What's this "line to gain" stuff?

[anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba]

I don't know when or where this started, but every time I hear an announcer or official refer to "the line to gain," I just about barf. Why has the language changed from the simple "first down"?

Anyone have an explanation?

Such language reeks of lawyers and politicians, thus the barfing tendency.

Can't these people just leave our sports alone? We used to know when somebody caught a pass and when they didn't. Now that can only be determined by pages of definitions that are still wide open to subjective interpretation and that defy common sense.

Slide into second base? Ooooh. That could be against the "rules." Try to make a tag at the plate, watch out, the lawyers are waiting.

Did that tackler "target" the offensive player? Did he commit "excessive celebration" while scoring a touchdown?

"Line to gain"? Gimme a break. It's all BS.

 

[thewop]

Be thankful this is what you have to be irritated about.

 

[Suterman]

I thought the line to gain was the line to get you into field goal range. I could be wrong.

 

[anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba]

No, it has nothing to do with FGs. It's what they now call the yard line you need to reach for a first down.

 

[NI hawk]

I don't know when or where this started, but every time I hear an announcer or official refer to "the line to gain," I just about barf. Why has the language changed from the simple "first down"?

Anyone have an explanation?

Such language reeks of lawyers and politicians, thus the barfing tendency.

Can't these people just leave our sports alone? We used to know when somebody caught a pass and when they didn't. Now that can only be determined by pages of definitions that are still wide open to subjective interpretation and that defy common sense.

Slide into second base? Ooooh. That could be against the "rules." Try to make a tag at the plate, watch out, the lawyers are waiting.

Did that tackler "target" the offensive player? Did he commit "excessive celebration" while scoring a touchdown?

"Line to gain"? Gimme a break. It's all BS.

I agree. Dumb.

 

[soybean]

I thought the line to gain was the line to get you into field goal range. I could be wrong.

No, the "line to gain" is a cleaner and more precise way of saying the first down marker. If its 4th and 1 and a running play gets short yardage its easier to announce to the crowd that the ruling on the field is that it was short of the line to gain.

 

[WhatsTheWord]

It's tupid I say!

 

[anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba]

its easier to announce to the crowd that the ruling on the field is that it was short of the line to gain

Thank you. Now I get it. "Short of the line to gain" is so much better than having to say "it's short of the first down." I don't know how football was played for over a century before the brilliant minds among us realized the language of football was so convoluted and verbose.

 

[Herkmeister]

I've never heard this said. But I only hang out in titty bars.

 

[hknation]

Thank you. Now I get it. "Short of the line to gain" is so much better than having to say "it's short of the first down." I don't know how football was played for over a century before the brilliant minds among us realized the language of football was so convoluted and verbose.

,Thank you, now I get it. Here's some other considerations:
* "house" is a much better descriptor than say......"end zone"
* we should use "walk-off 4th down" rather than a "3 and out"....out of what, apparently there's only 3 of them in football
* maybe go back to "red dog", after all Red Ettinger was a real pioneer. Blitz is a German war term & not PC

I suspect posters can make other phraseology changes to make announcing better and more understandable.

 

[Johnsoda123]

,Thank you, now I get it. Here's some other considerations:
* "house" is a much better descriptor than say......"end zone"
* we should use "walk-off 4th down" rather than a "3 and out"....out of what, apparently there's only 3 of them in football
* maybe go back to "red dog", after all Red Ettinger was a real pioneer. Blitz is a German war term & not PC

I suspect posters can make other phraseology changes to make announcing better and more understandable.

The cheer personnel of the female persuasion are pleasant to look at vs those chicks are hot.

 

[spiderland]

,Thank you, now I get it. Here's some other considerations:
* "house" is a much better descriptor than say......"end zone"
* we should use "walk-off 4th down" rather than a "3 and out"....out of what, apparently there's only 3 of them in football
* maybe go back to "red dog", after all Red Ettinger was a real pioneer. Blitz is a German war term & not PC

I suspect posters can make other phraseology changes to make announcing better and more understandable.

Just don’t make me listen to Beth Mowins say “BIZE-uhn!” and I’m happy...

 

[markfromj]

It's the language in the rule book, and has been for decades.

Also, it's not a PAT, it's a "try".

 

[TailgateTom]

Yeah I’ve heard this reference for a long time

 

[hknation]

,Thank you, now I get it. Here's some other considerations:
* "house" is a much better descriptor than say......"end zone"
* we should use "walk-off 4th down" rather than a "3 and out"....out of what, apparently there's only 3 of them in football
* maybe go back to "red dog", after all Red Ettinger was a real pioneer. Blitz is a German war term & not PC

I suspect posters can make other phraseology changes to make announcing better and more understandable.

Another, "behind the chains". Is not every spot of the ball technically behind the chains? Just the phrase, "the ball is behind the chains", does not inform a radio listener.

Speaking for myself, I prefer hearing the down and a yardage number for a first down; anyone can figure that out. Maybe something clever like, "it's 3rd down and 9 yards to go for the 1st down".

Just say'n