The initial punt by Miami punter strikes the ground and continues to bounce and roll down the field (Miami is responsible for where the ball goes at this point) . As seen on film, the Happy player bats or attempts to grasp the ball while making contact with ball (changed which team was responsible for the ball's direction or impetus) which leads to the ball crossing into Happy's end zone where the Happy player recovered ball but is tackled in his end zone. As a result, a safety would be the correct call.
-Per NCAA Rulebook FI-63 Sect 7 II. and FR-90 & 91 Sect 7 Responsibility - Article 1 and Initial Impetus - Article 2
I disagree; definitions matter, and this is NOT batting. That word is not interchangeable with touching (or muff, or to use your words, 'attempts to grasp'); they have very specific definitions, and consequences.
Rule 2-11-2: To muff the ball is to touch the ball in an unsuccessful attempt to catch or recover it. Muffing the ball does not change its status.
Rule 2-11-3: Batting the ball is
intentionally striking it or
intentionally changing its direction with the hand(s) or arm(s). When in question, the ball is accidentally touched rather than batted. Batting the ball does not change its status.
Rule 2-11-4a: Touching a ball not in player possession denotes any contact with the ball. It may be intentional or unintentional, and it always precedes
possession and control.
Attempting to field a punt and not completing the catch or recovery does not qualify by definition, or rule, as batting; that is an explicit, intentional act to move the ball to a different location on the field, primarily to push the ball towards a teammate or to a boundary, to prevent an opposing player from reaching the ball.
Rule 8-7-2-a: The impetus imparted by a player who kicks, passes, snaps or fumbles the ball shall be considered responsible for the ball’s progress in any direction even though its course is deflected or reversed after striking the ground or after touching an official or a player of either team
...so impetus was not changed, because the ball was not batted, it was touched.
AR 8-7-2 does not apply, because by rule this was not a bat. However, AR 8-7-3
does apply:
III. Team A punts. The ball is touched by Team B (no impetus added) and crosses Team B’s goal line. Then Team B falls on the ball or the ball goes out of bounds from the end zone. RULING: Touchback. The same ruling applies if a kick in flight strikes Team B or merely is deflected by an attempted catch. Team B may recover and advance, and it is a
touchback if a Team B player is downed in the end zone or goes out of bounds behind the goal line (Rule 8-6-1-a).
It's a unfortunate quirk of the rulebook that had A recovered at the six inch line they would retain possession of the ball since B touched it and A recovered the loose ball, but since it was recovered in the EZ, it is by rule a touchback.
Well....add 12 missed extra points, a scoop and score (8pts) , and fumble into score(8pts). You would have at least a tied game... 50/50 from there.
and give yall a do over. Have a great day and remember it's easy to look for excuses and not our own mistakes. Many opportunities were squandered by both teams including yours!!!!!
