News Article: New Rule Changes for 2011

[Ole Man Dan]

Well said! I absolutely hate it, wayyy too, subjective ! I mean high stepping in the last few yards and/or holding the ball out toward the defense?!? Give me a break! :mad2: I was mystified when we got a penalty that turned out becauseEither Ingran or Richardson, got up at the goal line and kind of gave the ball a spin, good grief! Who sits on these rules committees, I'm sure this is so universally hated that their schools administrations should bring pressure to change this asinine rule .

*****

This sets up a Bad Scenario where the RB is stopped within inches of the goal and he reaches the ball across the goal line & instead of receiving a TD, it's called 'Grand Standing' and we are penalized 15 yds from the spot of the foul.
I saw too many poor calls by Officials last year. I also saw different interpretation of the rules in different conferences. I would hate to think that yet again an Official may injected himself into the game and change the outcome. This is a rule change we could have done w/o...
The Tebow 'Eye Shadow' was so important that the NCAA waited until Tim left for the pros to make the change.
There may have been some merit in the rule change involving 'Wedge Blocking', but the way it's written it is subject to the whims of the referees. I don't like that.

 

[PDL]

I'm a Christian, and I have no problem with Tebow or anyone writing anything on their eye black. If they want to do it and it isn't vulgar, let 'em.

However, I'm not as upset with the NCAA over this as others and it's for a reason I think some aren't considering. Someone said something about atheists not liking Bible verses on eye black. Well, if we allow it for Christians and are ok with it, we have to be ok with it for everyone. So if an atheist player wants to write their beliefs on their eye black, something like "There is no God," we'd have to be ok with that. Or if a Muslim player wants to write a verse from the Koran on their eye black, we likewise should not be offended by that. However, I'm not sure most sports fans would be ready for things like that.

I'm not making this a non-sports issue, by the way. Just playing the devil's advocate on the eye black rule.

 

[p'colabamaman]

I don't like this rule and I think it will be changed. It gives the ref too much leeway upon his opinion on whether or not the ball carrier was taunting. What if the defender is diving at the ball carrier's feet at the five yard line and the runner "high steps" to avoid the tackle and holds the ball out from his body to insure that the ball has crossed the goal line. And some over zealous ref calls a penalty. This is crossing the line and letting the opinion of a ref possibly deciding an important game over what he thinks is taunting. The rules are getting ridiculous, but I do not like taunting.

 

[CapitalTider]

So if I put John 3:16 on my eyeblack I will be penalized? By a public institution? Hmm. I wonder how long it will take someone to sue. Only question is what part of the first amendment to cite, freedom of speech or freedom of religion.

I think the NCAA gets to ignore the Constitution or only apply it as they like just like they do with their own rules.:biggrin:

 

[ALA2262]

I dont like the taunting rule, but I understand where they're coming from. Many years ago I had a most blatant taunting incident occur while officiating a Pop Warner game. I blew the whistle on the play before the kid scored. Told the referee that I had an inadvertent whistle, which calls for replay of the down. We replayed the down. No TD.

Wasn't really that big of a deal. Made the final score 70-0 instead of 77-0. And this is where you will see the new rule called. When it doesn't effect the outcome of a game. Or at least I hope so. Of course, if a player is stupid enough to cost himself and his team a TD when the game is still in doubt then so be it.

 

[GrayTide]

I guess I am the only one so far who supports a taunting rule. I however, do not think it should be a 15 yd penalty or take points off the board. I would prefer to see the player doing the taunting be ejected from the game and sit out the appropriate time like being ejected for fighting. I also am in favor of nothing on the eye black except the university logo or saying something such as Roll Tide or whatever the school's saying is. There are enough thug attitudes in college sports already.

 

[Cheaha1]

Well I am gonna add my two cents worth. I don't like the taunting rule. As has been said, its subject to to much of a subjective interpretation. I don't like the wedge rule either. It seems to me that a wedge should be something the defense has to deal with. How would a player know if he was inadvertently becoming part of a wedge when he attempted a block? The eye black issue? This is one that really ticks me off. I don't know who I have a greater anger towards....the atheists crying foul about their rights or the devout who insist on bringing proselytising into everything. The eyeblack concern is so spurious that it shouldn't have become an issue.

 

[RJ YellowHammer]

A radio personality pointed out the biggest flaw with the taunting rule. Imagine if someone catches a pass in the SECCG, races downfield and holds up the "#1 sign" starting at the 10 yard line. By rule now, the official has to take the TD off the board right? Who's to say the other team wasn't being taunted?

Terrible rule!
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[TidePrideGA]

Just when you thought the NCAA could not come up with any more dumb rules. Then they come up with this.

 

[PDL]

I can be offended by anything I want to be whether someone has a right to so offend me or not.

And I would be respectful of your opinion if you felt offended. I guess that's what bothers me about most Christians I know when it comes to atheists or people of other religions. Everyone is so sensitive and overboard with PC when it's a Christian issue. But if it's an issue of another religion, it's horrible and offensive and "no one want's to see that." I just want to see us respectful of everyone's beliefs, whether it's Tebow or Kareem Abdul-Jabar.

 

[JDCrimson]

This is just too fertile ground for those refs who may find themselves morally or financially challenged...

 

[bama peanut]

I don't know it could be a gang thing. :biggrin2: I think Tebow's Bible verses were what prompted the rule. You know it infuriates atheists to see any religious reference.

Any rule that takes points off of the board is insane.

We are on the same page CapitalTider. Reminds me of the Jim McMahon's headbands.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

I think the taunting rule is absurd. It's a blatant invitation for corruption. The wedge rule is interesting. The "flying wedge" was outlawed decades ago because of the injuries it caused. Over the last several years, I noticed return formations which more and more began to resemble the old formation which had been outlawed. I see the new rule as more or less saying "it's still against the rules..."

 

[TIDE-HSV]

So if I put John 3:16 on my eyeblack I will be penalized? By a public institution? Hmm. I wonder how long it will take someone to sue. Only question is what part of the first amendment to cite, freedom of speech or freedom of religion.

It's an interesting question all right. It illustrates the tension between the Constitution and every day athletic contest rules. I'm sure there are many rules which, viewed only in a vacuum, would equate a violation of the Constitution and its amendments. In the past, the federal courts have made common sense exceptions. However, Bible verses plastered on one's face hasn't been considered...

 

[deliveryman35]

If the newly adopted taunting rule had been in place back in 1992, George Teague's high- stepping TD return against Miami would have been reversed and taken off the scoreboard, with Miami being rewarded. Now tell me that you agree with it...

 

[mittman]

I am torn. I abhor the taunting, dancing in the endzone, chest pumping, sign waving (yes even the glove thing Ingrm did), and the 'bad sport' songs like rammer jammer. I prefer watching teams that:

1. Act like they have been there and it is no big deal when they score.
2. Knock the other guy down, reach down help them up, then knock them down again on the next play.
3. Don't trash talk.
4. Treat people with respect whether or not they deserve it.

I could go on and on describing my ideal. Problem is it is utopian. While most everyone recognizes how far over the line Thug U Miami went over the line in the 80's (this is in my opinion is still the reason for all of this), I think most people enjoy the showmanship, the stand over the guy when he is down and try to intimidate further stuff, and the banter back and forth.

As much as I like the intent of the rules, I do not think it practical. The officials are going to be put in a very difficult position. It is like much of what I see in government trying to legislate behavior. I just don't see it working. Furthermore potentially taking a score off of the board goes WAY too far in my opinion.

Like I said ... torn.

 

[Tidewater]

If the newly adopted taunting rule had been in place back in 1992, George Teague's high- stepping TD return against Miami would have been reversed and taken off the scoreboard, with Miami being rewarded. Now tell me that you agree with it...

And in that same game, Sherman Williams thins he has just scored the first TD of the national championsihp game, so he gets up and spins the ball. Refs call a 15 yard penalty. Keith Jackson says it's "picky."
Later Miami player scores UThug's only TD, and spins the ball exactly like Williams had. No penalty.

 

[Bama Reb]

Of course taunting can go both ways. No one has yet spoken of defensive taunting. We've all seen it a hundred times. So if a defensive player tackles the ball carrier inside the 15 yard line and then gets up and taunts him, does that automatically award the score to the offensive team? No, but under this new rule, it should.
What's right is right and what's wrong is wrong. Don't take away points if you're not just as willing to award them.

 

[BamaRef22]

Perspective of Tony Barnhart

NCAA got it right on taunting rule | Mr. College Football

 

[KrAzY3]

The taunting rule is absolutely horrible. We've already seen big games changed on the subjective call, now we are talking about taking points off the board? That has to be the worst college football rule I've ever heard of.

I really don't care if he moons the crowd, if he still has it in him to make it to the end zone it's a touchdown. Kick him out of the game or what ever afterward but it's still a touchdown!

I hope all the refs from here on out are betting on Alabama...