Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett ignited debates all around the college football world when he faked a slide on a 58-yard touchdown run in the ACC Championship game against Wake Forest last Saturday.
It’s a feat no one will ever duplicate.
Steve Shaw, the Secretary-Rules Editor of the NCAA Football Rules Committee, released a bulletin Thursday essentially outlawing the fake slide. The bulletin emphasizes that the ball should be blown dead the moment the quarterback appears as if he is about to give himself up.
“Any time a ball carrier begins, simulates, or fakes a feet-first slide, the ball should be declared dead by the on field officials at that point,” the bulletin read. “The intent of the rule is player safety, and the objective is to give a ball carrier an option to end the play by sliding feet first and to avoid contact. To allow the ball carrier to fake a slide would compromise the defense that is being instructed to let up when the ball carrier slides feet first. A fake slide will not be considered reviewable.”
