Stu, I'll play, although to use the word "brain" to depict my thoughts is a bit of a stretch. IMO, your idea is valid.The punt certainly is different from the kickoff. There is blocking in the interior and blocking/checking of the outside runners/chasers to impede their ability to reach the receiver at full speed. You still have the possibility of an exciting return per kp's concerns, and you don't remove special teams or the play itself from the game per Scott's concerns. You only "slow down" the action relative to the full speed head start provided by the placement of the players during the kickoff. It's certainly worth considering. I wonder if your idea is eligible for a patent/copyright.
I guess I'm wondering why kickoffs are more dangerous than punt returns? In both cases the kicking team is running down the field toward a guy who is fielding the ball. In the KO situation he doesn't have to worry about being blasted as he receives the ball, where as the PR does have to worry about that. But after the catch they both have to face a defense coming at them full blast. But as much as I like the KO return when it's great, in no other sport does the change of possession after a score take place like in football. Rugby and soccer just basically give the ball to the other team and play starts again. There are no kickoffs in NCAA Overtime and it's still pretty exciting.
Ah kp thanks for mentioning the onside kick. You are down 10 and you score with one minute left and 1 timeout. Game over. No chance to get the ball back...
:idea: They could make special rules for kick-offs as Stu suggested. One that I favor is limiting special teams players to non-starters.
Guess my idea wasn't so original; http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/8720551/roger-goodell-says-nfl-competition-committee-consider-eliminating-kickoffs
New rules regarding Twitter and College Coaches go into effect today. Coaches can now Tweet, re-Tweet and sub-Tweet recruits. I saw on my Texas board that Gary Patterson of TCU has already posted 125 re-Tweets of players he's recruiting. I hope kids don't make decisions on this crap. I'd recommend they stick with the traditional under the table money from SEC bagmen!
Interesting article on non-coaching staff in college football. Saban pioneered the concept and has a huge number of coaches in non-coaching positions working on all aspects of the program. The Gators have their recruiting desk manned 24/7. http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/17164115/alabama-crimson-tide-nick-saban-lead-revolution-size-college-football-coaching-staffs
I do not know how many coaching related people have on staff, but I keep seeing new additions on a fairly regular basis. You have to keep up with what other teams are doing to be successful. Terry, An article in the Dispatch yesterday that you might find interesting. B1G TEN still pursuing possible expansion. Two key markets mentioned were Texas & Oklahoma. Any thoughts on that one? :wink:
Don, a lot of Texas fans would like to be done with the B12 and don't like the teams that might be brought in as part of the expansion. As to where the Longhorns should head some like the ACC, some like the Pac12 and some like the Big 10. They all have their issues. Fans who don't like the Big 10 fear the cold weather, those that don't like the Pac12 don't like the thought of all those West Coast trips. Those that don't like the ACC feel like it's not really a very good football conference. I don't really want them to go to the Pac12, all those west coast games esp for the non-football sports would be tough. I think the Big 10 would be an excellent fit, we are a big state school, and the Big 10 is full of Big State schools. I don't think the weather would be that much of a big deal. After all we were fine going to Nebraska, to Kansas, Kansas State and Iowa State all of which are cold weather schools. The only sport that we'd not be a good fit for would be baseball, in general you'd assume that no Big10 team could really compete with a typical Texas team. The rest of the sports would be great. The ACC would be a good fit for us as well, maybe not as good as the Big 10. Besides I know AJ would just love to have Texas and Oklahoma back on the Huskers schedule!! The big issue will be the Longhorn Network and the fact that Texas and all B12 teams signed long term agreements with the B12 over the media rights. I don't know how those would be handled or even if they could be handled without some huge penalty which would be unacceptable to anybody trying to leave the B12. Also with regards to Oklahoma, I think I have read that the Oklahoma Leg would not allow OU to dump Oklahoma State and move to another conference.
LSU is going after Chavis for him leaving for Texas A&M. http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/sports/lsu/article_17a82152-5832-11e6-a214-3ba269221ff4.html
This might stir the pot a bit, but I found it interesting: http://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/where-does-your-team-rank-ap-releases-top-100-college-football-teams-of-all-time/
That's pretty much what I would have expected for a top 10. Ohio State has made no bad moves in the coaching hire dept since they hired Woody, even Earle Bruce averaged 9 wins a year. Who was the coach before Woody? Paul Brown? Irish have made numerous bad moves in hiring coaches since Leahy that have impacted the overall record. If we'd have hired well, nobody would have come close to us, and we'd be ahead of Michigan in not only in all-time winning % but in total wins as well, but that's the way it worked out.
Terry, Paul Brown 1941-43 Carroll Widdoes 1944-45 Paul Bixler 1946 Wes Fesler 1947-1950 Woody Hayes 1951
First ever AP Poll. #1 Minnestoa #2 Duke #3 Army #4 Northwestern #5 Purdue #6 Southern Cal #7 Notre Dame 3-0 #8 Washington #9 Pitt #10 Yale #11 Duquesne #12 St Mary's Cal #13 LSU #14 Texas A &M #15 Nebraska #16 Fordham #17 Holy Cross #18 Tulane #19 SMU #20 Marquette