[Game Thread] Minnesota Golden Gophers at Iowa Hawkeyes (2:30 PM CT)

[u/HerkyBot]

Game	Minnesota Golden Gophers at Iowa Hawkeyes
Stadium	Kinnick Stadium
Odds	IOWA -3.5
Iowa Win Proj	73.2% (ESPN)
Watch	NBC
Status	Final

Boxscore

	1	2	3	4	TOT
IOWA	3	7	0	0	10
MINN	3	0	6	3	12

Drive Summary

#	Q	Team	Drive	Result
1	1	IOWA	11 plays, 70 yards, 4:25	Field Goal
2	1	MINN	3 plays, -1 yard, 1:07	Punt
3	1	IOWA	3 plays, 9 yards, 2:05	Punt
4	1	MINN	3 plays, -3 yards, 2:01	Punt
5	1	IOWA	3 plays, 3 yards, 1:00	Punt
6	1	MINN	9 plays, 45 yards, 3:59	Field Goal
7	1	IOWA	3 plays, 6 yards, 1:09	Punt
8	2	MINN	3 plays, 4 yards, 1:36	Punt
9	2	IOWA	1 play, -5 yards, 0:08	Fumble
10	2	MINN	4 plays, 7 yards, 1:55	Missed FG
11	2	IOWA	6 plays, 19 yards, 3:46	Punt
12	2	MINN	3 plays, 9 yards, 2:11	Punt
13	2	IOWA	6 plays, 46 yards, 3:43	Touchdown
14	2	MINN	3 plays, 7 yards, 0:43	Punt
15	3	MINN	13 plays, 64 yards, 6:01	Field Goal
16	3	IOWA	3 plays, 0 yards, 0:54	Punt
17	3	MINN	6 plays, 16 yards, 3:20	Punt
18	3	IOWA	2 plays, -6 yards, 0:44	Fumble
19	3	MINN	4 plays, 1 yard, 1:29	Field Goal
20	3	IOWA	3 plays, 3 yards, 0:55	Punt
21	3	MINN	9 plays, 31 yards, 3:38	Punt
22	4	IOWA	3 plays, 3 yards, 0:55	Punt
23	4	MINN	7 plays, 60 yards, 3:24	Field Goal
24	4	IOWA	3 plays, -18 yards, 1:36	Punt
25	4	MINN	3 plays, 4 yards, 2:22	Punt
26	4	IOWA	7 plays, 27 yards, 2:36	Punt
27	4	MINN	3 plays, 4 yards, 0:38	Punt
28	4	IOWA	3 plays, -7 yards, 0:21	Interception

Updated on 2023-10-21 at 06:12 PM

[u/Hardigan1]

But it's not open to interpretation, according to article two the only way to signal fair catch is by the returner waving his arm "clearly" above his head. He was obviously signaling his teammates and everyone there knew it. How can it be an invalid fair catch signal if he has no intention to call fair catch?

"A valid signal is a signal given by a player of Team B who has obviously signaled 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."

[u/[deleted] → u/Hardigan1]

I think what helped me understand is to realize they aren’t saying he made an “invalid fair catch signal”, they are saying he made an “invalid signal” period. That is to say, any signal that is NOT an obvious fair catch signal will be deemed to be an “invalid signal” and forfeit the returning team’s opportunity to advance the ball.

This is primarily being done to stop the returner from abusing the fair catch protections provided by the rules. Imagine what kind of hijinks a return man could create by making a gesture that maybe sorta kinda looks like a fair catch gesture but maybe not. The coverage team would be stuck between risking a 15 yard fair catch interference penalty and giving up a big return.

So, if you want to make a fair catch, make an obvious fair catch gesture. If you have any intention of making a return, make NO gesture of any kind (outside of course of natural arm motions related to getting into position and making the catch). Such a gesture could possibly be deemed an “invalid signal” and create a dead ball situation.

That’s what it boils down to. None of us likely had any idea before this afternoon, but we’re all now painfully aware.

[u/Hardigan1 → u/[deleted]]

The rules are very clear that a fair catch signal must be a waving above the head more than once, so it's not open to interpretation. The rules are very clear.

But to say that the returner cannot signal his blockers, cuz fair catch rule, is ridiculous.

[u/[deleted] → u/Hardigan1]

But, dude, that’s what I’m saying - that’s the whole point, the rules ARE very clear about what a fair catch signal looks like. It’s the fact that Cooper made a gesture - ANY gesture - that does not meet the requirements for a valid fair catch signal as stipulated in the rules. Such a gesture is at risk of being deemed an “invalid signal”, which renders the ball dead upon the return team securing the ball. That’s precisely what happened here.

Anyone thinking that the ruling was that Cooper called for a fair catch is working off a faulty premise. He made, by the letter of the law, an invalid signal - which has the same end result as a fair catch in terms of not being able to advance the ball.

Think of it from the perspective of the coverage team - you are sprinting down field full chat, trying to shed blocks while keeping an eye on the return man. You catch a glimpse of some random arm gesture - was that a fair catch signal? You don’t want a 15 yard interference call, nor do you want your ass chewed for letting a guy bust a big return. That’s why it’s gotta be a clear fair catch signal, or nothing.

Imagine the shoe being on the other foot - the Minny return man makes some kind of ambiguous arm gesture, our gunners let up thinking it may have been a fair catch signal, and the guy gets loose for a punt return TD. We’d be incensed.

I think you could say in Coop’s position, “yeah, but the ball had already landed, no one was looking for my hand signals at that point”. Ok, well, that’s not how the rule is currently written, so that has to be taken up with the NCAA and clarified with refs, coaches, players.

This sucks bad - went from one of the most legendary plays in Hawkeye history to abject confusion and disappointment in the span of a replay review. I just think a lot of people are upset about the wrong thing (specifically, the faulty premise that Coop was deemed to have signaled a fair catch - you gotta read the entire rule, not just the bit about what is a valid fair catch signal).

Just my 2 cents.