Sports Contest | Jazz Brackets | Bracket Contests | March Mayhen | Sweet Sixteen Contest | Elite Eight | Final Four Contest | March Madness Contest | Bracket Contest 2009 | College Basketball Odds

Jazz Brackets - Bracket Contest - Jazz Sports

College Football Glossary | A-D

A-D | E-H | I-L | M-P | Q-T | U-Z

AFL
Arena Football League, American Football League is similar to the NFL, but is played indoors on a smaller field. The old American Football League merged with the NFL in 1970, creating an expanded NFL made up of two conferences, the AFC and NFC.
Assistant Coach
Each NFL team generally has assistant coaches for offense and defense, as well more specialized areas like quarterbacks and linebackers.
Artificial Turf
Because of a lack of sunlight, domed stadiums use artificial turf in place of grass on the football field.
Astroturf
Also Known As: artificial turf. The Astroturf was first used in pro sports in 1966 when the Houston Astros began playing inside the strodome. Before the installation in the Astrodome, Astroturf was called Chemgrass.
Back
Nick for halfback, fullback, tailback, running back. A back generally lines up in the offensive backfield, but will occasionally split out as a receiver.
Back Judge
The official who sets up 20 yards deep in the defensive backfield on the wide receiver side of the field. His duties include:
  • Make sure the defensive team has no more than 11 players on the field
  • Watch all eligible receivers on his side of the field
  • Watch the area between the umpire and field judge
  • Rule on the legality of catches and pass interference penalties
  • Watch for clipping on kick returns
  • On field goals, stand under the goalpost and rule on whether the kick is good
Backfield
1. The group of offensive players who line up behind the line of scrimmage.
2. The area behind the offensive linemen.
Balanced Line
A formation that consists of an equal number of linemen on either side of the center.
Ball Carrier
Any player who has possession of the ball.
Beat
To get past an opponent trying to block, tackle, or defend you in any way.
Birdcage
The facemask worn by linemen which has extra vertical and horitzontal bars.
Blackout
Not allowing a football game to be seen on television in the same local market that it is being played.
Blind Side
The side opposite the direction a player is facing.
Blitz
A defensive strategy in which a linebacker or defensive back vacates his normal responsibilities in order to pressure the quarterback. The object of a blitz is to tackle the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage or force the quarterback to hurry his pass.
Block
Engaging an opponent in an effort to keep him from getting to a specific part of the field or player.An offensive play where the quarterback fakes a hand-off to a running back going one direction while he goes the opposite direction to run or pass.
Bowl Game
College football games played after the regular season.
Bump and Run
A technique used by defensive backs to slow down a receiver's ability to get off the line of scrimmage. The defender bumps the receiver at the start of the play and attempts to throw him off his route by keeping contact over the first five yards.
Buttonhook
A pass route in which the receiver heads downfield, then quickly turns back toward the line of scrimmage.
Carry
The act of running with the ball. In a game's box score, a runner's rushing attempts are listed as carries.
Center
1. The offensive lineman who hikes (or snaps) the ball to the quarterback at the start of each play.
2. The act of hiking (or snapping) the football.
CFL
An acronym for the Canadian Football League, Canada's equivalent of the NFL.
Chain Gang
Assistants to the officials whose job is to mark where a team begins a series and how far they need to go to get a first down.
Cheap Shot
A deliberate foul against an unsuspecting player.
Cheat Sheet
A fantasy football term referring to the ranking of players in terms of their fantasy potential.
Check Off
Changing a play at the line of scrimmage by calling out a predetermined set of signals.
Chop Block
A block below the knees.
Clipping
An illegal block in which a player hits an opponent from behind, typically at leg level.
Clothesline
An illegal play in which a player strikes an opponent across the face or neck with an extended arm.
Coffin Corner
he corners of the football field located between the end zone and the five-yard line at each end of the field.
Completion
A forward pass that is caught by an eligible receiver.
Conferences
Groups into which teams are divided.
Controlling the Clock
Keeping possession of the football for long periods of time, giving the other team's offense less time to operate with the ball.
Cornerback
A defensive player who generally lines up on the outside of the formation and is usually assigned to cover a wide receiver.
Count
The numbers that a quarterback shouts loudly while waiting for the ball to be snapped.
Counter
A running play designed to get the defense going in one direction while the running back goes back against the intended pursuit of the defense.
Cover
To defend a position, player, or location on the field.
Coverage
A defensive scheme designed to stop the pass, or a special teams scheme designed to limit the kick return.
Crackback Block
An illegal block by an offensive player who is usually spread out away from the main body of the formation and runs back in towards the ball at the snap, blocking an opponent below the waist or in the back with the force of the block back toward the original position of the ball at the snap.
Curl
A pass route where the receiver runs downfield before turning back to run towards the line of scrimmage.
Cut
1. To suddenly change direction while running.
2. To drop a prospective player from the team roster.
Cut Back
A sudden change in direction.
Dead Ball
The period of time between plays when the ball is no longer in play, which is determined by the officials signaling the play to be over.
Defense
The unit that is responsible for keeping the opposition out of their end zone.
Defensive Back
A member of the defensive secondary. Defensive backs generally try to keep receivers from making catches. Safeties, cornerbacks, nickel backs, and dime backs are considered to be defensive backs.
Defensive Backfield
1. The area of the field behind the defensive linemen that is defended by the defensive backs.
2. Refers to the defensive backs themselves.
Defensive End
A defensive player who lines up at the end of the defensive line.
Defensive Holding
Use of the hands to hold or push an offensive receiver or back on a passing play beyond the first five yards past the line of scrimmage.
Defensive Line
The defensive players who line up on the line of scrimmage opposite the offensive linemen. A team's first line of defense.
Defensive Lineman
The players who line up on the defensive line and are responsible for stopping the run on running plays and rushing the quarterback on passing plays.
Defensive Tackle
A defensive player who lines up on the interior of the defensive line.
Defensive Team
The unit that begins a play from scrimmage without the ball. The general role of the defense is to keep the opposition's offense from advancing the football.
Delay of Game
A penalty called on a team for either letting the play clock expire before snapping the ball, having too many players on the field, or calling a time out after having already used all they were allotted by rule.
Dime Back
The sixth defensive back used in dime coverage.
Dime Coverage
A pass coverage scheme that involves the use of six defensive backs.
Dime Package
The use of six defensive backs in a defensive formation.
Division
A sub-group within a conference.
Double Coverage
A defensive strategy where two players cover one of the opposition's receivers at the same time.
Double Foul
A situation in which each team commits a foul during the same play.
Double Team
Playing two defensive players against one offensive player in order to prevent him from making a play.
Down
A play, starting when the ball is put into play and ending when the ball is ruled dead. Basically, a down is one play.
Down and In
A pass pattern where the receiver runs straight downfield, then suddenly cuts toward the middle of the field.
Down and Out
A pass pattern where the receiver runs straight downfield, then suddenly cuts toward the sideline.
Down Box
A metal rod with a box on top that contains four cards, numbered one through four, that is used to keep track of the number of the down being played.
Down Lineman
A defensive lineman, including defensive tackles and defensive ends.
Draft
The selecting of collegiate players for entrance into the National Football League.
Draft Choice
A player chosen by an NFL team from a pool of college players in an annual selection process.
Draw
A disguised run that initially looks like a pass play. The offensive linemen fake like they are going to pass-block, the quarterback drops back like he is going to throw a pass, but instead turns and hands the ball to a running back.
Drive
The series of plays that begins at the time an offense takes possession of the ball until the point where they either score or turn the ball over to the other team.
Drop Back
An action by a quarterback, after taking the snap, where he takes a few steps backward into the pocket to set up for a pass.
Drop Kick
A free kick where a player drops the ball and kicks it right after it hits the ground.

MAIN BASKETBALL NEWS

Cross resigns at Toldeo

Toledo, OH (Sports Network) - Toldeo men's basketball coach Gene Cross has resigned his position, effective immediately, the school ann...   Full Story...

Cross resigns at Toldeo

BASKETBALL HEADLINES