'08 Rule Changes

[DaytonBuck]

In an attempt to produce more plays and points in a shorter game, the rules committee went back to the drawing board and on Wednesday recommended a few changes for the upcoming season.

The first is the implementation of a 40/25-second play clock, similar to that of the NFL. At the end of every play, the 40-second clock will start, which is the rule in the NFL.

In other recommended rules changes announced Tuesday:
? A coach will get an extra instant replay challenge if his first one is upheld. Under the old rule the coach had only one challenge whether he was right or wrong. Under the new rule the coach, if he's right, will get one extra challenge, but no more.


? If a kickoff goes out of bounds, the receiving team will have the option of taking the ball on its own 40-yard line. The previous rule gave the receiving team the ball on the 35-yard line.


? The incidental five-yard facemask penalty will be eliminated. Only the 15-yard facemask penalties will be called.


? A "horse collar" tackle, where the defender grabs inside the back collar of the shoulder pads to pull the runner down, will now be a personal foul.


? There will no longer be sideline warnings for players and coaches who crowd onto the field during the game. The official may assess a five-yard penalty without a warning for the infraction.
The recommendations must still be reviewed and given final approval by the NCAA's Playing Rules Oversight Panel, which meets in April.

AJC

[BB73]

I'm fine with almost all of those rule changes. Many of them make me recall specific situations in which I was bitching about the refs and/or the rules.

I'm surprised they eliminated the 5-yard facemask penalty. But in general I'm a fan of eliminating as many judgment calls as possible.

I do think, though, that a coach should retain his challenge until he loses one, rather than only getting one extra challenge after being correct.

[BuckeyeMac]

I wish they would keep the 5yard facemask penatly. I think the horse collar tackle is one of the best rules on there for safety reasons.

[BayBuck]

Another one from that article but not listed above: "After a player runs out of bounds and the ball is made ready to play, the official will start the game clock. Under the old rules the game clock would not start until the ball was snapped. This new rule will not apply in the final two minutes of the first half and the final two minutes of the game."

All the others are okay with me (though ball on the 40 for out-of-bounds kickoff seems a bit much), but I hate this proposed change.

[BUCKYLE]

The horse collar rule is bull[censored]. You don't want to get hurt, play tennis. The complete pussification of football continues.

[ant80]

Originally Posted by BUCKYLE

The horse collar rule is bull[censored]. You don't want to get hurt, play tennis. The complete pussification of football continues.

Have you ever played football?