NCAA Response to My Letter

[RKel32]

I sent Myles Brand a letter last week regarding my extreme displeasure with the new clock rules and actually got a letter back(not from him personally, but from Dennis Poppe, Managing Director for Baseball and Football). Here is the letter:


I am responding on behalf of Myles Brand to your recent e-mail in which
you expressed concern regarding changes in the NCAA Football Rules for
the 2006 season.

The NCAA Football Rules Committee, which is composed of 13 individuals
from NCAA member institutions or conferences, is responsible for the
development and maintenance of the NCAA football playing rules. The
committee, after receiving input from all key stakeholders in college
football, made the decision to start the clock when the ball is kicked
and on the ready for play when there is a change of possession in an
attempt to address the length of the games.

The length of college football games is a concern. Studies have
indicated that the length of the games has averaged about three hours
and 20 minutes. It was the opinion of the rules committee that a
three-hour game would be optimal, not only for the student-athletes but
for the fans.

Coaches were provided the opportunity to review the proposed changes
during the American Football Coaches Association Convention and during a
comment period after the rules committee's February meeting. No
comments were received during the comment period and the proposed
changes were approved in March.

It should be noted that all rules changes will be reviewed at the end of
the season to determine their impact, if any.

Thank you for your interest in NCAA football.

Dennis Poppe
Managing Director for Baseball and Football

 

[4DaTIDE]

Canned Bull*** Response Clean up, Aisle Two

Same reply I and about ten thousand other fans got.

4Da

 

[RKel32]

Canned Bull*** Response Clean up, Aisle Two

Same reply I and about ten thousand other fans got.

4Da

I figured as much but just wanted to share it with everyone who hadn't see it yet.

 

[Bama-94-00]

...
The length of college football games is a concern. Studies have
indicated that the length of the games has averaged about three hours
and 20 minutes. It was the opinion of the rules committee that a
three-hour game would be optimal, not only for the student-athletes but
for the fans.
...

Games have been over 3 hr for many years now. Don't see why 3 hr is so optimal, except for TV scheduling. TV could just as easily allow for games to go 3.5 hrs if they planned for it.

 

[TheCrimsonLiver]

I don't see why they are upset. The longer the games the more money they make? They just have to find a way to screw up something that isn't a problem. You actually thing ratings will go up because Doctor Quinn Medicine Woman is coming on after the Alabama /Tennessee game. Ratings will go down after the game. I'm off on a tangerine now, need a stronger drink mosdiferously.

 

[AlistarWills]

I'd love to see the length of a TV game compared to the length of a non-TV game from the last couple of years. If the coaches want to shorten the length of games, then dispose of the WAC and the 18-wide formations where the clock continually stops on incompletions and the game lasts for 6 hours. Geesh!

 

[Vertical]

It was the opinion of the rules committee that a
three-hour game would be optimal, not only for the student-athletes but
for the fans.

Read this as:

We decided what you guys want, despite the fact that none of you actually want it.

I'd reply to them with the following:

Please define "optimal". Optimal for what? Fair games? TV scheduling? Fan satisfaction? Vendor sales? Parking?

At what cost? If the game is 20 minutes shorter, but now less fair, is that acceptable?

What were they trying to accomplish? What was it about the 3 hour 20 minute games that needed to be changed? What was the catalyst for the time change?

The bottom line is that rules of the game were changed in order to try and force the game to end within 3 hours. The rules of the game should exist to promote a fair, safe game which allows for exciting, balanced gameplay. Not to cram the game into a specific time slot. They didn't change the rules because something was unfair. They didn't tweak a rule because people were taking advantage of a loophole. They didn't change a rule because people were getting hurt. They changed a rule because they just wanted the game to be shorter...

That's garbage.

 

[BamaSC]

Why not just go to the NFL clock rules? Seems to work for them, most of us understand them, and their games avg around 3 hours.

 

[IdahoTideGuy]

This is just an example of Advertising Dollars at work. I am waiting to see the results this year, but I don't think this is going to shorten televised games. They can now fill the 3.5 time with more commercials. Less football, more ad dollars and candy coat it with t "time concern for fans and athletes." I watched many a game so far this season, and I haven't noticed the amount of time to watch the game chaninging that much. It's dollars, my friends, dollars. :mad2:

 

[Bodhisattva]

Perhaps doing away with all the annoying TV timeouts would shorten the game. Those contrived interuptions break the flow of the game and the offense's momentum.

 

[TheCrimsonLiver]

If they gave a crap about the student athelete then they wouldn't have added an extra game to everyone's schedule. It's all about the Benjamins

 

[jthomas666]

The NCAA Football Rules Committee, which is composed of 13 individuals from NCAA member institutions or conferences, is responsible for the development and maintenance of the NCAA football playing rules. The committee, after receiving input from all key stakeholders in college
football, made the decision to start the clock when the ball is kicked and on the ready for play when there is a change of possession in an attempt to address the length of the games.

Next questions:

1. Who are the Nimrods on the rules committee?

2. More importantly, who are the "key stakeholders"?

 

[Mamacalled]

Next questions:

1. Who are the Nimrods on the rules committee?

2. More importantly, who are the "key stakeholders"?

Good ole tubs was on the rules committee. His concern was with the addition of the twelth game, they needed to reduce the chance of injuries. By shortening the games an average of two series per team, the time save at the end of the season would be the equivalant of one game hence still playing the same amount of time as an 11 game season.

 

[NYBamaFan]

Guys, I don't like any rule that shortens the game, but as long as Bama implements a ball control offense and wins with solid defense, this will hurt our opponents more than us. IMO, shorter games help our style team...

 

[Bama Torch in Pcola]

I'm at a loss about this. If shortening the game was truly the aim then why don't we just keep the clock running after a first down? We're talking 30 seconds saved after every first down. If there are 30 first downs in a game, which is a very conservative figure, it would save 15 minutes per contest. And it would be a fair change across the board, keeping the playing field level. As it stands, there are teams that get the benefit of TV timeouts before taking the field while the others have to rush out and play. For the life of me I can't grasp the rationale behind this change. But I'm sure the Lords of Acedemia at the NCAA could enlighten me if given the chance.

 

[bamatex82]

I'd love to see the length of a TV game compared to the length of a non-TV game from the last couple of years.

Got that right! TV timeouts stink!

I'm at a loss about this. If shortening the game was truly the aim then why don't we just keep the clock running after a first down? We're talking 30 seconds saved after every first down.

See, this is where I find a major weakness in the NFL rules. The college's clock stopping on 1st downs allows for greater selection of plays near the end of the game, keeping the defenses more honest. The NFL has their silly “2-minute warning” (as if nobody knows how much time is left) and the teams have to throw or run out of bounds to stop the clock. Boring!

That's not the only weakness in the NFL rules, but I would be getting more off subject.

 

[Hankster2]

This is why monopolies suck. The NCAA doesn't really have to compete with anyone for the college football fan's attention on Saturday so they can do whatever is financially beneficial and not really worry about a dwindling fanbase. I hate to admit it, but even if they instituted 5 minute quarters, I'd be ****ed but I'd still watch Bama.
I'd venture the "re-evaluate the rules at the end of the season" bit could be read as "re-evaluate our revenue figures at the end of the season". The rabid college football fans that complain about the clock rules aren't going anywhere and they'll forget after a year or so.
I don't really have a point... I'm just babbling.
As my own form of protest, I Tivo all the games and fast-forward through the commercials

 

[crmsnrevelation]

This is why monopolies suck. The NCAA doesn't really have to compete with anyone for the college football fan's attention on Saturday so they can do whatever is financially beneficial and not really worry about a dwindling fanbase. I hate to admit it, but even if they instituted 5 minute quarters, I'd be ****ed but I'd still watch Bama.
I'd venture the "re-evaluate the rules at the end of the season" bit could be read as "re-evaluate our revenue figures at the end of the season". The rabid college football fans that complain about the clock rules aren't going anywhere and they'll forget after a year or so.
I don't really have a point... I'm just babbling.
As my own form of protest, I Tivo all the games and fast-forward through the commercials

Sounds kinda like politics huh? We complained about immigrants earlier this year.... politicians put it off until after the elections.... and we wont remember after the elections are done....
just another babble i guess.