No more high stepping into the endzone

[NoKoolAidForME]

Ncaa is serious about the taunting rules:

 

INDIANAPOLIS — Eye black with messages and wedge blocks will be banned from college football this fall, and taunting in the field of play will start costing teams points in 2011.

 

On Thursday, the NCAA's Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved the three rules changes.

 

One year after the NFL banned wedge blocking on kickoffs because of safety concerns, the NCAA followed the lead. The new rule says that when the team receiving a kickoff has more than two players standing within two yards of one another, shoulder to shoulder, it will be assessed a 15-yard penalty — even if there is no contact between the teams.

 

The reason: NCAA studies have shown that 20 percent of all injuries occurring on kickoffs result in concussions.

 

"Everybody is looking to make sure we have a safe environment for the players," said Grant Teaff, executive director of the American Football Coaches Association. "On kickoffs, you have a lot of steam on both sides and you usually have what is called a 'wedge buster.' This will eliminate some of that."

 

The hope is it will reduce concussions, an issue that has received greater attention over the past year.

 

The NCAA deemed it so important that it made a rare rules change in an off-year of the normal 2-year process.

 

But it's the taunting rule that will create the biggest buzz.

 

Currently, players who are penalized for taunting on their way to the end zone draw a 15-yard penalty on the extra point attempt, 2-point conversion attempt or the ensuing kickoff.

 

Beginning in 2011, live-ball penalties will be assessed from the spot of the foul and eliminate the score. Examples include players finishing touchdown runs by high-stepping into the end zone or pointing the ball toward an opponent.

 

Celebration penalties following a score will continue to be assessed on conversion attempts or the ensuing kickoff.

 

"I think one of the reasons it's been looked at is that when a penalty occurs on the field, it's normally taken from the spot," Teaff said. "This was the only occurrence that it wasn't taken from the spot, so they wanted to change that."

 

Taunting has caused an annual debate among college football players, coaches and fans, and last season's big controversy stemmed from Georgia receiver A.J. Green receiving a 15-year personal foul penalty after he caught a go-ahead touchdown pass late in a game against LSU.

 

The yardage from the penalty was assessed on the kickoff and helped LSU get into position to drive for the winning score. Southeastern Conference officials said later that there was no video evidence to support the flag on Green.

 

A third change bans the use of eye black containing symbols or messages, a trend that grew in popularity because of the use by Heisman Trophy winners Reggie Bush and Tim Tebow.

 

The rules committee also approved a change for new soccer fields. Those fields can be 70 to 75 yards wide and 115 to 120 yards long. All fields in current use have been approved and will not be required to change.

[MKO]

 

This is going to cause more problems than it will solve.

 

Ugh I fear the first time a game is won/lost because of this change, and I really hope it has nothing to do with the Huskers.

 

Controversy ahoy!

 

 

Edit: Clearly I am talking about the taunting rules...not the soccer field changes or anything

[RockyMountainOySker]

This is completely stupid.

[Landlord]

I don't think this is the best way to go about it, but I don't really think there is any effective way to go about it. I feel the right intent is there, and people are going to freak out if a player costs his team the game by high-stepping before the endzone, but if the flag is warranted (ie the ref didn't throw it for him fist pumping or something purely out of excitement), then even though the rule might be ridiculous, the kid was still ultimately responsible.

[MKO]

...if the flag is warranted (ie the ref didn't throw it for him fist pumping or something purely out of excitement), then even though the rule might be ridiculous, the kid was still ultimately responsible.

 

 

I'm not a proponent of taunting in any way, shape, or form. I yell at my TV when players dance after a big tackle or run.

So I am fine with penalizing players for blatant taunting.

 

The problems will occur when refs throw the flag on ambiguous actions. If a player looks back to see if anyone is going to catch him, is that taunting or good awareness? If he changes up his run a little bit in the last 5 yards (e.g., slows down a bit), is that taunting?

 

I'm just afraid that points will be taken away for benign or misinterpreted body language, and that may cause some problems.

 

Okay, that's enough outta me for now!

[RockyMountainOySker]

IMO, celebrating after a touchdown isn't a big deal to me. I'm fine with Niles Paul flexing after the TD in the Holiday bowl....i don't care if someone wants to high-step into the endzone on a long play. I guess I just don't get how they are damaging the game.....

 

Celebrating after a tackle (outside of throwing bones) or short run is another thing though.

 

What happens now when our defense throws bones after a big stop on third down? Is it limited to an offensive penalty only? How about when a kid does the first down point? Is that taunting?

 

These new rules create more questions than answers.

[Landlord]

IMO, celebrating after a touchdown isn't a big deal to me. I'm fine with Niles Paul flexing after the TD in the Holiday bowl....i don't care if someone wants to high-step into the endzone on a long play. I guess I just don't get how they are damaging the game.....

 

Celebrating after a tackle (outside of throwing bones) or short run is another thing though.

 

What happens now when our defense throws bones after a big stop on third down? Is it limited to an offensive penalty only? How about when a kid does the first down point? Is that taunting?

 

These new rules create more questions than answers.

 

 

Actually throwing the bones has already been put under different rules I think starting in 2008? I remember a lot of controversy on whether or not it was allowed and a lot of players stopped doing it because there is a certain instance where it will warrant a flag, dont' remember what it is though.

[Judoka]

Too many insipid restrictions. JUST. LET. THEM. PLAY.

[killer cacti]

Too many insipid restrictions. JUST. LET. THEM. PLAY.

+1

[NUance]

IMO, celebrating after a touchdown isn't a big deal to me. I'm fine with Niles Paul flexing after the TD in the Holiday bowl....i don't care if someone wants to high-step into the endzone on a long play. I guess I just don't get how they are damaging the game.....

 

Celebrating after a tackle (outside of throwing bones) or short run is another thing though.

 

What happens now when our defense throws bones after a big stop on third down? Is it limited to an offensive penalty only? How about when a kid does the first down point? Is that taunting?

 

These new rules create more questions than answers.

+1

 

This new taunting rule is pure BS.

[redout22]

Thats just dumb. Good thing AP isn't still at OU or he would get one every time he scored.

[HuskerNLimbo]

This seems like a total waste of time to actually say that high-stepping and flexing could result in loss of points. Someone must've high-stepped over an NCAA board member in high school and now he is getting his revenge. Its totally ridiculous.