Just a general football fan observation. I guess I have been giving the football intelligence of the average fan way too much credit. I suppose this could be said for many things in life and voices online, but the last week after the Texas game has made me realize how completely clueless so many are on rules of the game. Stretching far beyond targeting...what is a catch/what isn't, game clock operation, intentional grounding etc.

and it never fails the loudest most outspoken views are majority factually incorrect that if they knew how to use basic operation of the google machine they'd realize they are wrong.

The first several days I brushed it off as bias. I can get not wanting to admit you got a break, or going over the top claiming you're team was screwed, we've all been there...but starting to realize there are a large number of fans that have absolutely no idea about many of the rules of the game lol.

greg.w.h said:

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Rules? We don't need no STEENKIN' RULES!!!

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&ct=g

Gyles Marrett said:

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Just a general football fan observation. I guess I have been giving the football intelligence of the average fan way too much credit. I suppose this could be said for many things in life and voices online, but the last week after the Texas game has made me realize how completely clueless so many are on rules of the game. Stretching far beyond targeting...what is a catch/what isn't, game clock operation, intentional grounding etc.

and it never fails the loudest most outspoken views are majority factually incorrect that if they knew how to use basic operation of the google machine they'd realize they are wrong.

The first several days I brushed it off as bias. I can get not wanting to admit you got a break, or going over the top claiming you're team was screwed, we've all been there...but starting to realize there are a large number of fans that have absolutely no idea about many of the rules of the game lol.

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You are exactly right.

I did see an OL pick up and throw Skattabo into the end zone during that game. Guessing that should have been a flag since it was a pull and not a push.

This is the best one. Texas blocked ASU field goal attempt that bounces off ground and through the uprights. WTF!!!! Can't believe that doesn't count.

classof92 said:

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This is the best one. Texas blocked ASU field goal attempt that bounces off ground and through the uprights. WTF!!!! Can't believe that doesn't count.

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lol and started by someone using AI to write a fake rule...

I thought it was common knowledge that we have one of the dumbest fan bases in college football.

I came to this realization when I was in school and some guy behind me at a game had an absolute meltdown because two different players (not on the field at the same time) had the same jersey number.

Coach blO said:

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I did see an OL pick up and throw Skattabo into the end zone during that game. Guessing that should have been a flag since it was a pull and not a push.

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Yep, by rule it should have been....fair to also argue it's dumb that you can push but you can't pull? Also, yep.


My 2 new favorites have been:

1. "because he wasn't hit in the back on a blindside hit he isn't defenseless"

2. "once he get two feet down and doesn't matter if he drops it going to the ground, he already completed the catch"

I see this stuff and wonder, "was this the first football game you've ever watched?"

Coach blO said:

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I did see an OL pick up and throw Skattabo into the end zone during that game. Guessing that should have been a flag since it was a pull and not a push.

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Saw that, too…

Johnny Boyziel 2 said:

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I thought it was common knowledge that we have one of the dumbest fan bases in college football.

I came to this realization when I was in school and some guy behind me at a game had an absolute meltdown because two different players (not on the field at the same time) had the same jersey number.

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Yet those same people think they understand things like eligible receivers and illegal motion which would be about 1000x more complex than jersey numbers lmao

tbf there is a lot of inconsistency by the refs on certain calls. Notably

• targeting. When the ex-ref on TV can't agree with the replay official, that's an issue.
• PI - probably the most inconsistent call there is.
• Holding - good lord you could call this all the time. There's gotta be a way to have more consistency on this call.
• And honestly I'd be pretty happy if the refs could just spot the damn ball. You'll see a guy and think they've scored, but on replay it's really down at the 6" line. But what do the refs do, they spot it back at the 1. Like dudes, 30" can make a difference.

aggiedad7 said:

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Like dudes, 30" can make a difference.

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That's what she said!

Johnny Boyziel 2 said:

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I thought it was common knowledge that we have one of the dumbest fan bases in college football.

I came to this realization when I was in school and some guy behind me at a game had an absolute meltdown because two different players (not on the field at the same time) had the same jersey number.

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I seriously don't think this is a "we" problem. Stupidity does not discriminate.

There's also the constant changes to keep up with.

Running clock?
Two Minute Timeout?
Touchback to the 25?

In the past, a lot of the rule ignorance or confusion could be attributed to the differences between college and pro football on some calls or if the rules had been changed recently. I mean sometimes it is just hard to keep track especially the older you get because the more times the rules have changed.

That being said, there does now seem to be a culture largely grown from the political climate where if you say something, no matter how wrong it is, over and over again and very loudly that it will make it fact.

Gyles Marrett said:

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and it never fails the loudest most outspoken views are majority factually incorrect that if they knew how to use basic operation of the google machine they'd realize they are wrong.

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Saaaaaaay, you may be onto something here, by George.

Now this could be a stretch, but have you also factored into your hypothesis your propensity for idealizing this website?

I usually multi-task while watching non-A&M games. Then I feel badly about posting fearing I might post something stupid because I'm not really paying attention.

Was on a non-A&M game thread earlier this year where someone wanted a (forward) shovel pass ruled a fumble because it was an underhand pass. I posted without guilt for the rest of the day.

Why are you surprised....the refs don't even know the rules!

I mean a guy watching a replay doesn't even call targeting against tu on that big play??? I can forgive other misses but that was about as clear as it gets.

Either the ref did not know the rule or was blatantly biased for the sips.

dabo man said:

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I usually multi-task while watching non-A&M games. Then I feel badly about posting fearing I might post something stupid because I'm not really paying attention.

Was on a non-A&M game thread earlier this year where someone wanted a (forward) shovel pass ruled a fumble because it was an underhand pass. I posted without guilt for the rest of the day.

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https://projectsports.nl/en/what-is-a-forward-lateral-in-football/

Coach blO said:

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I did see an OL pick up and throw Skattabo into the end zone during that game. Guessing that should have been a flag since it was a pull and not a push.

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Yep, nice job trying to pick out every foul against ASU while ignoring the monster ones that went in favor of tu.

Must be fun being a sip on an A&M forum.

Coach blO said:

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I did see an OL pick up and throw Skattabo into the end zone during that game. Guessing that should have been a flag since it was a pull and not a push.

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Not only a pull but a pick up too. I was shocked that wasn't called.

Sip troll circle jerk in here.

I have noticed a significant difference in attending NFL vs games in college station.

Entire crowd in college station seems to want to talk about how dumb the coaches are, how they would've called something else, or talk about penalties that should or shouldn't have been called.

Haven't been able to figure out what the difference is as I would assume the college station people are more educated than your average nfl fan, but they really don't act like it during the games, at least when it comes to commentary.

You made a generalization off an entire fanbase over one guys meltdown? Maybe you're the dumb one.

When the 3rd down play is "throw short of the line to gain," and the 4th down play is "run up the middle," yes.

My pet turtle is a better coach.

Not only fans, it seems to be officials as well…depending on who's on the field.

Gyles Marrett said:

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classof92 said:

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This is the best one. Texas blocked ASU field goal attempt that bounces off ground and through the uprights. WTF!!!! Can't believe that doesn't count.

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lol and started by someone using AI to write a fake rule...

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Social media defintely adding fuel to ignorance fire.

aggie-1997 said:

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Johnny Boyziel 2 said:

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I thought it was common knowledge that we have one of the dumbest fan bases in college football.

I came to this realization when I was in school and some guy behind me at a game had an absolute meltdown because two different players (not on the field at the same time) had the same jersey number.

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I seriously don't think this is a "we" problem. Stupidity does not discriminate.

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Truth. There is a funny quote from George Carlin on stupid people that is worth a google.

It is universal.

classof92 said:

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This is the best one. Texas blocked ASU field goal attempt that bounces off ground and through the uprights. WTF!!!! Can't believe that doesn't count.

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There were multiple threads on that, unbelievable.

T dizl televizl said:

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I have noticed a significant difference in attending NFL vs games in college station.

Entire crowd in college station seems to want to talk about how dumb the coaches are, how they would've called something else, or talk about penalties that should or shouldn't have been called.

Haven't been able to figure out what the difference is as I would assume the college station people are more educated than your average nfl fan, but they really don't act like it during the games, at least when it comes to commentary.

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I think the difference is team ownership.
NFL the fans know that's all they are. They're fans. Unless you're GreenBay, you're an fan not an owner. The coach answers to ownership. So you really don't fret over it until the coach is on the hotseat. If it's the Cowboys even then you don't worry over it because no one is going to question the god of all things football, Jerry Jones.

In the college game though the fans feel a greater sense of ownership of the team. Our time as students, or parents paying the tuition. The season tickets with the giant donations. Those things increase our sense of "ownership" of the team.

I know some non-college educated folks though and their passion for their NFL team rivals even the most passionate Aggies I know.

Yeah that is a good point. Hadn't thought of it that way. We all feel like it is "our" team.

Gyles Marrett said:

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Just a general football fan observation. I guess I have been giving the football intelligence of the average fan way too much credit. I suppose this could be said for many things in life and voices online, but the last week after the Texas game has made me realize how completely clueless so many are on rules of the game. Stretching far beyond targeting...what is a catch/what isn't, game clock operation, intentional grounding etc.

and it never fails the loudest most outspoken views are majority factually incorrect that if they knew how to use basic operation of the google machine they'd realize they are wrong.

The first several days I brushed it off as bias. I can get not wanting to admit you got a break, or going over the top claiming you're team was screwed, we've all been there...but starting to realize there are a large number of fans that have absolutely no idea about many of the rules of the game lol.

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In fairness, the targeting rule is pretty vaguely written, subject to subjective interpretation, and in my opinion defies simple physics.

My daughters both know football rules better than the average zoo poster. Smart things I have heard them say:

1) Wiegman doesn't really throw well off his back foot.
2) Reed is different than most dual-threat QB's. I have never seen a QB scramble so much and still throw the ball.
3) If you keep running into the same spot, and can't pick up a yard, your OL is not as good as their DL. Do something different.
4) Noah Thomas blocks better than our guards.
5) How in the world are you supposed to stop the run with 5 defensive backs (when we we struggling against the run in the 4-2-5, I think in 2021).

Full disclosure, a lot of my babysitting time when they were small was them watching me play NCAA football and talking through the plays. They would hang out with me even when they were older and watch me play 2014 again and ask a question here or there.

So, it's not everyone.