NF: 2008 timeout rule change

[Warrenkicker]

Just 1 coach may call time-outs.

3-5-2 A charged team time-out occurs when the ball is dead and:
a. The request of either a player or the head coach (or head coach’s designee) is legally granted. When a decision on a penalty is pending, a time-out shall not be granted to either team until the captain makes his choice.
NOTE: The head coach’s designee shall remain in place for the entire game except in case of emergency.

There is no more help from the Case Book. So it is up to us to determine the definition of "emergency". I am guessing that a disqualification would qualify under emergency. Also anything like an injury or illness that prevented the designee from returning to the field would qualify. But what happens if a head coach designates the offensive coordinator to call time-outs then the head coach is ejected and then the offensive coordinator is ejected. The rule says that only the head coach may designate and he is gone. Maybe no coaches can call time-outs now.

As for me, if the coach who could call time-outs can't make it back out to the field then I want a different coach to take over that job.