Football rules experts agree: Controversy over Kenny Pickett's fake slide needs to be addressed 'effective immediately'

Former NFL referee and current CBS rules analyst Gene Steratore is weighing in on the fake slide controversy surrounding Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett.

Pickett caused Wake Forest defenders to ease up during an open field run in the first quarter of Saturday’s ACC championship game when it appeared he was about to give himself up with a slide.

When the Demon Deacons defenders slowed up, Pickett kept running and scored a touchdown.

THAT FAKE SLIDE ????@KennyPickett10's career-long 58-yard TD run gives Pitt an early lead ????

Watch ???? ABC#H2P » #BeatWake pic.twitter.com/Otsj2pomNy

— Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) December 5, 2021

“It was intentional,” Pickett said. “I just kind of started slowing down and pulling up and getting ready to slide. I just kind of saw their body language and they just pulled up as well.

“I have never done that before. I just kind of kept going after I initially started to slide.”

Steratore thinks a college football rule change is in order. Now.

“I wish they would implement a change in the rule effective immediately just to get rid of it,” Steratore said on WDVE Tuesday morning. “Just make it a blown dead play. I’d love to see them do that right now so that they don’t run into another situation like that potentially during the Bowls and the national championship games.”

That said, Steratore isn’t blaming the Heisman Trophy finalist for pulling off the move.

“It’s not in the rule book,” Steratore continued. “It was never addressed. So give him kudos for being an innovative thinker that’s reading a fine line in the rules and finding a way to gain an advantage — legally and by rule — until they change it.”

Meanwhile, Fox rules analyst — and former NFL Vice President of Officiating — Dean Blandino had a different take. He suggested that the rule Steratore is requesting technically exists. And he said the in-game officials would’ve been within their rights to blow the play dead.

“I know the direction to the officials going into the Bowl games will be once you see a player start that feet first slide. Kill it. No questions asked.” @MikePereira and @DeanBlandino break down the rules surrounding Kenny Pickett's fake slide against Wake Forest ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/FnxKEpZ2At

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 7, 2021

“The college rule is different than the NFL rule,” Blandino said. “In the college rule, once you start the slide — one you break down — and your backside starts to go toward the ground. It’s over. The officials are supposed to kill it. End the play. You can’t advance the football. You can’t fumble it. You basically become a defenseless player. And that’s basically what Pickett did.”

When I followed up with Steratore, he said the nuance that exists between the college and pro rules is when and where NFL officials spot the ball, and how much longer protection is given to the defenders from drawing flags.

In the NFL, Steratore said, the determination of a slide is more about the contacting of a ball carrier’s body to the ground as opposed to the initiation of the sliding act in college as described by Blandino.

Regardless, both Blandino and Steratore encouraged college football executives to emphasize to officials that the act of a slide should make the play dead so as to avoid confused and frustrated defenders from taking runs at quarterbacks who may — or may not — be attempting to fool them as Pickett did.

As Blandino warned, “copycat” attempts from quarterbacks are likely to be seen after Pickett successfully pulled off the move.

“I know the direction to the officials going into the Bowl games and the CFP will be once you see a player start that feet first slide. Kill it. No questions asked,” Blandino said.