Barkley wears #7 and so does their star All-American safety TJ McDonald. The instance that is being called into question though is when their backup quarterback Cody Kessler and their punter Kyle Negrete. Kessler is normally #6, but for their win on Saturday against Colorado, he was seen wearing #35 (Negrete’s number). Kessler went out to run a two-point conversion wearing #35, it was successful except it was called back due to a holding call. Then in the second half, Kessler came out in his normal number 6. The penalty for trying to deceive an opponent by changing players numbers during a game according to the NCAA rule book is: ”Numbers shall not be changed during the game to deceive opponents.” A team caught doing so will be assessed a 15-yard penalty and “flagrant offenders shall be disqualified.” To me it seems as though they blatantly violated the NCAA rules, but here is what USC Head Coach Lane Kiffin had to say: ”We change jerseys all the time with our guys. We’ll change some more this week. Everything’s within college rules.” Sure they can change them during the week as much as they like, they can even change them on game day prior to the game; something that Michigan has done all year when unveiling their “legends uniforms.” But, if Kessler changed his number, then why did he go back to his old number at half time? It seems a lot like an NCAA violation to me. H/T: Detroit Free Press



thoughts? I know Schmick/Toe Jam will come in and say quit crying, etc or the NCAA is out to get USC...but if in fact this did happen...what can be done post?

[Van]

Kessler went out to run a two-point conversion wearing #35, it was successful except it was called back due to a holding call.

USC's 2012 season in a nutshell.

[Left Seater]

What can be done now?

Nothing unless the NCAA starts reviewing each game for missed penalties.

If USC had two players on the field for a play, regardless of a try, kick, or scrimmage play, it is a foul. However, this is hard to catch because there isn't time to read each number before every play. What usually happens is one team notices it from the coaches booth in the press box and notifies the coaches on the sidelines who point it out to the officials.

I also am not sure that the changing of the number at half is clearly deception. If say #9 a WR is always double teamed when he is in the game and he switches his number in an attempt to fool the defense so as not to draw the double team, that would be a foul. On the other hand a jersey can tear or get blood on it and therefore unfit for play.

Could be that the back up QB fucked up his jersey and it was washed or repaired during the first half. I have seen this happen in a college game before.

Also the author calls for an investigation into a violation. What? This is discussed in rules of the game, not the NCAA handbook. This is a yardage foul or a disqualification for a flagrant or repeat offender, not something that will get them put on probation.

So it sounds like no USC players played on the field at the same time wearing the same number. IE no foul. It also hardly seems like USC was trying to confuse their back up QB with their punter. Maybe if the back up QB went out on the field wearing the punters number and instead of punting threw a pass for a first down, CU might have a concern. Outside of that this is just someone showing their ignorance.

[Van]

If USC had two players on the field for a play, regardless of a try, kick, or scrimmage play, it is a foul.

It would also be damned impressive!

[Left Seater]

And also illegal on multiple fronts.

meant to include the same number reference.