Here’s the rule regarding a fair catch from the 2007 rulebook:

SECTION 7. Fair Catch
Fair Catch
ARTICLE 1. a. A fair catch of a scrimmage kick is a catch beyond the
neutral zone by a player of Team B who has made a valid signal during a
scrimmage kick that is untouched beyond the neutral zone.
b. A fair catch of a free kick is a catch by a player of Team B who has made
a valid signal during an untouched free kick.
c. A valid or invalid fair catch signal deprives the receiving team of the
opportunity to advance the ball, and the ball is declared dead at the spot
of the catch or recovery or at the spot of the signal if the catch precedes
the signal (Rule 6-5-1-a Exception).
d. If the receiver shades his eyes from the sun, the ball is live and may be
advanced.
Valid Signal
ARTICLE 2. A valid signal is a signal given by a player of Team B who
has obviously signalled his intention by extending one hand only clearly
above his head and waving that hand from side to side of his body more
than once.
Invalid Signal
ARTICLE 3. An invalid signal is any signal by a player of Team B that does
not meet the requirements of a valid signal (Rule 6-5-3).

Either way, the ball should’ve been declared dead. I can’t understand how the ref couldn’t remember this simple rule. Apparently, to be a ref in the BE, all you need is a whistle, a B/W striped shirt and a general knowledge of the rules…where do I sign up :)

While the back judge just got 167 times less cool. And that’s a rough jump, because he was already hovering dangerously close to Fredo Corleone territory.

Not buying it dude.

Once and for all let’s set the record straight. When you are a chump, (and by the way word chump can also be spelled L-a-r-r-y-T-a-y-l-o-r) it is almost impossible to un-chump one’s self.

First, one must understand that in order to be a certified chump, one must possess the following three characteristics: an I Q less than 70, the ignorance to highly overrate one’s self and the arrogance to thiink that one can get away with it.

The only way for one to become un-chumped is for some other person to perform the service for one.

Allow me provide an example: let’s say that a major certified chump, in this example to be known as Larry Taylor, has the opportunity in a 2008 football game to receive a punted football from a University of Louisville special teams football player.

Got the picture so far? Let us pre-suppose that this same Larry Taylor (also know as the constant companion of his closest friend Beavis) were to signal that he, at this time, would favor a legal fair catch as opposed to running the football thereby being challenged by his limited ball carrying skills. And let us further suppose that another member of the same University of Louisville football team, (in this instance perhaps Bilal Powell) in pursuit of the chump..er…aforementioned receiver, should unexpectedly get a speck in his eye causing him to be unable to notice the so-called fair catch signal.

Let us now consider what might happen should Powell INADVERTENTLY run into (Beavis’s best friend) Taylor, thereby dislogding from the receiver more than a few molars, bicuspids,incisors and lower jawbone whilst also cracking multiple ribs, dislocating certain joint sockets and temporarily removing all semblance of conciousness from the expectant receptionist.

Question: Are the words SEMI TRACTOR TRAILER in play here?.Ah..but I digress.

I submit that such a specific incident could possibly be at least the beginning of phase one of the un-chumpness process actually taking effect.
.
You see “chumpness”, and/or the removal of same, does carry at least some liability. Please note that this information is purely theoretical and is presented in an advisory capacity only.

Am I the only one surprised that the ref never came out to clarify or clear his record/conscience? Or is that just unheard of?

The Big East has terrible officials? When did this happen?

At this point, I would prefer Tim Donaghy over some of the ass clowns that are given whistles in this conference.

No matter how you view this issue, the player used a low rent tactic, and when it ‘worked’ and he scored, he laughed about it and celebrated it, and then even tried it again in another game. That’s a lack of character and sportmanship, and that his coach defended him is equally as bad.

The referee is an idiot – plain and simple.

We are going to exact a measure of revenge in just a few months I am certain.

Let’s go over this one more time. See if you can stay with me on this. The words “chump” and ‘LarryTaylor” (all one word) are INTERCHANGEABLE. They mean the SAME THING. LARRYTAYLOR=CHUMP and conversely CHUMP=LARRYTAYLOR. Now don’t for a minute get the idea that I think that Taylor doesn’t love puppies, old ladies, the American flag and choir music. I’m sure he does.
Also, forget about the ref. That’s a separate issue.
Here’s the payoff. Write this down and put it on the refrigerator. LT=El Chumpo.
Now I can go to bed.

Someone needs to pay for that night and BDubs tab I’ll never get back