YOU SHOULD KNOW: if you're watching football
Mostmisunderstood
Football is one of those games that can send spectators into fits of frenzieddelight, spells of muddled confusion or a combination of both states of mind.Rule infractions and subsequent penalties are probably the most frequent causesof incomprehension among the spectators. Perhaps the most moot and sometimesmisunderstood of these rules are those which concern forward pass interference,clipping and what constitutes a safety.
Interferencedoctrine
It is illegal for a defensive player to interfere with an offensive playerwhile he is trying to catch a pass. And turn about: an offensive player mustn'tinterfere with a defensive player attempting an interception. As a guide, theofficial has the premise of a bona fide simultaneous attempt to catch or batdown the ball—in this case "interference" is not interference. In allother cases it is. Penalty: a first down for the fouled team at the point ofinterference. (One exception: defensive interference in the end zone whichgives the ball to the offense on the one-yard line.)
Clippingdoctrine
Clipping is running or diving into the other fellow's back or throwing ordropping the body across the back or legs of an opponent not carrying the ball.This is the rule. However, no official should ever attempt to call this foulunless he spots it from its inception. Many a time an opponent can turn hisback to a potential downfield blocker as contact is made. This is notclipping.
Safetydoctrine
To distinguish between a safety (2 points) and a touchback (no score), thespectator should keep in mind that the deciding factor is which team gaveimpetus to the ball. If the offensive team fails to advance the ball beyond itsown goal line (e.g., a runner trapped behind the line of scrimmage in his ownend zone), it is a safety. A touchback, more common, results when a punt,kickoff or intercepted pass is grounded in the end zone by the receiving teamwithout attempting to run it out. Then the ball is placed in play on the20-yard line of the receiving team.
DEFENSIVE TEAM(WHITE JERSEYS) HOLDING
HOLDING:offensive man is arm-locked to keep him from moving to play—5 yards.
SCISSORING END: apotential pass receiver is pinned to scrimmage line—5 yards.
CRY WOLF: defensefakes being held by hooking arm of offensive lineman—5 yards.
OFFENSIVE TEAM(BLACK JERSEYS) HOLDING
ILLEGAL SHOULDERBLOCK: blocker must have hands in contact with his own body. Note the loopingleft arm—15 yards.
HAND HOOK: insideoffensive man (right) clasps defensive man's right knee in the execution of atwo-on-one block—15 yards.
ELBOW-AND-KNEEHOOK: man protecting passer pinches defensive player by combined use of histhigh and arm—15 yards.
CLOTH BLOCK:hard-to-detect maneuver gets name because the pass protector grasps jersey ofrusher and holds—15 yards.
OPEN FIELDCLIPPING
DOWNFIELDAPPROACH: blocker must make legal contact by getting head in front of potentialtackier. If not—15 yards.
REAR CRAB BLOCK:blocker may not make contact above or below waist from rear. Penalty: 15 yardsfrom spot of foul.
PASSINTERFERENCE
HOLDING: defenderholds receiver with one hand while batting ball with the other.
ARM HOOK: insteadof playing the ball, defender clamps receiver's arms from rear.
TACKLEINTERFERENCE: receiver is being tackled illegally before the catch.
PUSHING RECEIVER:again defense is playing the man instead of playing the ball.
LEGAL CLIPPINGZONE
Clipping is legalin close line play in an area (lined above) extending laterally four yards oneach side of the middle of the offensive line and three yards in depth.
HICKMAN'S HUNCHES
For Games of Saturday, Oct. 27
•Stanford vs. Southern California. Triumphant Trojansbent on blasting bowl bid of Indians. Taylor's tribe will retaliate with fakes,feints and passes. Career-ending crusade for Jon Arnett a victory. USC.
•Baylor vs. Texas A&M. Since San Jacinto novictory has been more satisfying to the Aggies than their storm-tossed triumphover TCU. All the while Baylor's unbeaten Bears rested, watched and waited atWaco. Good spot for Baylor. Still, TEXAS A&M.
•Notre Dame vs. Oklahoma. In September Sooners-Irishset-to at' South Bend loomed as the game of the year. The colossus from Normanstill stands untested, but young Irish have drunk deeply the bitter dregs ofdefeat. Notre Dame's best showing of the season. Still, OKLAHOMA.
•Georgia Tech vs. Tulane. Tech's senior star-studdedsquad running smoothly as expected. Unsung Green Wave great in Navy and OleMiss wins. Could wreck Tech too, but still, GEORGIA TECH.
•Michigan vs. Minnesota. Once-tied Gophers going good.Once-beaten Wolverines will have their hands full. Both must win to stay inRose Bowl contention. MICHIGAN.
•Texas Christian vs. Miami. Force of Hurricane will bespent before reaching Fort Worth. Horned Frogs battened down and ready, bounceback. TCU.
•Ohio state vs. Wisconsin. Beaten Buckeyes justanother team outside of conference. Depleted Badgers play better than expectedthis season. Fifteenth consecutive Big Ten win for OHIO STATE.
•Penn State vs. West Virginia. Nittany Lions liftedeastern prestige by Ohio State win. Mountaineers can't be taken lightly, butPENN STATE.
ALSO:
Oregon State over UCLA
Pittsburgh over Oregon
Mississippi over Arkansas
Syracuse over Boston University
Army over Columbia
Michigan State over Illinois
Princeton over Cornell
Northwestern over Indiana
Navy over Pennsylvania
Purdue over Iowa
Florida over LSU
Tennessee over Maryland
Washington over California
Virginia Tech over Virginia
Missouri over Iowa State
Tufts over Williams
Yale over Colgate
Last week's hunches: 15 right, 8 wrong, 2 ties
Record to date: 95-25-5
EIGHTEEN ILLUSTRATIONS
ROBERT RIGER