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Path: utzoo!linus!security!genrad!grkermit!masscomp!clyde!ihnp4!ihuxb!reza
From: reza@ihuxb.UUCP (H. Reza Taheri)
Newsgroups: net.sport.football
Subject: A football question
Message-ID: <446@ihuxb.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 29-Nov-83 13:30:38 EST
Article-I.D.: ihuxb.446
Posted: Tue Nov 29 13:30:38 1983
Date-Received: Thu, 1-Dec-83 02:23:00 EST
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, Il
Lines: 17


   I have a question for you football experts.  What is the rationale
behind measurement for a first down?  The ref isn't sure if the ball
is past the first down marker.  Standing next to the ball and trying
to line it up with the marker isn't accurate enough, right?  So they
bring in the chain and measure on the field.  Well how do they know
where to put the "other" end of the chain?  Isn't lining up one end of
the chain with where the last first down took place just as inaccurate
as standing next to the ball and seeing if it has passed the marker?

   I was introduced to football only 5 years ago and have never seen a
game in a stadium, so no flames please (i.e. if the answer is too
obvious).

H. Reza Taheri
...!ihnp4!ihuxb!reza
(312)-979-1040