AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2008 > August > 21 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USHow will new clock rules change the game?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I was on a conference call yesterday with some NCAA and college football officials to discuss a number of aspects about the upcoming season. Since the season starts a week from today, here are some new rules and points of emphasis that will probably interest you and my take on why you, as a fan, should care.
1. New clock rule No. 1: This season the NCAA will adopt a 40/25 second play clock like the one used in the NFL. The 40-second clock will begin as soon as a play is blown dead.
If there is a stoppage of play for a penalty, or after a timeout, etc., then the 25-second clock will be used and will begin as soon as the ball is marked ready for play.
Fans really won’t be able to tell the difference because under the old rules, when a play was over, it would usually take between 13-15 seconds for the officials to mark the ball ready for play and start the 25-second play clock. So the amount of time between plays basically won’t change.
Here’s why the 40-second clock was necessary. Coaches were telling me that some officiating crews were slower than others in getting the ball ready after the end of a play. So depending on what crew you got, the pace of play would vary. Coaches don’t like that.
“I like it (the new rule) because it gives you a more consistent pace of play,” Auburn OC Tony Franklin said. “We like to play fast and this allows us to play fast.”
There could be one difference brought about by the 40-second clock. I’m expecting to see more no-huddle offenses this season as coaches try to take advantage of the new clock to get in a few extra offensive plays per game. But there is a catch. If the offense substitutes, then the defense must be given a chance to bring in players as well. So the official will stand over the ball until all the substitutions are made. If the offense does not substitute, it can snap the ball as soon as the officials put it down.
2. New clock rule No. 2: This, in my opinion, is the big change and the one that fans will notice. In years past when the ball was run out of bounds, the game clock would stop and would not start again until the ball was snapped on the next play. This season when the ball goes out of bounds the game clock will still stop. But once the ball is ready for play, the official will immediately re-start the game clock.
The old rules will go back into effect for the last two minutes of the half and the last two minutes of the game. That gives teams a chance to run the two-minute drill and potentially make a comeback.
And why are we doing this? It’s yet another attempt (the third in three years) to speed up the game without losing too many offensive plays. Two years ago you’ll remember that they put in a bunch of rules changes that shortened the game but cut out about 13 offensive plays on average. The backlash from coaches and fans was severe.
So they went back to basically the old rules last year and games ran 3:22. College football officials would like to get games that average closer to three hours. This rule will definitely speed up the game and the hope is that the increased pace of play that is brought about by the 40-second clock will keep most of the plays in.
Here is the stat to watch. Last year there were on average 143.3 offensive plays per game, or about 72 per team. Watch the first month of the season and see if that figure goes up or down.
Here’s where the no huddle offense comes into play again. In last December’s Chick-fil-A Bowl, Auburn ran 90 plays against Clemson.
“It hard to say what the effect will be but if you want to play fast these rules will allow you to do it,” South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said.
I know what you’re saying: Why don’t they just cut out some of the commercials and the games will be shorter? You know the answer. TV won’t cut out commercials and the band is not going to shorten half time.
3. Keep it clean; keep it safe: You could see an unusual number of 15-yard penalties in the first few games. Here’s why:
Football officials have been told that this season there will be a new emphasis on cleaning up unsportsmanlike conduct and unnecessary roughness. Officials will be less tolerant of taunting, trash talking and plays they believe are meant to injure another player.
For example, the NCAA has ruled that the “horse-collar” tackle (pulling a guy down from behind by reaching inside the top of his shoulder pads) will draw an automatic 15-yard penalty.
Also the “chop block” rule has been simplified. There used to be situations that allowed two players to block another player high (around the shoulder pads) and low (around his knees) at the same time. Not any more. You block a guy high-low and it’s a flag.
“If we are going to err, we’re going to err on the side of player safety,” said Dave Parry, the Big 10 supervisor of officials. “And we’re going to back our officials even if they are a little strict.”
My experience is when officials are told that something is a point of emphasis, you see it called a lot early in the season in order to get the message across to the players and coaches.
4. Don’t kick it OB: This is another rule that will speed up the game and change some strategy. Under the old rule, if a kickoff went out of bounds, the receiving team got the ball at the 35-yard line. This season the penalty for a kickoff out of bounds will give the offense the ball at its own 40-yad line.
Here is why that is significant: In the past, with the ball being kicked off at the 30-yard line, receiving teams with good return people might elect for a re-kick if the kickoff went out of bounds. It took a lot of time to get all of the players back onto the field and in position to kick off again.
Most coaches are telling me that they will just take the ball on the 40 after an OB kickoff because it’s such good field position.
But here is something to watch for and something coaches will try to avoid. The rule states that the penalty for a kickoff out of bounds is to award the ball to the offense 30 yards from the spot of the kick. So if a kicker sails the ball out of bounds and the receiving team asks for a re-kick, it will take place from the kicker’s 25-yard line. If he kicks the ball out of bounds AGAIN, the offense gets the ball on the 45. That’s huge. So if the opponent thinks you have a shaky kickoff guy, they might make you kick it again.
5. Officials seek consistency; go national: I guess it’s because I’ve been watching college football a long time, but I think this is a really big deal.
In a major effort to make officiating more consistent from conference to conference, the powers that be have created College Football Officiating, LLC. Parry will be its first national coordinator.
This is something college football has needed for a long time because, frankly, different leagues put different emphasis and interpretation on the rules. Coaches would actually adjust their thinking in a game based on where the officials were from.
“We want to eliminate the phrase ‘We don’t call it that way in our conference,’” Parry said. “We don’t want coaches and fans and players to be worried about which particular crew is working which game.”
The organization will hold clinics and send out DVDs to supervisors of officials across the country to point out areas where there may be some inconsistency in officiating. There will be accountability throughout the system, something that is handled only on the local level now.
For a long time coaches have been wanting something to make sure that the rules were interpreted consistently across all conferences. This organization will attempt to do that. It can only help.
“I can’t remember a time when there has been more excitement about a change in officiating,” said Grant Teaff, the executive director of the American Football Coaches Association. “All our coaches want is consistency.
Here is a bonus point that I found interesting.
Trying to stay cool: Ron Courson, Georgia’s director of sports medicine, is very involved in the effort to reduce heat-related injuries in the game. Courson, who is considered to be one of the best sports medicine guys in the country, pointed out to us that 90 percent of the heat related problems in college football take place during preseason practice. That makes sense because the practice takes place in the heat of August when some guys are not in the best of shape, particularly the big fellas.
But Courson said that heat related problems are down, in part, because true freshmen are allowed to come to summer school before the fall semester.
“We have two months to get them in and help them get acclimated to the heat,” Courson said. “It also gives us a chance to get a better grip on their medical history so that we can be proactive from a prevention standpoint. In the past they showed up on reporting day with everybody else.”
It’s such a common sense thing. You wonder why nobody thought of it before.
One week to go. I’m ready to see some football. How about you?
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Comments
By MisterD
August 21, 2008 6:44 AM | Link to this
UGA likes those directional kickoffs - maybe they’ll change their thinking with that rekick rule. Wwhat’s with the font change on the home sports page? Stop it now. Please.
By LSU DAN
August 21, 2008 7:03 AM | Link to this
What? No rule changes for auburn and classless, cheap, career threatening chop blocks? That should have been the first rule to be looked at, Ears Tuberville gets to live another day!
Shameful………..
By Roswell Ed
August 21, 2008 7:11 AM | Link to this
Bravo
Perfect timing for the rule changes, helps out the Auburn offense to become even more deadly. It’s going to be really difficult for any defense in this league to keep up with Franklins assault. It could get ugly, the SEC has never seen anything like what Auburn is about to do!
WDE
By JB
August 21, 2008 7:43 AM | Link to this
Tony, the, Officials seek consistency; go national: piece…
Do you think the refs will actually listen or still call it the way they alawys have?????
HBTD!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Roswell Ed
August 21, 2008 7:44 AM | Link to this
Dan, what is shameful is your obsessive whining about something that is notillegal. Never met an LSU fan with any class or dignity. I reitterate fan because none of you guys went to school there!!
Next to Uga and Bama, LSU has more sidewalk alumni than anywhere on earth!
WDE
By AltamahaDawg
August 21, 2008 8:03 AM | Link to this
Aren’t you still at the mercy of how long it takes different official to get the ball ready? Only now its cutting into your time and not thiers? Seems like you are installing more official impact there. At least before, all teams, all game had equal time once the ball is placed. Now, thats not so.
A slow official is going to be a slow official. Unless the rule change came with some sort of standards now for spotting the ball.
Inconsistant times getting the ball marked with the clock stopped, or inconsistant times getting the ball marked with the clock running, how does that get the play off any faster for Auburn (if that is the best example we came come up with)?
What did I miss?
By Dave
August 21, 2008 8:36 AM | Link to this
Roswell Ed, you sure are confident, even though you have a first year coordinator, undecided on QB and a new offensice system. How about this? “Auburn is unaccustomed to the style of play and in the first year will encounter many bumps and bruises. The SEC has seen the spread offense enough to adapt and the sheer speed that the SEC recruits has started to wear down the Spread. Auburn will either do fairly well under the new coordinator or crash and burn under an avalanch of mistakes.”
How does that shake up your spinal cord?
By bayoubruce
August 21, 2008 8:45 AM | Link to this
LSU DAN…Well said on the chop blocks…not only did he cheap shot Dorsey, but got a Clemson player as well in the Peach Bowl….Auburn’s Bowl Game of Choice….Roswell Ed…aka “a* clown”….I graduated from LSU and have to say….your comments are idiotic…as always….and NO SEC WEST for you…again…and look out Nick’s going to get you this year….
By Brent
August 21, 2008 8:47 AM | Link to this
Am I correct to assume that there will be no clock stoppage for moving the chains after a first down? I think that will have an effect on the 2 minute drill.
By Gatorman08
August 21, 2008 8:48 AM | Link to this
Hey Roswell Ed, Auburn doesn’t have the caliber of athletes to run the spread the way the Gators do. You have GOOD players, but not GREAT players. UF will destroy you like it will everyone this season. UGAG gave you an umprecedented beatdown last year. Auburn is still second tier until proven otherwise. I understand that the barners have a new coach, new system and you are understandably excited. It takes more than one year to get players acclimated to running this offense. Auburn will lose 3 games because they simply not as good as their opponents and then another 1 or 2, because they can’t run the offense properly…..yet. Another Peach Bowl or even Music City Bowl is definately in your future. Deal with the reality of THAT!
By Columbia Dawg
August 21, 2008 8:51 AM | Link to this
It’s about time. The clock rules have worked well in the NFL all these years, so why not have them college? The same thing goes for kickoffs that go out of bounds.
Finally, the college rule makers got it right. It’s not so bad to copy the pro version if it will improve the game, but it seems as though these people will only that as a last resort.
By AUtiger
August 21, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this
Hey Gatorman,
Can you tell me who won the last two Auburn-Florida games? That’s what I thought.
WDE
By Joe
August 21, 2008 9:23 AM | Link to this
LSU Dan is right on the money. Auburn’s chop blocking is disgusting and shameful.
What a terrible way to teach kids to play football.
By Ed
August 21, 2008 9:39 AM | Link to this
Ed, why do you feel it necessary to bold random words? you sort of look like a moron when you do so.
By JoeFann
August 21, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this
With the exception of the clock rules, all the changes are about player safety and consistency. Officials are EXCITED that a national standard for both emphasis and enforcement is being implemented. While it will take a couple of years to get all the conferences (they will still control conference games) and officiating associations on the same page, it can only even the playing field for teams playing out of conference games. Officials work harder at their craft for less money (on a per hour basis), when you consider all the classes, camps and training that’s REQUIRED, than any part time job you can imagine. GREAT (and overdue) move by the NCAA.
By BAM511
August 21, 2008 9:45 AM | Link to this
Tony,
Do you expect Georgia to revert back to running some of their no-huddle offense that Richt brought here from FSU during his first few years as coach? If I recall he ran into issues with how quickly (or not) he was able to run this type of offense because of officials and rule changes. There has not been much mention of it this pre-season as far as I have read.
By Gatorman08
August 21, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this
AUtiger, I accept that, but both were by a whisker. How does that Miss State game last year sit with you? How about South Florida? At least UF was IN the game with a chance to win and doesn’t lose to the ankle biters. And this was with the offense you were FAMILIAR with? Auburn has a long and frustrating road in front of it. Pleasant drinking, barner!
By saint nick
August 21, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this
Hey Dan,
Chop block rules will NEVER get changed as long as EARS is on the rules board!!!! Glen Dorsey was tossing AU line around like ragdolls and all of a sudden he gets put out of the game(only for several plays) How convenient?????? Dorsey came back in and threw PUGH(supposed to be their best lineman this year) it looked like 10 yards behind Brandon Cox!!LOL Forget rule changes on knee killers as long as Tubby is on that board!!!!
By PTC DAWG
August 21, 2008 10:05 AM | Link to this
I like the changes, but I also agree, a slow ref is a slow ref. I could see that slow ref being a huge problem for both teams dealing with him.
To the Gator fan who thinks his beloved Gators are going to DESTROY everyone (his words), good luck with that.
By AUtiger
August 21, 2008 10:12 AM | Link to this
We had a crappy qauterback who couldn’t throw it 20 yards downfield, three true fresman starting on the o-line, a true freshman kicker and STILL beat you clowns even after Urban’s cheap little time out. So we really beat you twice in one game!!
I would love to play FLA again and watch you cry wearing your jean shorts, tank top and gold necklace after we beat you for the third time in a row.
By hop
August 21, 2008 10:19 AM | Link to this
auburn does not have a complete qb to run the spread. each has his own strengths and that makes them one dimenionial.
it will be a loooog season on the plains!
By Red Clay Hound
August 21, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this
Altamaha Dawg you are right. The clock rule seems like it could penalize both teams if the officiating crew is slow in spotting the ball.
If you want to really make the games faster, you gotta get a handle on all the TV timeouts. It is out of control. Fox and CBS are the worse
By Joe
August 21, 2008 10:38 AM | Link to this
Red Clay Hound…
The reason for speeding up the game is so they can have more TV timeouts in the allotted time the network has set aside for the game.
As much as we all hate it, even college football is all about the mighty dollar.
By Dawgbone
August 21, 2008 10:38 AM | Link to this
Hey Gaytorman…you guys don’t even play Auburn this year dipsh*t. You must be a huge Gaytor fan
By marshdawg
August 21, 2008 10:53 AM | Link to this
As ticket prices and parking and vending all keep going up and up, all anyone and everyone wants to do is shorten the game. Can we please get our moneys worth? We fans are year-round diehards, asked to contribute all extra money to each individuals school of choice, the schools are doing away with tailgating spaces, we cannot get a playoff system for our schools and we seem to be getting the short end of the stick more and more. I say do away with the long commercial timeouts and let’s play ball. That would take 20 minutes off the time and I guarantee the television networks would still pay the big bucks to broadcast NCAA football.
By G
August 21, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this
For all you people who think AU called for the chop blocks i.e. All LSU fans, you are sadly mistaken. But I’m so glad they made the mistake and chop blocked him. Hopefully his career will end and he will have to get a real job like the rest of us….oh wait…don’t know if he graduated or not. Oh well….trash picks up on Mondays.
By fan
August 21, 2008 11:05 AM | Link to this
Am I the only one that read the part about the chop block: You block a guy high-low and it’s a flag. So they did change the rule. At least thats the way I comprehend it.
By Pat Dye
August 21, 2008 11:07 AM | Link to this
Roswell Ed Come away from there son you have spent enough time on the computer today. I know that you are middle aged, you still *live at home with mom and dad, you have never kissed a girl and with the neighborhood kids having returned to school you have even more time to blog and play Wii, but you need your exercise. Now, go outside and cut the grass. It is sad enough that you still live at home and don’t have a job, but it sadder still that your dad has to do all of the yard work while you sit in front of the computer.
Plus, you make us Auburn folk look life freakin retards.
By Tom
August 21, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this
*
I’m reading these comments and thinking, “Does anyone here actually understand the difference between a chop block (illegal) and a cut block (legal)?”
TONY B!!….when will you and Wes be hitting the radio waves??
*
By Tom
August 21, 2008 11:48 AM | Link to this
nevermind…..you’re on NOW!! :-)
By Tom
August 21, 2008 12:08 PM | Link to this
nevermind, TB….you guys are on NOW!
By CrystalRouge
August 21, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this
G…you are a sick puppy….maybe if I chop block your fat sorry a* you would have a better apreciation of what we are talking about here….Dorsey is will do quite well in the NFL in spite of the cheap shot from Auburn. And by the way Dorsey graduated so you are going to have to find someone else to ride with you on the back of the truck when you go back on your garbage rounds…..
By Gen Neyland
August 21, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this
#4…Squib kicks will become the rage…else they be high and short. The deep kickoff will be a gamble against opposition with such speed as UGA. Still, I’d much rather have a K.O. specialist that can drill it between the uprights and beyond, first time, every time…
By Walton
August 21, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this
The biggest impact from the clock change will be the end of games. You are correct that during the normal flow of the game there isn’t much difference between the 40 or 25 second play clock but at the end of the game there can be a huge difference. If the winning team is kneeling on the ball, the refs typically get the ball set and ready for play very quickly; there may only be about 30-33 seconds between snaps but with the 40 sec play clock there will be at least 43 seconds between snaps. This 10 second difference can add up. It could make the winning team kick one more time; or give the losing offense 4 or 5 more plays. It makes saving Timeouts even more important.
Since college doesn’t have the 2 minute warning, a game can now be over with about 2:10 on the clock. College fans aren’t used to 3 kneel downs with that much time on the clock. Running plays and/or giving the losing team one more chance is much more exciting, even if the chance to win is remote.
By gary
August 21, 2008 1:34 PM | Link to this
the auburn offense will be nothing more then a high school. Franklin is a washed out old fart who was stuck down in Troy Alabama for years because he couldn’t get another colleg gig. LOL…Franklin and Tubby both admitt the new offense is one ran by most high schools. hahahaha
By Roswell Ed
August 21, 2008 1:36 PM | Link to this
War Eagle!
Hopefully, our fast paced offense won’t give the refs enough time to penalize us for any more chop blocks!
By Roswell Ed
August 21, 2008 1:36 PM | Link to this
War Eagle!
Hopefully, our fast paced offense won’t give the refs enough time to penalize us for any more chop blocks!
By AltamahaDawg
August 21, 2008 1:56 PM | Link to this
Walton, old rules appl;y inside of 2 minutes still.
By TubbEars
August 21, 2008 2:37 PM | Link to this
Roswell ED, API is subject to a coach ready to get out of dodge, deminishing recruiting classes now that your rival is not hopping on one leg with arms tied, and now you are going to the spread with Div 2 talent and a new coach that has never experienced SEC speed. Good luck to you and keep your therapist close by.
Go Dawgs!!!
By CrimsonRedScarlett
August 21, 2008 2:47 PM | Link to this
Unfortunatelym the simplest way to speed up games would be to have fewer and shorter commercial breaks. The NFL is even worse.
By Fan
August 21, 2008 3:51 PM | Link to this
Not mentioned but the 5 year facemask no longer exists. If it’s incedental then it’s no flag, otherwise 15 yards. I can only imagine how many fans are going to be yelling for a facemask not knowing the new rule.
By Fan
August 21, 2008 3:54 PM | Link to this
AltamahaDawg, 40 sec clock is ALWAYS in effect
By KJ
August 21, 2008 4:03 PM | Link to this
Hopefully CFO’s first item of business will be to install a collar on Penn Wagers that delivers 10000 volts any time he ventures within 100 yards of a UGA game.
By Pitbull
August 21, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this
Two points:
Hopefully the clock changes will aid teams going no huddle. I have watched UGA trying to go no huddle only to stand around at the line of scrimmage while the ref stands over the ball trying to figure out if his cup is on backwards.
This may put a dent in Paul Johnson’s announcement printed in the AJC several months ago that his team would use the chop block. I thought that was evident of a Tech attitude that “we are so desperate to win that we are willing to intentionally hurt the opposing teams’ players.”
The fact that the “chop block” rule has been simplified may prevent a coach from doing that now. No more blocking a guy high-low. Now if the refs will just enforce it and not ignor it because they feel sorry for Tech.
By EastBeast
August 21, 2008 4:59 PM | Link to this
Should be Auburn playing Clemson instead of Alabama, then they could call it the Underperformer bowl!
By AltamahaDawg
August 21, 2008 5:48 PM | Link to this
Thanks Fan, I see that. It’s only the OOB play that is different in last 2 minutes. Walton is talking about killing the clock, I was thinking conserving.
Hey maybe if you fellows are finished arguing with ED, somebody can answer my question. I understand you can run a play almost as soon as its spotted for play, but what makes the refs spot the ball with any consistancy? Still sounds to me that a ref could take his own sweet time to spot the ball if he choose to, only now he is cutting into your actual running clock. Or is spotting the ball such an automatic task, there is just less variation?
Havent worked on the crew, somebody help me out.
The other thing that occurs to me is that it really puts a whole new angle on officiating a game. I have to think that part of the time variation to start the 25 second play clock was where the crew ended up and letting them get back into position.
By Gator Nation
August 21, 2008 6:01 PM | Link to this
Only 12 dang games a year and the powers that be what to speed up the games and give us less college football!
THAT SUCKS
Leave the rules like they used to be and budject your TV time for 3 and 1/2 hours per game. Then the networks can run even more commercials and make more money.
And I won’t get less football!!
Who would complain about that?
By DisneyDawg
August 21, 2008 6:26 PM | Link to this
AltamahaDawg, I (once again) agree with you on the clock stoppage deal. This rule definitely puts the speed of the game in the officials’ hands at the expense of the teams. Not a good idea to assume that there is consistency among the refs. Last year the officials blew it trying to apply the taunting rule; the Superman TD dives were called unsportsmanlike on some occasions, but not all. I can see where some team is going to argue that the ref cost them a game with a slow ball spot.
By quaildawg
August 21, 2008 6:56 PM | Link to this
On shortening the game when there is an exchange in punts within say 2-3 minutes then no commercial break on the exchange after one TV break. There could be no more than 4 breaks per quarter and no break lasting longer than 2 minutes. I have yet (with the exception of the overkill on the commercials by FOX for the BCS games that extended those games beyond reasonable) have heard anyone complain about games lasting too long. The high-low block means Auburn will get at least two Unsportsmans per game for their cheapshot Oline play.
By War Eagle
August 21, 2008 9:49 PM | Link to this
Gen Neyland, last year I picked Tenn in the East, I think they will be a threat in East this year, but defense and Ol could be a down play. I like Crompton, RB and WR. Florida has great QB and a young defense, but has some experience.. The Gators, dawgs will play for division if UGA beats Tenn.. Auburn should win West, but 2009 is Auburn year..Good luck
By AltamahaDawg
August 21, 2008 9:57 PM | Link to this
I’m not even sure I agree with me on this. Just asking a couple of questions. It’s certainly not a new concept they are just making up. I’m definetely going to pay attention to a couple of NFL pre-season games just to figure it out.
By War Eagle
August 21, 2008 9:58 PM | Link to this
Sargin Rating out
LSU #2
Florida #5
UGA #9
Auburn #10
Tenn #13
Bama,#31, Vandy #36
By Mony
August 21, 2008 11:40 PM | Link to this
www.tampabayauburnclub.com/page20.htm
copy and paste to your browser regardless of who you pull for. Those boys sing good! Auburn’s “Hard Fighting Solder.”
By tiger7_88
August 22, 2008 1:17 AM | Link to this
LSU DAN: Please to be examining the LSU center and left guard on this play…
Cheap shot on OSU player from the side LINK
Cheap shot on OSU player from behind LINK
People who live in glass houses and stuff…
By JoeFann
August 22, 2008 10:25 AM | Link to this
Hey Altamaha! One of the keys a referee works on is his pace. He strives for consistency play after play to keep the interval between the dead ball whistle and the “ready for play” whistle the same. The same in the first quarter as it is in the fourth. The circumstances of the game should not alter the pace. However, with a renewed emphasis (through clock changes) on getting the offense as many plays as possible, I think all referees will be looking to speed up their individual pace, yet remain consistent throughout the game. I also think the new national officiating group will, over time, make that pace more uniform throughout the country and throughout all crews. Believe it or not, associations time things like this and review them with the officials and work to bring the extremes at both ends of the spectrum toward the middle.
By ma867zda
August 23, 2008 3:42 PM | Link to this
c698t
By Rachel
November 28, 2008 6:36 PM | Link to this
I have noticed on a few games that the player with the ball will run out of bounds which is when the clock should stop but it hasnt. I was watching a game today and saw the same thing. Guy with the ball ran out of bounds and the clock kept ticking away. Why?
By pjf
January 9, 2009 7:24 PM | Link to this
with 08 season over we see the effect of the clock rules — which is to take more of the game out of the hands of the players and put it into the huge ego hands of the coaches. Surely Sam Bradford has a high enough QB-IQ to make pre-snap reads and checks. But no! Have the coach in the booth call it in. Big Boooo to all the Big Ego coaches in the Big 12. New task for 2009 NCAA rulemakers — give the game back to the players.