Proposed NCAA football rules changes

[PonyPride]

Pretty interesting - from USA Today:

The 10 football rule changes proposed by an NCAA committee

Paul Myerberg
USA TODAY Sports
12:45p.m. EST February 14, 2013

A rule to automatically eject players for targeting a defenseless player above the head and shoulders is one of 10 potential changes recommended by the NCAA Football Rules Committee, which met this week to discuss ways to increase player safety and "improve the game."

Of the 10 suggestions, the rule impacting targeting - like last year's rule moving kickoffs up to the 35-yard line - is the one gaining the most attention. Lost in the shuffle are several additional recommendations that could, if passed, produce a heavy change in the way college football is played.

Here's a breakdown of the committee's proposals:

1. Targeting. As noted, the committee unanimously agreed that in addition to the existing 15-yard penalty, a player should be ejected for targeting a defenseless player above the shoulders. As with fighting, a player who is penalized for targeting in the first half would miss the remainder of the game; if he is penalized in the second half, he would miss the rest of that game and the first half of his team's next contest.

To balance out the incidents where a player is unfairly penalized, officiating crews would be allowed to review the hit through video replay. Said the committee, the replay official "must have conclusive evidence that a player should not be ejected to overturn the call on the field."

Full story: The 10 football rule changes proposed by an NCAA committee

[Junior]

what's the rationale on the spiking the ball proposal? did someone lose that way last year and now they're crying about it? what's next? no rushing TD's?

[couch 'em]

Slowly trying to eliminate the kicking game, just like kickoffs?

[mrydel]

The original purpose of the spike rule was to save time. By using it in the last few seconds it becomes primarily a clock stopper and not a time saver so the original purpose is lost. The QB can still line up, drop back, and throw the ball out of bounds. But in the last few seconds the clock would run out and that is the way it should be. I have never liked the spike rule. It merely allows intentional grounding.