NCAA scrapping game-shortening rules

[NickelDeuce]

Aggie, that would be great about incomplete passes starting on the ready but what about late in the game when timing is so critical. I don't think you can come back to the ready after an incomplete pass or a runner out of bounds unless you have 2 minute timing rules like the NFL does.

[Bob M.]

Originally Posted by NickelDeuce

Aggie, that would be great about incomplete passes starting on the ready but what about late in the game when timing is so critical. I don't think you can come back to the ready after an incomplete pass or a runner out of bounds unless you have 2 minute timing rules like the NFL does.

REPLY: And starting on the ready after an incomplete pass would take the 'spike' play out of the book.

[Texas Aggie]

Guys, please read a LITTLE more carefully.

The Penn St. game last year is one reason why starting the clock on the kick had to be changed.

That's why I said,

I think the clock SHOULD start on the kick (except for after a penalty on Team A)

And starting on the ready after an incomplete pass would take the 'spike' play out of the book.

Which is why I made the comment,

At least on OOB, keeping the spike rule in place.

Besides, even if you changed the inc. pass rule, the spike rule could still be in place, as it would stop the clock until the ball is set for RFP. Granted thats not a great deal of time, but in certain cases it could be useful -- i.e. running up after a long pass play.

I think historically, the forward pass play was somewhat irregular, that the clock stopped after an incomplete pass for reasons like chasing the ball, allowing the team time to return to a huddle after being downfiield, etc. Now, the passing game is a much bigger part of the game than it was 20-40 years ago, that perhaps clock rules need to be revisited.

I know the varsity coaches in Texas didn't like the new timing rules because they felt ANY decrease in total playing time would create some apathy (and possible quitting) by some players. Whether that's true or not, we have some jr. high games that go on for 2 hours because both teams run a passing offense and complete 30% of their passes. I know this isn't an NCAA problem, but when I work 20-25 such games a year, it certainly is on my mind.

Just to let you know where I'm coming from. I expect to be in the minority on this one, and am just interested in seeing if there's a new idea that could resolve everyone's concerns.

[TXMike]

The Texas varsity coaches never had to , and never will, have to worry aout the new timing rules as they never applied to Texas HS games. (And from all I have heard from folks at TASO/UIL and THSCA, even if the 2006 book had been used in Texas, they would have had exceptions for the timing rule changes. )

[grantsrc]

And people keep saying stuff about the Penn St vs. Wisconsin game. College conferences addressed that issue the following week to prevent that from happening again.

[MJT]

Originally Posted by grantsrc

And people keep saying stuff about the Penn St vs. Wisconsin game. College conferences addressed that issue the following week to prevent that from happening again.

What did they say? The only thing I heard was Adams saying the officials should have ruled 9-9. He didn't say how they should have handled it as far I I heard, just invoke 9-9.

[TXMike]

(What is 9-9 ??)

I recall there were some internet posts that indicated certain conferences had issued guidance to their crews and coaches to head off any further lunacy after the PSU-Wisc game. But Adams actually spoke out and made it clear, to me anyway, that it should be left to the discretion of the involved crew.

Quotes from a news article on the story:

"Obviously, that's taking advantage of the rules and shouldn't be allowed," John Adams, the NCAA's rules interpreter, said Monday. "We certainly wouldn't condone that."

Yesterday, during his weekly press conference, Bielema offered no apologies.

"It worked out exactly as we envisioned it," Bielema said. "It was something that we had practiced."

Bielema was able to burn the clock because of a rule the NCAA playing rules oversight panel approved during the offseason. The rationale for the rule change was that it would help trim the length of games by about five minutes.

"I don't necessarily agree with the rule the way that it's written," Bielema said. "But I knew the rule, and I wanted to maximize it. I have to put my team in a position to have success."

After the second kickoff attempt, Penn State coach Joe Paterno ran onto the field and asked why the referees had not called an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Wisconsin.

"He was upset that (the Badgers) were doing it deliberately," Nittany Lions defensive coordinator Tom Bradley said.

No penalty was called, but the referees told both teams the clock would not start if the third kick was offside.

Adams said something should have been done after the first blatant offside play.

"I think after the first time it happens, you know what's going on and that it's an unfair act," Adams said.

Adams said the refs should have taken action under a rule that states: "If an obviously unfair act not specifically covered by the rules occurs during the game, the referee may take any action he considers equitable, including assessing a penalty."