Coaches take issue with game clock rule changes

ESPN.com ^ | 9 August 2006 | AP

[MikefromOhio]

The NCAA rules committee approved eight rules changes in May that will take effect for the 2006 college football season. And while the amendments range from the mundane (shortening halftime) to the marked (instant replay will be used throughout Division I-A for the first time), it's a rule change governing the game clock that has aroused some coaches' ire.

According to Rule 3-2-5, the game clock will start as soon as the ball is kicked in a kickoff situation. Previously, the clock would only start once the receiving team touched the ball. In addition, Rule 3-2-5-e states that, after a team gets a first down, the clock will begin running again on the ready-for-play signal. Previously, the clock did not resume until the team snapped the ball.

--snip--

Penn State coach Joe Paterno brought out another perhaps unintended effect of the new rule.

"When you kick the ball, [the clock] starts. Kick it out of bounds with 8-10 seconds to go, the game's over," Paterno said to USA Today. "We've got to expose our kids to it in preseason practice."

[SoothingDave]

There doesn't seem to be a rational reason for the time-clock rule changes.

College football games on ESPN (and other nets) were taking 4 hours or more. That's way too long.

SD

[Man50D]

Get rid of the clock. ;)

[OKSooner]

What you just said. Joe Paterno should have been President of the NCAA ten years ago.

[MikefromOhio]

LOL

That too.

[NittanyLion]

Joe Paterno should be the President of the NCAA.

Minor adjustment:

Joe Paterno should be the President of the NCAA United States.

[MikefromOhio]

I would say that, except I'm certain that he doesn't want it....

[JeffAtlanta]

Joe Paterno should be the President of the NCAA. He has much more foresight than ANY of the other idiots in Indianapolis......

I think he might be off on this one. The clock will stop as soon as the ball goes out of bounds. It also results in a penalty which would keep the game from ending as well.

The rule change makes sense as it makes it easier to determine when the clock should be started. It is always clear when the ball is kicked but not always clear when exactly the ball is touched by the receiving team.