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No more kids games
Wedgies and finger-pointing.
No, we're not talking about juvenile games.
Or maybe we are.
Apparently the NCAA is not going to put up with any more in-your-fact antics from collegiate players.
The Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved a proposal that penalizes unsportsmanlike conduct as a live-ball foul beginning with the 2011 season.
The change means, for example, that if a player makes a taunting gesture to an opponent on the way to scoring a touchdown, the flag would nullify the score and penalize the offending team from the spot of the foul.
Penalties for dead-ball misconduct fouls (for example, unsportsmanlike behavior after the player crosses the goal line) would continue to be assessed on the ensuing kickoff or the extra point/two point conversion attempt.
The only thing I don't like about the rule is that it will be a judgment ruling in some cases.
I do like the rule and it's better than the celebration rule which officials seemed to forget to attend that seminar.
I don't believe you can penalize a player for jumping into the end zone or pointing to the crowd (is that a taunt), but certainly obsessive celebrating should be flagged.
The taunting needs to go. Figuring out what's taunting may be the problem.
In another action that affects the coming season, the Playing Rules Oversight Panel confirmed that players are not allowed to have any symbols or messages on their eye black starting in the 2010 season.
We certainly can't upset our advertisers.
I actually like this rule as well because some of these guys were starting to look like Space Ghost out there.
The Playing Rules Oversight Panel also approved a proposal to eliminate wedge-blocking formations of three or more players by the receiving team on kickoffs for the 2010 season. That probably would have extended the life years of former college special teams players a few years if they would have gotten serious about that several years ago.
A NCAA research found that one of every five injuries that occur on kickoffs results in a concussion.
Must have been the same people who spent millions of dollars determining that gum left on a sidewalk can stick to tennis shoes.
A wedge is defined in the NCAA Football Rules Book as two or more players aligned shoulder to shoulder within two yards of each other. Two player wedges remain legal; the formation of three or more players in a wedge is now a foul that would result in a 15-yard penalty.
It will be considered a live-ball foul, regardless of whether there is contact between opponents.
The penalty would be marked from the spot of the foul or from the spot of where the kick returner was tackled if it is behind the spot where the illegal wedge was formed.
The formation of a wedge would not be illegal when the kick is from an obvious onside kick formation.
My guess is that one of every three injuries that occur were during an onsides kick.
It should be another interesting season for the officials.
Taunting, eye black, wedgies, oh my. |
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