Couzen Rick's

October 29th, 2017 at 11:05 AM ^

Spanellis, I believe. The nameless jerseys in the 90s are reserved for situations where we have OL as eligible receivers in heavy formations. If I'm not mistaken, the rule is if the jersey is in the 50s 60s or 70s the player has to declare themselves eligible to the refs who then make an announcement to the other team. This way M doesn't need to declare, providing a (rather marginal) competitive advantage.

Joined: 12/22/2014

MGoPoints: 15994

Alton

October 29th, 2017 at 11:44 AM ^

There is no "declare yourself to the refs to become an eligible receiver" rule in college; that's NFL only. 

In college, if you are wearing a number from 50 to 79 on offense, you are ineligible to receive a pass (unless the offense has lined up in a kicking formation, which I won't get into here).  There must be a minimum of 5 players with numbers from 50 to 79 on the offensive line.  So to be eligible to receive a pass, you must (a) line up in the backfield or on the ends of the line, AND (b) have a number from 1 to 49 or 80 to 99.

So the deal is this:  Michigan wants to send out 6 offensive linemen.  They can do 2 things:  either send out 6 players from 50 to 79 (losing 1 eligible receiver in the process), or they can change an offensive lineman to a number that is not 50 to 79, and have him line up in what would otherwise be the tight end position.  That way, he can be eligible to receive a pass even if he's just there to block.  The rule book allows players to change numbers as long as there is not an, uh, "intent to deceive" the opponent.  Since this isn't done for the purpose of deceiving, it's okay.

 

Joined: 07/05/2008

MGoPoints: 13309

Alton

October 29th, 2017 at 1:24 PM ^

If #97 was a good faith attempt to give somebody a legal number for his position (which it was in this case), there's no penalty.  It's only if it seemed like you might be doing it as part of a trick play that would bring out the flags.  For example, if you sent Ty Isaac out in #97 instead of #32 for no reason at all, that would likely be "intent to deceive".

Joined: 07/05/2008

MGoPoints: 13309

TESOE

October 29th, 2017 at 11:36 AM ^

times.

The NCAA needs to go to  AlphaNumeric 2 digit, 3 digit or some other system.

This is going to be a huge issue once we retire Brandon Peters jersey after the OSU game.

 

 

 

 

/s

 

 

 

Actually ... if we win that game.  I'm all for retiring the starting QBs jersey given the current state of things.

Joined: 09/21/2009

MGoPoints: 8494

Alton

October 29th, 2017 at 11:50 AM ^

You can change numbers to cope with eligible receiver rules or duplicate number rules, that's okay.  (For example, if one player is both a backup tackle and a backup tight end, it's fine if he switches numbers depending on which role he is playing).  You do have to inform the refs, who will inform the opposing coach, that you have changed numbers. 

The reporting can't turn a player with an ineligible number into an eligible receiver, though, like it does in the NFL.

You are not allowed to change a player's jersey number to deceive the opponent.  You can't send Jabrill Peppers out wearing 8 different numbers over the course of the game just to confuse your opponent.  That's an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty ("intent to deceive") and potentially an ejection if the offense is "flagrant," whatever that means. 

Joined: 07/05/2008

MGoPoints: 13309

Mgostats

October 29th, 2017 at 12:58 PM ^

He, like Spanellis yesterday, was a tackle-eligible receiver (as long as he was not

covered by an wide receiver or another tight end in the formation).

Joined: 01/25/2017

MGoPoints: 359