May 23 2005
Sigh…
The team opened with a 6-yard loss, a 3-yard gain and a 2-yard loss, which would have made it fourth down with 15 yards to go for a first down. The team’s fourth play was just a 7-yard gain, yet it maintained possession for a 12-yard gain and a 4-yard gain on two additional plays.
What’s wrong with that picture? It’s a math test given in New Jersey. Why is it wrong? Click below to find the answer.
On an end-of-grade test this month, seventh-graders had to calculate the average gain for a team on the game’s first six plays. But the team did not gain 10 yards on the first four plays and would have lost possession before a fifth and sixth play.
ROFLMAO
Source: Yahoo
May 23rd, 2005 at 4:14 pm
The key is the “yet it maintained possession” phrase. It could be intentionally vague, choosing to ignore what the student doesn’t need to know to solve the problem. A penalty could have occurred, resulting in an automatic first down, or perhaps a dual fumble or an interception/fumble. Any of those events (I think) would go in the record books as a 7 yard play, and those would still be the first six plays of the game.
May 23rd, 2005 at 4:25 pm
…wait… the interception would not count as a 7 yard gain… still think the fumble might… either way, a penalty could sure do it.
May 23rd, 2005 at 4:29 pm
My initial reaction was that the people criticizing the question were wrong, but I would think that somewhere one of those events (fumble, etc.) would be mentioned if they happened.
Although I guess it would be possible to have a 30 play drive only cover ten yards…
Either way, imagine a football junkie kid reading that and getting it wrong, then suing?
May 23rd, 2005 at 4:39 pm
Naw, a football junkie would see the possibility. I’d be more worried about some kid who doesn’t know anything about football suing because the test is biased to jocks or some shit like that.
May 23rd, 2005 at 5:11 pm
Fourth and fifteen, and the team goes for it. A seven yard run to the outside falls well short, but the eagle-eyed ref throws his flag. The defensive back who made the tackle shakes his head vigorously. No, no, no, he says. The running back nods, claps his hands, and jogs back to his team in the middle of the field.
Indeed, replays show that the DB had brushed his hand across the face mask as he brought down the running back. Not flagrant. But a penalty nonetheless. Play stands. Automatic first down.
I don’t know which is worse — the question, or that I know the answer. Both are worth a sigh.
