College Football Rules Holding

How come a play isn't dead when a football is hiked to a holder?

Answer this smartypants . . . in college football, if you hold the football and one of your knees hits the ground the play is dead, right? Even if no one touches you, the play is over. So if a quarterback is hiked the football and runs back and trips and his knee hits the ground, play over. If that's the rule, then how come when you kick an extra point or field goal you hike it to a guy with his knee on the ground. The play should be over, right? If not, show me the rule, because I don't think there is one.

Under Rule 4-1/Ball in Play, Dead Bal, it talks about when the play should be called dead. Under Article 3B, it says:

"(Exception: The ball remains alive when an offensive player has simulated a kick or is in position to kick the ball held for a place kick by a teammate. The ball may be kicked, passed or advanced by rule)"

So, I guess it's officially covered. I found it on page 75 of the official NCAA football rules:

http://www.ncaa.org/library/rules/2005/2005_football_rules.pdf

Conversations With History - Steven A. Cook

Filed under: College football

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