Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2012 January 9

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January 9

Field goals and punts

In American football, a kick can be either a field goal attempt or a punt. In the case of a missed field goal, the opposing team takes possession of the ball at either the spot of the kick (NFL) or at the line of scrimmage (NCAA), which is usually worse for the kicking team than in the case of a punt (wherein the opposing team will take possession where the ball hits the ground or where the receiving ball carrier is downed). So how do the officials know whether to treat a kick as a punt or a field goal; that is, couldn't a team miss a field goal and then afterwards claim they were actually punting in order to get better field position? —SeekingAnswers (reply) 03:58, 9 January 2012 (UTC)

A field goal kicker has someone else hold the ball (and even turn the laces to a certain position). A punter gets the ball snapped to him directly; he then drop kicks it. Clarityfiend (talk) 04:11, 9 January 2012 (UTC)

A field goal being kicked. Note the holder.

A punter about to punt. Note the style of kick is VERY different than the above

(edit conflict) Field goals must contact the ground when kicked, punts may not. A punt is kicked when dropped from the hand, and kicked out of mid-air. Field goals may in theory be kicked similarly, except that ball would have to "bounce" off the ground before being kicked (see Drop kick, section on American football), but given the shape of the ball this is an inelegant way to kick a field goal. Field goals are thus always kicked from the hand of a "holder". See the two pictures I provide showing how a ball is "punted" and how it is kicked for a "field goal". It is rather obvious what kind of kick is performed. Also, one thing to note, is that a missed field goal may be returned exactly like a punt, if it comes down in the field of play. See [1] for one example. --Jayron32 04:25, 9 January 2012 (UTC)

(edit conflict) Clarityfiend starts by describing a place kick which is not the only allowed form of Field goal (American and Canadian football). Drop kick actually means the ball bounces before the kick but this is not allowed in Punt (football). American football has many detailed rules which rarely come into play. Field goal (American and Canadian football) says: "If a field goal attempt is missed and does not go out of bounds, the defense has the option to return it as if it were a punt." However, the attacking team cannot claim a place kick was a punt, and Punt (football) says: "A field goal cannot be scored on a punt kick." PrimeHunter (talk) 04:38, 9 January 2012 (UTC)

It wasn't what I thought it was. Clarityfiend (talk) 06:16, 9 January 2012 (UTC)

Following up on what Prime said, there are various types of kicks in American and Canadian football which are governed by situational rules. One factor not expressly mentioned above is that, regardless of the style of kick (place-kick, punt, drop-kick), there are two fundamental types of kicks: "kick from scrimmage" and "free kick".[2][3] It gets complicated, but to (perhaps over-)simplify it, in a kick from scrimmage, the kicking team gives up the ball and cannot advance it unless the receiving team touches it first. A punt or field goal try on fourth down are typical examples. In contrast, a free kick can be recovered by either team. That factor most often comes into play on an onside kick(-off), where the team that has just scored is trying to get the ball back. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 07:41, 9 January 2012 (UTC)

NFL Franchise Carolina Panthers

I was reading your section on the history of the NFL Super Bowl and I came across a category that lists teams that have appeared but not won. There is one team that seems to missing from that list and that team is the Carolina Panthers. I did notice however that you do have an article about the Panthers appearing in Super Bowl 38(XXXVIII) against the New England Patriots. I was just wondering as to why you have an article about this and not have the Panthers listed in that category. If this is an honest mistake, which it seems to be, could you please correct it? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.196.146.52 (talk) 14:35, 9 January 2012 (UTC)

I don't see that category for the Minnesota Vikings or the Buffalo Bills, either. What's the specific name of the category, or what article did you see it in? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 15:19, 9 January 2012 (UTC)

I think the anon is using the word "category" not in the specific Wikipedia sense, but in the generic English language sense, and is referring to the Carolina Panthers not appearing under the heading "Teams with Super Bowl appearances but no victories" in the article list of Super Bowl champions. As the first sentence under that heading notes, though, the list there is of teams with Super Bowl appearances with an additional caveat: "whose last league championship occurred prior to the first Super Bowl". —SeekingAnswers (reply) 17:19, 9 January 2012 (UTC)

I removed the qualifying sentence and added both the Panthers and Seahawks, who are in the same situation. That seemed to make more sense given the title of the section. --Jayron32 20:20, 9 January 2012 (UTC)

Fleetwood Mac "Dreams" used in a CBS Made for TV Movie - 1977 - I think

The Fleetwood Mac classic song "Dreams" was used on the soundtrack of a CBS Made for TV movie that was aired I believe in the Summer of 1977. The movie was about a summer romance between two teeneagers at Summer camp. What as the name of that movie? I remember that "Dreams" was played specifically at the very end of the movie just as the credits were begining to roll. Any answers? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 63.252.87.66 (talk) 19:00, 9 January 2012 (UTC)

IMDB shows a 1978 TV Movie called "Forever", apparently based on a Judy Blume novel. I don't see mention of summer camp in the novel's plot synopsis, but it is a teen romance. --LarryMac | Talk 20:07, 9 January 2012 (UTC)