The Danny Coale Rule

So apparently there has been a slight rule change (more of a tweak really) regarding control of the football as a player goes to the ground. Small consolation, but at least Danny got a rule unofficially named after him.

http://cfn.scout.com/2/1317370.html

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Comments

And there it is. I thought the call in New Orleans was a good call (based on the rulebook). Hosely had an interception get called back and it looked exactly like Coales catch in the end zone, that's when I knew it was over for us. I hate it, but one of my biggest complaints is refs not calling the game consistently, and in that case they did.

That being said, I am happy to see the rule change because Danny caught that ball..just not according to the 2011 rulebook.

Aaaannnnnnddddddd Danny Coale is still open

@CaptKirkVT10

Not good enough. They should force all Pac-12 officials to have the following image tatooed onto their bodies for eternity. Penance is a bitch

Best image I've seen of this.

It is a great image but it is what happens after this. When his body crunches, the ball moves (according to the new rule, it moves with the player maintaining possession and is a catch). According to the old rules that is incomplete. Like I said, earlier in the game Hosely came down with an interception and the exact same thing happened: maintained possession but the ball moved upon contact with the ground, reviewed, incomplete pass.

but hasnt that always been the rule? the ball can move if the receiver maintains control? i'm gonna get all worked up about this again if i keep dwelling on it.

"That kid you're talking to right there, I think he played his nuts off! And you can quote me on that shit!" -Bud Foster

I believe the difference is that if the ground causes movement. Either way the whole dwelling on it is half my point...the refs called a consistent game regardless of the viewpoint on the catch. The game was a year and half, almost two years ago...let's move on.

I will never move on. I will go to my grave swearing it was a catch. If you can't get irrationally worked up over something, then what is the point?

It was a catch

Move on? I STILL haven't moved on from Matt Ryan and the Thursday night dagger. I refuse to draft him in fantasy because I still hate him. I also still haven't moved on from the last time UVA beat us on the horseshit offsides call on the blocked punt that completely changed the game.

Good sir, if you move on then the victories aren't as sweet. I love every time we beat BC and still shout a big "F.U." to Jagodinsky (or however you spell it) and Ryan.

Edit: And as much as Wilford has redeemed himself from the drop, I still haven't gotten over that either.

"We judge ourselves by our intentions and others by their behavior" Stephen M.R. Covey

“When life knocks you down plan to land on your back, because if you can look up, you can get up, if you fall flat on your face it can kill your spirit” David Wilson

I guess I realize that it's just a game that I love to watch.

I hope others don't downvote you for this comment, as everyone has a right to their opinion. (except for you DandyDave!) But I do feel that you have missed out on the majesty of college football and what VT football is about. We are the blue collar guys building ourselves into something better. Something that can reach and obtain the very pinnacle of success. The overlooked guys that have a chip on their shoulder and a ingrained desire to knock off the bigger guy.

Having that touchdown ripped away from us was something that cannot be overlooked and forgotten, because it takes away from the very nature of who we are. We should have won. We did win.

It's the passion that's behind the nature of who VT is that makes it such a bittersweet memory that will remain unforgotten, and definitely unforgivable.

I agree with you and Hokieshibe below you (about comments like mine being booed), but don't mistake what I said for not having passion or missing out on the majesty. My saturdays are often ruined by a VT loss and I will always have a sick feeling when remembering games like boise St., the matt ryan debacle, and the sugarbowl. My best memories are the hard fought games and the blue collar mentality that got us to where we are now. Having that touchdown ripped away made me mad. But what is constantly overlooked with the Danny Coale catch is how horrible the rest of that game was. It should have never come down to the refs having to make a call like that. We should have won that game in regulation.

To me I get tired of the debate, because if Virginia Tech came out and played that game like they were capable of and capitalized on red zone opportunities, this dispute would not exist.

377 total yards to 184
36:50 to 23:10 time of possession

If someone showed me those stats, I would have said the game was won 28 or 35 to 10.

All very true, but in every game we fixate on one play as the defining play. That catch represents everything you just said for that game. We should have won it. Denard "Air Ball" Robinson should've had that TD pass picked but somehow he didn't.

I think we are all talking about the same thing. WHY CAN'T IT BE AUG 31 YET?!

"We judge ourselves by our intentions and others by their behavior" Stephen M.R. Covey

“When life knocks you down plan to land on your back, because if you can look up, you can get up, if you fall flat on your face it can kill your spirit” David Wilson

I don't think anyone would argue that we shouldn't have even been in that position. We should have scored and put that game away many time before that. But like the Rutgers game last year it wasn't pretty, but I'm still gonna remember that win. Just as I'm still gonna remember having the Catch ripped away from us and referee's handing the win to Michigan.

I agree, and if I may......
That play, that catch, is a microcosm of what is possible, and yet what is wrong with the world.
A young upstart university dare take on one of the BIG's in college football-trounces them up and down the field, only to still lose on a controversial, and frankly bullshit call that denies the spirit of athletics it's true reward.
And to have the NCAA add language to firm up the gray area in the rule book that allowed such a travesty is a short but important step towards setting the universe back on the path towards righteousness. AND it is an admission of guilt; this rule clarification quietly states what we all knew....IT WAS A CATCH!

Boo measured and reasonable responses! Football is about fanatacism, bearing wildly stupid grudges, and getting overly worked up.

It was a catch

ok, ok... I apologize for trying to sound reasonable. I should have just led with this:

my reply wasn't to you - it was to vtae13...

It was a catch

I figured, but I was searching for the gif to lead into my post anyway and couldn't find it, so went ahead with the post. Then of course I found it (damn you Murphy), so I didn't want to waste it.

I think you meant to say "politics is about..."

It's way healthier to vent through football than politics. Far less damaging/important.

It was a catch

I should also point out that I don't go about daily life mumbling about any of these things (well outside of TKP). I am a fully functional member of society pre and post football season. However, every year around this time, all the times I won't forget come back and I get to put on my maroon jersey (#ALLMAROONEVERYTHING) throw back a few beers and cheer my ass off hoping that this will, indeed, be our year.

When we do win the crystal ball it will that much sweeter because of all the heartbreak that has come before.

"We judge ourselves by our intentions and others by their behavior" Stephen M.R. Covey

“When life knocks you down plan to land on your back, because if you can look up, you can get up, if you fall flat on your face it can kill your spirit” David Wilson

This. I just posted it, but I guess it took me a while to process and get to the base of my argument. It IS just a game, and I do get very upset at losses and very excited with wins. But the sugarbowl should have never come down to refs. That is why I don't get so worked up in the debate.

EDIT: and I am done with this topic. I hate that I came off like a boring well tempered fan while writing this. I know I am in the minority here and I am ok with that...I get fired up every game day just like every one else. I also don't draft Matt Ryan for that reason. I also don't draft UVA players in fantasy either. I just tend to get more worked up over games like 2007 BC or Boise St. where we played so great for almost the entire game, but a couple minutes ruin us.

Well you don't draft UVA players because you are trying to win your league. Damn you Schaub.

"We judge ourselves by our intentions and others by their behavior" Stephen M.R. Covey

“When life knocks you down plan to land on your back, because if you can look up, you can get up, if you fall flat on your face it can kill your spirit” David Wilson

Movement or not, the bottom line on Coale's catch was that it was ruled a TD on the field. And there is NO TRUCKING WAY that the booth guys saw conclusive evidence to overrule it. Doesn't matter what the rule was then, or what it is now. There was not enough video evidence to overrule the call on the field.

Leonard. Duh.

That was legit offsides in '03, sad to say...

No, I *don't* want to go to the SEC. Why do you ask?

We don't love dem Hoos.

"We judge ourselves by our intentions and others by their behavior" Stephen M.R. Covey

“When life knocks you down plan to land on your back, because if you can look up, you can get up, if you fall flat on your face it can kill your spirit” David Wilson

His left elbow is down before the ball hits the ground due to his body coming down on it. It was a catch!

"War was always here. Before man was, war waited for him. The ultimate trade awaiting its ultimate practitioner.”~~Judge Holden

That rule should be: the white guy is always open.

Live for 32. Ut Prosim. Let's Go, Hokies.

Charley Meyer is open! Nah, doesn't have the same ring to it. Do you think Charley would be willing to change his name to Danny Coale?

Rip his freaking head off!

WILLIE BYRN IS WIDE OPEN!

No, I *don't* want to go to the SEC. Why do you ask?

We don't love dem Hoos.

LIES! Ruled a touchdown on the field, video evidence at the time was inconclusive at best, shouldn't have been overturned.

This is what fries me the most. Whether or not it was a catch by definition is hard to say, but it was ruled a touchdown and there was absolutely NOT indisputable evidence to overturn it. Questionable? Maybe. Indisputable? No.

"Exit light..."

My point as well. If it was calls incomplete then I should have stood and just the same it was called a catch and video wasn't conclusive. TD coale we won that's how I remember it

D-Block
#BEATOHIOST

Did anyone who was at that game catch that the Allstate guy sponsoring the game was a Michigan alum? Just saying. #ItWasACatch

"The Big Ten is always using excuses to cancel games with us. First Wisconsin. Then Wisconsin. After that, Wisconsin. The subsequent cancellation with Wisconsin comes to mind too. Now Penn State. What's next? Wisconsin?" -HorseOnATreadmill

"That move was slicker than a peeled onion in a bowl of snot." -Mike Burnop

I knew that without having been at the game, but then again at the time I was living in Chicago, which is his hometown, and they like to tell you a lot about him on radio ads since he is your "neighbor"

If you're interested, pasted from the rule book:

2012-2013:

Catch, Interception, Recovery
ARTICLE 3. a. To catch a ball means that a player:
1. Gains possession (Rule 2-4-1) of a live ball in flight; or
2. Leaves his feet and firmly grasps a live ball in flight, the ball first touching
the ground inbounds while still in his firm grasp; or
3. Leaves his feet, firmly grasps a live ball in flight and either first returns to
the ground inbounds with any part of his body or is so held that the dead-ball
provisions of Rule 4-1-3-p apply (A.R. 2-4-3-I-IV and A.R. 7-3-6-III).
If one foot first lands inbounds and the receiver has possession and firm control
of the ball, it is a catch or interception even though a subsequent step or fall takes
the receiver out of bounds (A.R. 7-3-6-XV).
A player who satisfies any of these three conditions is said to have completed a
catch.
b. An interception is a catch of an opponents pass or fumble.
c. A catch by any kneeling or prone inbounds player is a completion or interception (Rules 7-3-6 and 7).
d. A player recovers a ball if he fulfills any of the three criteria for catching a ball
that is still alive after hitting the ground.
e. Loss of ball simultaneous to returning to the ground is not a catch, interception
or recovery.
f. When in question, the catch, recovery or interception is not completed.

2013-2014 Rulebook:

ARTICLE 3. a. To catch a ball means that a player:
1. Secures control of a live ball in flight with his hands or arms before
the ball touches the ground, and
2. Touches the ground in bounds with any part of his body, and then
3. Maintains control of the ball long enough to enable him to perform
an act common to the game, i.e., long enough to pitch or hand the ball,
advance it, avoid or ward off an opponent, etc., and
4. Satisfies paragraphs b, c, and d below.
b. If a player goes to the ground in the act of catching a pass (with or without
contact by an opponent) he must maintain complete and continuous control
of the ball throughout the process of contacting the ground, whether in the
field of play or in the end zone. This is also required for a player attempting
to make a catch at the sideline and going to the ground out of bounds. If
he loses control of the ball which then touches the ground before he regains
control, it is not a catch. If he regains control inbounds prior to the ball
touching the ground it is a catch.
c. If the player loses control of the ball while simultaneously touching the
ground with any part of his body, or if there is doubt that the acts were
simultaneous, it is not a catch. If a player has control of the ball, a slight
movement of the ball, even if it touches the ground, will not be considered
loss of possession; he must lose control of the ball in order for there to be
a loss of possession.
d. If the ball touches the ground after the player secures control and continues
to maintain control, and the elements above are satisfied, it is a catch.
e.An interception is a catch of an opponents pass or fumble.
f.A catch by any kneeling or prone inbounds player is a completion or
interception (Rules 7-3-6 and 7).
g.A player recovers a ball if he fulfills the criteria in paragraphs a, b, c, and d
for catching a ball that is still alive after hitting the ground.
h.When in question, the catch, recovery or interception is not completed.

🦃 🦃 🦃

My issue with the Michigan game was the fact that the rule book had no rules specifically on completion, going to ground, etc. Therefore, the catch was completely interpretable and 100% debatable. With this in mind, the only correct call was Ruling on the field stands! There was absolutely no basis to overturn the call.

Also, my angst at the time grew from the fact that the NFL had already created the completion to the ground rule. By the NFL's definition, Danny's catch was indeed a catch. Thus, it annoyed me that the NCAA was behind the times.

🦃 🦃 🦃

Well put sir my thoughts exactly

A new season...new hope

The Pac-12 refs could've at least wined and dined us, before they... you know...

That call in OT still infuriates me.

VT '10--US Citizen; (804) Virginian By Birth; (979) Texan By the Grace of God.

Rick Monday... You Made a Great Play...

I also root for: The Keydets, Army, TexAggies, NY Giants, NY Rangers, ATL Braves, and SA Brahmas

It was a catch then and now.

#Let's Go - Hokies