kilroy69 1,245 Posted February 15, 2009 Creative genius stifled again. Sad news to end the week: Everyone's favorite crazy gimmick offense, the "All-11," was effectively declared illegal today by the far-reaching National Federation of State High School Associations, which closed the "scrimmage kick" loophole the A-11 exploited for its existence. A moment, please, for innovation. The goal of the A-11 is maximum unpredictability, achieved by putting 11 players wearing eligible receiving numbers on the field at once -- only legal with one player at least seven yards behind the line of scrimmage and no one under center, as on a punt or field goal -- then shifting them on or off the line of scrimmage at the last second. The result is an essentially random offense with endless combinations of possible receivers, leaving the defense with no idea which five or six players are eligible to go downfield for a pass until a moment before the ball is snapped and no time to react. Unfortunately, it's equally confusing to officials, and that was deemed just plain "unsportsmanlike": The NFHS changed the rule and said that on first, second and third down, there must be four players on the line with numbers 50-79. The snapper may have a number 1-49 or 80-89, but he is ineligible. In essence, there can only be potentially six eligible receivers per down instead of 11 under the A-11. "It was unethical for them to use a loophole in the rules to run this offense," said Mike Webb, the supervisor of football officials for the West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission who is on the NFHS football rules committee. "This takes away the deception." And what is wrong, I ask you, with deception? This is America! Damn regulators ... At any rate, proponents of the A-11 (headed by nutty Californians, natch) vow to keep the dream alive in 2009, possibly under a special subdivision devoted to A-11 teams. In the meantime, you can pay your proper respects at the A-11 Web site, where you'll find highlight videos, the A-11 installation and advanced concepts manuals, articles in the national media, links to the four members of the A-11 Football Network and, of course, the A-11 YouTube channel. Enjoy it, because it will be years before anyone thinks up something this defiantly, aggressively weird (and obviously doomed) again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GettnHuge 2 Posted February 15, 2009 I wonder if it's in the football rulebook that you can't poison the opposing team prior to a game. If not well then I guess it's sportsmanlike Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jvirne 0 Posted February 15, 2009 I wonder if it's in the football rulebook that you can't poison the opposing team prior to a game.If not well then I guess it's sportsmanlike Football rulebook, no. But the cops might have something to say about it. However, nobody but a bunch of whiny b!tch coaches care about the A-11. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GettnHuge 2 Posted February 15, 2009 I wonder if the rulebook says no pets allowed onthe field. mike vick could use some extra protection. it's not in the rules!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Admiral Awesome 0 Posted February 16, 2009 I'm not disappointed. Sure, it was an awesome radical change, but it kind of ruins the game of traditional football. It changes the game too much to a point where its not football anymore. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SUXBNME 1,498 Posted February 16, 2009 I'm not disappointed. Sure, it was an awesome radical change, but it kind of ruins the game of traditional football. It changes the game too much to a point where its not football anymore. Even though I doubt you're an Admiral, and you're clearly not awesome, I acree with you 100% Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
