New College Football clock rules

[mattvols]

By ROBBIE ANDREU
Sun sports writer

Florida coach Urban Meyer has often professed his love for college football. The problem he had last season is there was less to love because new rules concerning the clock led to fewer plays and shorter games.

An outspoken opponent of last season's running clock, Meyer was happy to hear Wednesday that the NCAA Football Rules Committee voted to eliminate the new clock rules and restore the old ones at the NCAA meetings in Albuquerque, N.M.

"As a coach and player, you practice and prepare to play the game. I’m pleased with the proposal because it will provide fans a chance to watch more football and give players and coaches more opportunities to play the game," Meyer said in a statement released by the UF sports information office.

A year ago, the NCAA instituted new rules that called for the clock to start once the ball was set for play after a change of possession. The clock also started on kickoffs when the ball was kicked instead of when it was touched by the receiving team.

The changes shaved an average of 14 minutes (and numerous plays) off games, an NCAA study showed.

Upon further review, the rules committee agreed with Meyer — less college football is not better.

"The changes we made last year, overall, did not have a positive effect on college football at all levels," said Michael Clark, chair of the rules committee and head coach at Bridgewater College in Virginia. "Our charge is to protect the game and do what is best for college football.

"Last year's game lost too many plays, but it accomplished the need to shorten the overall time it takes to play a game. The changes we have made for 2007 balance both these issues."

In Rule 3-2-5-e, the committee altered its rule to have the clock start on the snap after a change of possession, as opposed to last year when the clock started when the referee signaled the ball ready for play. Also, the committee returned its rules on free kicks to 2005 standards, starting the clock on kickoffs only when the ball is legally touchdown in the field of play.

After approving those proposals, the committee addressed reducing some of the dead time in games with the intent to have overall times in 2007 comparable to 2006. The group approved the following items to address the issue:

-Limit the play clock to 15 seconds following a television timeout.

-Moving kickoffs from the 35 to the 30-yard line, which should lead to more kickoffs being return (moving time off the clock).

-Reduce charged team timeouts by 30 seconds.

The rules proposals must be approved by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel on March 12 before taking effect.

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[cotton]

I don't like moving the kickoff to the 30, as it again mucks with gameplay, but overall, I think they are certainly an improvement over last year.

I still believe the best step to fit the games within a television window would be to start the games closer to the alloted kickoff time, i.e. begin the 2:30 game at 2:32 rather than 2:37 or 2:41.

 

[kptvol]

The playclock is only 15 seconds after a TV timeout. That is bullcrap. Does that mean every time your team takes a timeout there will be only 15 seconds for your QB to scan the defense and possibly call an audible? What about when new quarters start? This is a stupid rule that probably won't get as much attention. It's not as bad as last year's rules, but it will still depreciate the quality of games somewhat.

 

[MyBloodRunnethOrange]

If they would start the clock after spotting the ball on out of bounds plays like they do in the NFL, it would get the desired result of shortning the game without disrupting the flow of the game.

 

[duckman398686]

sounds like good news to me. i hated last years clock rules

 

[kptvol]

If they would start the clock after spotting the ball on out of bounds plays like they do in the NFL, it would get the desired result of shortning the game without disrupting the flow of the game.

They don't do that in any football anywhere. They certainly don't do it in the NFL.

 

[GAVol]

They don't do that in any football anywhere. They certainly don't do it in the NFL.

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that in the NFL the clock runs after a player goes out of bounds once the referee gives the ready for play signal except in the final minutes of each half.

 

[ut 4 me]

i have always been confused on whether or not the clock stops when going out of bounds. i have heard that if a player pushes you out, the clock does not stop. but if you go out on purpose, it stops

 

[MyBloodRunnethOrange]

They don't do that in any football anywhere. They certainly don't do it in the NFL.

They certainly DO do it in the NFL. Except for the final 2 minutes (I think) of each half, the clock stops when a player goes out of bounds. When the official signals ready for play, they restart the clock. During the final two minutes of the half, the clock restarts on the snap.

 

[GAVol]

i have always been confused on whether or not the clock stops when going out of bounds. i have heard that if a player pushes you out, the clock does not stop. but if you go out on purpose, it stops

It's all about whether the referee determines that forward progress has been stopped in bounds or not.