Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 (Tek) 9/28/84 based on 9/17/84; site tekchips.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!cbdkc1!desoto!packard!hoxna!houxm!ihnp4!mhuxn!mhuxj!mhuxr!ulysses!allegra!bellcore!decvax!tektronix!tekcrl!tekchips!stevev From: stevev@tekchips.UUCP Newsgroups: net.sport.football Subject: Re: A rules question Message-ID: <171@tekchips.UUCP> Date: Mon, 31-Dec-84 17:23:07 EST Article-I.D.: tekchips.171 Posted: Mon Dec 31 17:23:07 1984 Date-Received: Thu, 3-Jan-85 04:22:11 EST References: <3811@ucbvax.ARPA>, <153@tekchips.UUCP> <720@noscvax.UUCP> Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR Lines: 43 > I am quite sure that the NFL record 63-yard field goal > which allowed New Orleans to beat Detroit 17-16 > several years ago was a free kick after a fair catch. > Furthermore, that fair catch was on the -37 yard line, > before the goal posts were moved to the back of the end zone. Hmm. The way I remember the story is that Detroit had just scored to put themselves ahead by a point or two with just a few seconds (~10?) left on the clock. On the ensuing kickoff, the Saints returned the ball to their own 45. Their coach sent the field goal unit onto the field, thinking that the ball had been returned to the DETROIT 45 (which would have been a plausable 53ish-yard field goal back in those days of goal-line goalposts). Tom Dempsey and crew, not to question why, tried their best at the 63-yarder, which amazingly succeeded. I seem to remember reading this in Sports Illustrated. Does it ring a bell with anyone, or is my imagination running away with me? As long as we're on the subject of long field goals, did anyone see the bowl game a couple weekends ago in which the game was ended by a 71-yard would-have-broken-the-tie field goal attempt that came within a foot or so of the crossbar? I forget the names of the kicker, teams and even the bowl game. Can someone fill in the details? Back to free kicks. Can anyone give an itemization of situations in which a team is awarded (or may elect) a free kick? After a safety is the only other situation that comes to mind (a kickoff is not a free kick--you don't have the option of punting). I seem to remember reading that one could not score a field goal on a free kick that follows a safety, even if wind conditions and/or penalties made it physically possible. As long as I'm on the subject of safeties, someone a long time ago told me that after a safety, the scored-upon team had the option of foregoing the free kick, and running one play from scrimmage (effectively a 4th down and 80 yards to go). I have no reason to believe this to be true, but it sticks in my mind. If true, one can imagine some unusual behavior by a team in the closing seconds of a game taking advantage of this rule. ******************************** Steve Vegdahl NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR Computer Research Lab. typos Tektronix, Inc. logical errors Beaverton, Oregon actions of my pet alligator ********************************