Straight Dope Message Board

[Jinx]

Watching some "Coach" reruns, there was an episode where Coach Fox leaves Assistant Coach Luther Van Dam in charge of the team for a Saturday game. As luck would have it, turns out the Screaming Eagles lost due to having only ten men on the field. I am not a big sports buff, but I say this is a ridiculous premise. Is this possible? Even under the strangest of circumstances, could this be even remotely possible?

[wolfman]

Yeah it's possible. With all the substitutions between plays, sometimes they just don't end up with the right people on the field. Getting 12 guys on and getting a penalty for it is more likely, but 10 happens. On defense the leader(usually middle linebacker) is supposed to count and make sure, and call a time out if they have one if they are missing anyone.

About 30 years ago Tony Dorsett had a 99 yard run in the pros that not only was the the longest run in history , until equaled a couple weeks ago, was actually done with only 10 guys on his offense.

[Atamasama]

There’s no penalty for having ten players on the field, but it’s a bad idea for obvious reasons. It happens, when there’s a mistake, especially during substitutions or putting special teams together for a play. I was just reading about “The Play”:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pl...ican_football)
During that famous play, “Due to confusion, Cal took the field with only 10 men, one short of the regulation eleven, but still legal in American football.”

I’m assuming the loss you’re referencing happened during a pivotal play and not the entire game; now that would be implausible to the point of near impossibility.

[That Don Guy]

There are also situations where it is done intentionally, although in those cases, there are no plans to run a play.

I'm pretty sure the only requirement is that the offense must have seven players on the field (nine when it is kicking the ball on a kickoff - at least, in college), as it must have at least seven players on the line of scrimmage.

[AK84]

Since gridiron does not have cards like soccer, does an ejection result in less men on the field?

[cochrane]

Originally Posted by AK84

Since gridiron does not have cards like soccer, does an ejection result in less men on the field?

No, they just replace the ejected player. In the NFL, each team has 53 players on the roster, so there's plenty of depth on the bench.

[Velocity]

Originally Posted by AK84

Since gridiron does not have cards like soccer, does an ejection result in less men on the field?

No, which makes an ejection much less consequential. I recall some discussion a few years ago about how a team might be able to (theoretically) send one of their least important players to injure an opposing team's star player at the very outset of a game, thus taking out the opposing best at the expense of one's least, while still getting to field a starting 11 anyway.

[Northern Piper]

On the other side of players on the field, in 2009 the Saskatchewan Roughriders lost the national CFL championship, the Grey Cup, by having one too many men on the field.

The Riders were leading the Montreal Alouettes, 27-25. The Als had the ball and tried a field goal. The ball went wide and hit the goal post. The clock was 0:00! Riders win!

Then the horrible words from the announcers: "Oh-oh, there's a flag on the field." The ref comes out and puts his hands on his cap: too many players on the field. Then the announcement: "Saskatchewan".

The game can't end on a penalty. The Als move five yards closer, re-do the kick And it's good.

[Atamasama]

Originally Posted by Velocity

No, which makes an ejection much less consequential. I recall some discussion a few years ago about how a team might be able to (theoretically) send one of their least important players to injure an opposing team's star player at the very outset of a game, thus taking out the opposing best at the expense of one's least, while still getting to field a starting 11 anyway.

Or in the case of the Saints (some years back) you just make injuring players a part of your team culture...

[garygnu]

A few years back, in their first game after owner Al Davis died, the Oakland Raiders accidentally sent only ten defenders out on the final play of the game, with the opponent just a few yards from a go-ahead touchdown. Al's ghost saved the win from coach Hue Jackson's incompetence when defensive back Michael Huff intercepted the pass attempt.

Incidentally, even if a side only has ten players, an eleventh can't just run into the field during play. An eleventh defender can run out before the snap. An eleventh offensive player could be flagged for illegal substitution if he runs on and lines up just before the snap.

[notfrommensa]

FWIW, some rural High Schools play football with 6, 8 or 9 players on each side of the line of scrimmage.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight-man_football

[Jinx]

Thanks, all... That also answers two calls during last week's playoff games when both the Ravens and the Bears (in two separate games) were penalized for 12 men on the field. Seems obvious to me, the armchair novice, but I guess it happens.

[Hi, Neighbor!]

Just happened last week when Philly played Chicago. Philly scored on the play (Foles to Dallas Goedert).