stevenc31

no - that is not what I am "missing". What he explained and you are considering to be "human error" is something that was taken out of the game decades ago. The "human error" y'all are referencing is that you think the down and distance markers just jog out onto the field, trying to stay in the exact same spot they were in on the sideline. What actually happens in a game, when there is a measurement, is not affected by "human error". BUT because this has shown a complete lack of knowledge on even the most basics of football, I will explain - and then please let me know where you find any room for "human error" : A referee walks over to the sideline - he then finds a yard line (the nearest 5 yard line marker) and stands on it - he then places a clip onto the chain, at the very edge of either side of the yard line, that he is standing on (AKA: "when the edge of the white line stops and the green starts") - he then walks WITH THE DOWN/DISTANCE MARKERS out onto the field at the spot where the ball is placed - when he arrives, he then aligns the aforementioned clip on the very same edge of the exact same yard line...(the same yard line that he has to walk along/stay on, the entire way out to the ball) All of this, MEANS: that the chains (first down marker) are in the exact same spot on the field (where the ball is located) that they were in on the sideline SO again, please tell me where this "human error" comes into play? It doesn't. A "human error" would only be possible by the official who is in charge of spotting the ball, as someone below me has stated (which is a good idea). ---The writer ("editor-in-chief" of a FOOTBALL website) argued for lasers to determine if a ball had reached the first down marker or not. BECAUSE he truly thought that the people holding the distance markers, just jogged out onto the field and attempted to stay as close to the same spot as possible by themselves. Without an official, without any type of procedure, etc, and somehow is allowed to publish it without knowing a thing (FACTS) about what he is proposing??? So, NO we do NOT have the opportunity to "take out the factor of human error" regarding determining if a team made a first down or not, BECAUSE there is no human error to "factor out".

You're the "editor in chief" of a football website and you have no idea how a chain gang works? If there are any other readers that know a thing a football on here - I hope they realize just how idiotic this is and hopefully you lose credibility with every person not just those. For the record - what kind of moron truly believes that they just let the chain guys run out onto the field on their own?? Learn a little bit, then get back to us. You just assume the referee goes over to the sideline and bends over on the yard line closest to the middle for no reason? What a joke

You are not very bright, every player that YOU, personally, could name that has put up numbers for this team, was brought here under Petrino. "The record would be much of the same" what have you been watching? These players that you sit at home and watch (trey flowers/Jonathon Williams/Brandon Allen) we're brought here under Petrino and look what he did with his players the last season he was here. Yeah you must have forgotten about that 10 win season with his players, the ones that are here now and came here because of that. And all of those wins were with an offensive line recruited by Petrino, but you're right, how could they ever win, they only had 2 10 win seasons.

You know what, you're so right Bolin. 2-14 in the SEC, more conference losses than overall wins, but bless his heart he sure is good to the media. I haven't checked, but I think you may be onto something. Maybe he's paid those millions to be nice to the press and lose games. This is so weak. If you were worth a single thing, you'd wait to see IF he can achieve even half of the success Petrino did, ya know, since they lose their jobs for losing. Cussing, huh? May those poor kids never have to hear such evil again!