More rules and proposed changes by the NCAA. The first, and most discussed below, is the proposed ejection of a player for hitting a defenseless player above the shoulders. There's a part of me that understands the need for controlling those hits where a player intentionally tries to injure another. (ie, Saints....let the discussion begin) But in both the college and pro games, the enforcement of this has gone beyond logic and reason. Football is a game of high speed collisions where players have to make split second decisions. It's virtually every 2 or 3 plays where two are going full speed at each other and have to make that split second decision on how that collision will occur. How many times have you seen the ball carrier tuck his head while the defender is set to make textbook tackle? Result: blow to the head....flag.
The only silver lining I see is the proposed use of instant replay to help validate or overturn the refs decision. I just hope this brings some sanity back as opposed to the further pussification of the game we love. c-c-c-copy to da' p-p-p-pasta al.com
The NCAA Football Rules Committee proposed today a new rule to eject college football players who target and contact defenseless players above the shoulders.
If approved by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel next month, the infraction would result in a 15-yard penalty and automatic ejection of the player. The committee also wants to allow the ejection portion of the penalty to be reviewable through video replay.
The NCAA says the replay official must have "conclusive evidence" that a player should not be ejected to overturn the call on the field. A post-game conference review remains part of the rule, allowing leagues to add a sanction.
"The general consensus is that the officials on the field make this call properly the vast majority of the time and know what the committee is looking for with this foul," national coordinator of officials Rogers Redding said in a statement. "This move is being made to directly change player behavior and impact player safety."
The proposed ejection rule would mirror the penalty for fighting. If the foul happens in the first half of a game, the player is ejected for the rest of the game. If it occurs in the second half or overtime, the ejected player misses the rest of the game and the first half of the next contest.
The proposal comes at a time when college football is facing scrutiny on whether it's doing enough about concussions. Recently, President Barack Obama said he has more concern about the health of college football players than NFL players.
Redding mentioned in December there's not much that more can be changed in the rulebook without fundamentally changing football. "I'm not suggesting this at all," Redding said at the time. "But it may be at the point where we take a look at taking away any contact above the neck at all."
Other proposals passed by the football rules committee:
* Allow blocking below the wait during typical line of scrimmage play, just not from the side or behind. The NCAA says the previous rule was confusing.
* Allow the Big 12 to experiment with an eighth official in conference games in the offensive backfield opposite the referee.
* Permit the use of electronic communication by on-field officiating crews after the "successful" experimentation by the SEC. The electronic communication is not required will be allowed.
* Add a 10-second runoff with less than one minute remaining in either half when the sole reason for the clock to stop is an injury.
* Establish three seconds as the minimum amount of time required to be on the game clock in order to spike the ball to stop the clock. Offenses will have time for only one more play if one or two seconds remain on the clock.
* Require a player that changes numbers during the game to report this to the referee, who will announce the change. Two players at the same position on the same team won't be allowed to have the same jersey number.
* Require teams to have either their jersey or pants contrast in color to the playing field. In other words, no all-blue uniforms for Boise State on its blue turf. As part of the Broncos' agreement to stay in the Mountain West, they would have been allowed to wear all-blue at home for conference games.
* Allow instant replay to adjust the clock at the end of each quarter. Previously, this provision was only allowed at the end of each half.
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