Rules?

#1
OrangeByBirth

OrangeByBirth

Old time Vol
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#1
I'm one of the old timers but my memory doesn't seem to have failed me ... yet. I distinctly remember that when we played, it was important to field the kickoff, even in the end zone. If a cover team player fell on the ball, it was a touchdown. Now, receivers just let it land and walk away. Did something change besides our leather helmets?

Also, after a safety there were 2 options. The free kick or put the ball in play at the 20 as if it were 4th and 10. Everybody kicked, but very late in the game the 4th and 10 option came into play on rare occasions. I guess that was changed about the time leather shoulder pads turned into plastic, too.
 
#2
#2
OrangeByBirth said:
I'm one of the old timers but my memory doesn't seem to have failed me ... yet. I distinctly remember that when we played, it was important to field the kickoff, even in the end zone. If a cover team player fell on the ball, it was a touchdown. Now, receivers just let it land and walk away. Did something change besides our leather helmets?

Also, after a safety there were 2 options. The free kick or put the ball in play at the 20 as if it were 4th and 10. Everybody kicked, but very late in the game the 4th and 10 option came into play on rare occasions. I guess that was changed about the time leather shoulder pads turned into plastic, too.
Click to expand...

with all the closet coaches on here, I'm sure you'll get an answer shortly

of course some of the rules may have passed them by since they moved from coaching into the AD office
 
#4
#4
OrangeByBirth said:
I'm one of the old timers but my memory doesn't seem to have failed me ... yet. I distinctly remember that when we played, it was important to field the kickoff, even in the end zone. If a cover team player fell on the ball, it was a touchdown. Now, receivers just let it land and walk away. Did something change besides our leather helmets?

Also, after a safety there were 2 options. The free kick or put the ball in play at the 20 as if it were 4th and 10. Everybody kicked, but very late in the game the 4th and 10 option came into play on rare occasions. I guess that was changed about the time leather shoulder pads turned into plastic, too.
Click to expand...

Couldn't find the answer to either question. My dad is a high school referee, and their supervisor is an NFL umpire, so I'll ask and see if either of them know about the above questions (I'll make sure it's in reference to the college game). I remember him telling me something about an option for the 4th and 10 scenario, but it's far too vague of a memory for me to make any definitive statements.

As for the ball dead when landing in endzone, I actually found quite a few message boards where people have been asking this same question. Most people, myself included, seem to think it's a relatively new rule change, but again, I couldn't find anything about it.

I found this list of rule changes (dating back to the late 1800's) while searching for the answers. Some of them are pretty funny, while others just seem ridiculous, especially when considering the modern state of the game.

RuleChanges
 
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#7
#7
BennisDrewer said:
What ever happened to the coffin corner punt....I really miss seeing that.
Click to expand...

Coffin corner punt was great when it worked, but miss it a little and it was a 15 yd. shank. Today's kickers can put backspin on the ball like a sand wedge. The odds of spinning it to a stop in the middle of the field are much better. Watch the Colquitt boys.
 
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#8
#8
OrangeByBirth said:
I'm one of the old timers but my memory doesn't seem to have failed me ... yet. I distinctly remember that when we played, it was important to field the kickoff, even in the end zone. If a cover team player fell on the ball, it was a touchdown. Now, receivers just let it land and walk away. Did something change besides our leather helmets?

Also, after a safety there were 2 options. The free kick or put the ball in play at the 20 as if it were 4th and 10. Everybody kicked, but very late in the game the 4th and 10 option came into play on rare occasions. I guess that was changed about the time leather shoulder pads turned into plastic, too.
Click to expand...

I don't think 1 has changed. I haven't really ever noticed someone not fielding a kickoff that went into the endzone, unless it was definitely going to bounce out the back.

Never knew about the 4th and 10 thing. Are you saying that instead of kicking you could opt to have the ball 4th and 10 at the 20 instead?
 
#9
#9
VolsSportsFan said:
Never knew about the 4th and 10 thing. Are you saying that instead of kicking you could opt to have the ball 4th and 10 at the 20 instead?
Click to expand...

It's a free kick from the 20. You can kick from a tee or punt it, kicking team choice.
 
#10
#10
VolsSportsFan said:
I don't think 1 has changed. I haven't really ever noticed someone not fielding a kickoff that went into the endzone, unless it was definitely going to bounce out the back.

Never knew about the 4th and 10 thing. Are you saying that instead of kicking you could opt to have the ball 4th and 10 at the 20 instead?
Click to expand...

Yes, there was an option (was?) to put the ball in play with 1 play to make 10 yards.
 
#11
#11
Here is one for you. Do you remember when the college allstars used to play the NFL champs?
 
#15
#15
I found this in reply to your question. Under NCAA rules, the ball remains live and in play unless it touches the ground in the end zone before the kick is touched by a player.
 
#16
#16
I have been waiting on ROGER NFL to try to change the ball to round, because of some type of rare study that's been going on for 20 years.
 
#17
#17
ChattanoogaVols said:
Couldn't find the answer to either question. My dad is a high school referee, and their supervisor is an NFL umpire, so I'll ask and see if either of them know about the above questions (I'll make sure it's in reference to the college game). I remember him telling me something about an option for the 4th and 10 scenario, but it's far too vague of a memory for me to make any definitive statements.

As for the ball dead when landing in endzone, I actually found quite a few message boards where people have been asking this same question. Most people, myself included, seem to think it's a relatively new rule change, but again, I couldn't find anything about it.

I found this list of rule changes (dating back to the late 1800's) while searching for the answers. Some of them are pretty funny, while others just seem ridiculous, especially when considering the modern state of the game.

RuleChanges
Click to expand...

1869 to have 25 players on each side?
 
#19
#19
OrangeByBirth said:
I'm one of the old timers but my memory doesn't seem to have failed me ... yet. I distinctly remember that when we played, it was important to field the kickoff, even in the end zone. If a cover team player fell on the ball, it was a touchdown. Now, receivers just let it land and walk away. Did something change besides our leather helmets?

Also, after a safety there were 2 options. The free kick or put the ball in play at the 20 as if it were 4th and 10. Everybody kicked, but very late in the game the 4th and 10 option came into play on rare occasions. I guess that was changed about the time leather shoulder pads turned into plastic, too.
Click to expand...

So I asked, and he wasn't sure about either (shocker, I know). Claims he is going to ask his supervisor, so we'll see. I'll ask him about it later today, and when he says he forgot, I'll tell him to not forget this time.
 
#20
#20
ChattanoogaVols said:
So I asked, and he wasn't sure about either (shocker, I know). Claims he is going to ask his supervisor, so we'll see. I'll ask him about it later today, and when he says he forgot, I'll tell him to not forget this time.
Click to expand...

Don't get violent. I'd like to know but it isn't worth crippling or maiming your dad.
 
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