"And still has an opportunity to complete the catch"
His ability to catch the ball continues as long as he has an opportunity to make the catch. The rule adds that once it hits the ground that protection terminates but it's not saying the protection lasts explicitly forever until it hits the ground.
So we are back to the judgement calls that always screw Vandy. If the ball is muffed and pops up in the air and the returner has the oppty to catch the ball you have to leave it alone, BUT if the ball is no longer in a position to be caught by the returner it is not interference.
The ball bounced so far away from the returner he had no OPPORTUNITY to catch the ball any longer. Period. That rule was clearly for balls that bounced up off a player and they snagged it in the air. This ball hit to his left 2 yards and he had no chance to catch it.
His ability to catch the ball continues as long as he has an opportunity to make the catch. The rule adds that once it hits the ground that protection terminates but it's not saying the protection lasts explicitly forever until it hits the ground.
So we are back to the judgement calls that always screw Vandy. If the ball is muffed and pops up in the air and the returner has the oppty to catch the ball you have to leave it alone, BUT if the ball is no longer in a position to be caught by the returner it is not interference.
The ball bounced so far away from the returner he had no OPPORTUNITY to catch the ball any longer. Period. That rule was clearly for balls that bounced up off a player and they snagged it in the air. This ball hit to his left 2 yards and he had no chance to catch it.
