---------------------------------------------------------- 1. Eye shields (Rule 1-4-5-s) Change: Eye shields that are not clear are not permitted. Rationale: This seemingly small rule change was motivated by medical concerns. When checking players for concussions and other brain injuries, trainers were unable to see through the shaded eye shields without detaching the shields from the helmet. This change saves medical staff vital seconds in determining the severity of a player's injury. 2. Kicking tee (Rule 2-15-4-c) Change: A kicking tee may not elevate the ball's lowest point more than 1 inch above the ground. Rationale: Enacted to reduce the number of touchbacks and increase the number of kickoff returns, this rule change will also help prepare players for the pro game, which uses the lower tee. 3. Game clock (Rule 3-2-5, 3-2-5-e) Change: When the ball is free kicked, the game clock will start. When Team B is awarded a first down, the game clock will start on the ready-for-play signal. Rationale: One of the goals in revising the rules was to shorten the length of games. The game clock will now start when the ball hits the kicker's foot on free kicks and kickoffs, and when the referee signals the ball is ready for play on first downs, instead of at the snap. Many coaches believe these changes will eliminate 10-15 plays per game. 4. Excessive noise (Rule 3-3-3-f-4) Change: The referee's discretionary timeout for excessive crowd noise has been deleted. Rationale: Largely unenforceable, this rule caused more problems than solutions. 5. Fouls (Rule 7-1-3-b, 7-1-4-b) Change: Fouls concurrent with the snap on scrimmage kick may be enforced at the previous spot or the succeeding spot. Rationale: For live-ball fouls occurring at the snap on scrimmage kick plays, the penalty may be enforced at the previous spot or succeeding spot. Receiving teams can opt to add a 5-yard penalty onto the end of a return, rather than require a rekick. 6. Extra point (Rule 8-3-2) Change: If a touchdown is scored during a down in which time in the fourth period expires, the try shall not be attempted unless the points would affect the outcome of the game. Rationale: This is just a change of wording to clarify the existing rule. 7. Halftime (Rule 3-2-1-b) Change: The intermission between halves, which begins when the field is clear of all players and coaches, shall be 20 minutes. The home team administration may lengthen or shorten the 20 minutes by previous agreement of the visiting team administration. Rationale: This is an attempt to shorten the game. 8. Instant replay (Rule 12) Change: Instant replay and coaches' challenge will be uniform throughout Division I-A, but not mandatory. (Rule 12) Instant replay is the sole discretion of the home team. The visiting team does not have the option of requesting or declining its use. In order to reverse an on-field ruling, the replay official must see indisputable video evidence through one or more video replays provided to the monitor. The replay official and the crew will review every play and may stop a game if there is enough evidence to believe an error was made and that the reversal would have a direct affect on the game. In addition, the head coach of either team can challenge the on-field ruling once per game by requesting a timeout before the ball is put into play. If the ruling is reversed, the coach will not be charged with the timeout. Scoring plays, out of bounds plays, passes and recovery of loose balls are reviewable when they take place at a sideline, goal line or an end line. Reviewable plays involving passes include passes ruled complete, incomplete or intercepted anywhere in the field of play; a legal forward pass touched by an ineligible receiver or a defensive player; a fumble ruled on the part of a potential passer; a forward pass or forward handing ruled when a runner is beyond the line of scrimmage or after a change of possession; and a pass ruled forward or backward when thrown from behind the line of scrimmage. Other reviewable plays include a runner judged not to have been down by rule; a runner's forward progress with respect to a first down; touching of a kick by any player; the number of players on the field; a scrimmage kicker beyond the line of scrimmage when the ball is kicked; clock adjustment when a ruling on the field is reversed; and a fumble recovery during a fourth down or a try and before any change of possession. Rationale: Instant replay has gained popularity in its two years in existence, and this makes it uniform throughout Division I-A.
Thanks Terry. I think #5 means that if the kicking team has a foul, releasing a player downfield early for example, the recieving team can take the 5 yard penalty from the orginal line of scrimmage and make the kicking team kick again, or if they get good field position they still get the 5 yards added from where the play ended and have a first down. That's the way I read it.
Oh, by all means lets help out the pro teams...after all, they do so much to improve the college game. :roll: Translation: "All those commercials lengthen the game too much...the games are running over into the next program. Let's cut out a few plays so we don't have to address the "problem" of all those commercials. :? stu