Punt on 3rd down

No, 3rd is not a typo.

I was half-way listening to the Tulane game earlier. Scelfo got so pissed at the offense for not doing anything right, he pulled them off the field and punted on a third down! I have never heard of anyone doing that!

I guess that's one way to say "screw this chit!" :hihi:

 

Punting before 4th down used to be a common practice...but that was back in the '40's.

 

I don't go back to the '40s, but you used to see it occasionally if a team was backed up near their goal line. Its been a while since I have seen it.

 

My friend was a senior RB last year, and I think the team was 3rd and pretty long. The coach opted to punt it, and when I heard of it, I was laughing.

 

I can be good if you are backed up and have no chance of making a first down. You can catch the other team sleeping and down the ball so there is no return. It can be effective when used properly. John Elway used to do it all the time. He'd back up from the shotgun to 7 yards behind center and punt it.

 

Now that you mention it, I think the last time I saw it was Elway doing it years ago.

 

If I remember the story correctly. Billy Cannon fielded a third down punt for his famous Halloween Run. Of course that was 12 years before I was born.