by Alana Klein
If this one doesn’t seem as topical to what we just saw this weekend, that’s because I wrote it a last week, but decided to preempt it with a breakdown of the playoff tiebreakers. During last night’s chat on Fan Zone Live!, Gary Compton gave us an answer to a big question on everyone’s mind regarding the tiebreaker between Nashville and Albany.
So, I’d like to extend my thanks for that. Maybe now when I tell people that it doesn’t have to be an 80-something point win by the Firebirds, it won’t feel like I’m just Screaming Into the Void.
Psych! Did you see what I did there? I put in my tagline so you would think I was finished when I was just transitioning topics. Did you see … [raises hand for high five] … how I … [crickets] … Whatever. … I thought it was funny.
[Internally} Damn … maybe I really am just Screaming Into the Void.
Gotchya again! OK, for real though. Moving on …
If I’m going to be on one side of an issue, then I feel it’s only right that I give the other side its kudos when they respond. (Also, which is named after which? Was kudos a word that the snack bar brand co-opted or was Kudos just a nonsense word name for a snack bar that was so good that it fell into modern lexicon and became a word? Hmmm …)
Backstory: a few weeks ago, I pondered as to why the official AF1 rule book wasn’t publicly accessible, citing — among other things — how the now-infamous “Halo” rule is seemingly very different from what “100-yard” football fans are accustomed to. I can’t recall seeing this rule enforced at other games (although I’m sure it has), but I know it was called a few times during Firebirds games, both for and against Albany.
During last weekend’s halftime segment, Jeff Levack was joined by Director of Football Operations Gary Compton to explain this rule. To begin with, it’s not a halo, but is colloquially referred to as such because it’s purpose is the same as the NFL/NCAA/etc. rule. In essence, when fielding a kickoff or missed field goal off the net, the returner has first right to field the ball and no member of the kicking team is allowed to cross the 5-yard line until either a returner touches the ball or the ball hits the ground. Think of it more like offsides by the kicking team, but instead of not being allowed to cross the goal line until the ball is kicked, that same concept is just moved 45 yards up to the 5-yard line.
As I said back a few weeks ago, my desire to see the rule book is not because I’m questioning the refs. Rather, I wold just prefer to learn the rules by reading about them casually during the week, as opposed to a trial-by-fire during combat. I feel better off knowing the rules, in particular because it can prevent the emotional rush of a momentum-changing play being disallowed (similar to when you’re watching a kickoff return that you know is gonna get called back due to a flag).
Levack mentioned during the interview that they had noticed this was a question gaining popularity in recent weeks. And while it’s not quite the full rule book or a weekly segment on that week’s officiating, it’s something. And as such, I invite you to join me Screaming Into the Void.