NCAA rule change: Kickoff fair catch inside 25 to be touchback

[GatorInGeorgia]

I don’t recall seeing a single KO of the short, high kind they described that occurred b/t the goal line and the 25 last season so for that reason alone it seems like they are contemplating a pointless rule change. For the times it does happen, do what was mentioned above...spot the ball at the point of the fair catch. Special teams is such a big part of the game-mess with it too much and the entire fabric of the game will be changed for the worse.

 

[EyeDocGator]

I don’t recall seeing a single KO of the short, high kind they described that occurred b/t the goal line and the 25 last season so for that reason alone it seems like they are contemplating a pointless rule change. For the times it does happen, do what was mentioned above...spot the ball at the point of the fair catch. Special teams is such a big part of the game-mess with it too much and the entire fabric of the game will be changed for the worse.

Pineiro did that several times in one game last season. Unfortunately, he didn't let his teammates in on the plan and we gave up some big returns.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

And the kicks werent high, just short.

 

[GatorJ]

This is dumb. Just don’t have a kick off if that’s the case. Just start the next possession on the 20 yard line.

 

[oxrageous]

Pineiro did that several times in one game last season. Unfortunately, he didn't let his teammates in on the plan and we gave up some big returns.

Didn’t let the coaches know, either. It was a d!ck move.

 

[BMF]

I don’t recall seeing a single KO of the short, high kind they described that occurred b/t the goal line and the 25 last season so for that reason alone it seems like they are contemplating a pointless rule change. For the times it does happen, do what was mentioned above...spot the ball at the point of the fair catch. Special teams is such a big part of the game-mess with it too much and the entire fabric of the game will be changed for the worse.

Weather you're discussing UF football games or all of CFB, this happens often and is a ST's strategy. Meyer loved to employ this when he was at UF. High kick toward the sideline as close to the 1 or 2 yard line as possible - to pin the team in. I think the proposed rule is stupid AF, but it happens often in CFB.

 

[Frozen Gator]

The kicker doesn't doesn't need anything else taken from his craft, he's pretty limited already. A perfectly executed kick high between the goal line and the twenty, then fair caught is difficult and a weapon.The kicking team should be rewarded the field position advantage.

 

[Chomper]

I guess those old guys who run the game get together once a year and first thing asked is "what new rule can we come up with this year?" needed or not. It makes the public think they are really doing something.

 

[rogdochar]

What brilliant coaching is yet to come. Like when a front-line guy calls "fair catch" on that "on-sides" kick. Boy those on-rushers go all-out at hitting hard to jar the ball loose, to prevent the catch. I know I can't watch those. So so dangerous all 'round... and those noises on fierce tackles, can the NCAA do something about those?

 

[GatorInGeorgia]

Pineiro did that several times in one game last season. Unfortunately, he didn't let his teammates in on the plan and we gave up some big returns.

I’m calling BS on your statement. For Pinero to have done that several times in a game last year, we would’ve had to have scored several times in said game...and that just didn’t happen.

 

[g8r.tom]

Pineiro did that several times in one game last season. Unfortunately, he didn't let his teammates in on the plan and we gave up some big returns.

Why would he do that? Was it ever determined? Miscommunication?

 

[GatorJ]

Why would he do that? Was it ever determined? Miscommunication?

I’m calling BS on your statement. For Pinero to have done that several times in a game last year, we would’ve had to have scored several times in said game...and that just didn’t happen.

 

[Frozen Gator]

Why would he do that? Was it ever determined? Miscommunication?

It was just that high level of coaching we had last year.

 

[GatorJ]

https://scout.com/college/florida/A...ve-been-respectful-but-disappointed-110131432

 

[g8r.tom]

Thanks.

What a fool. And he didn't get in trouble? Wow.

 

[g8tr76]

And I used to laugh at the possibilities that their would be a penalty for hitting too hard. As echoed above, this and much of the other things that committee comes up with is just dumb!

 

[SaltyGator]

This is stupid, if the kickoff rule passes then they might as well just eliminate kickoffs all together.

Instead, why not move kickoffs back to the 20 or maybe even the 15. Reward teams for recruiting a good kicker and not just pulling a walk on in to kick. You could even argue this is for safety. If you move the kickoff back and a team chooses not to get good kickers they're giving they're opponent the ball at the 30-40 yard line with a crappy kick which potentially means less plays and yardage to get to the endzone.

Kicking is just part of the game just as injuries are part of the game.

 

[GatorInGeorgia]

I see my post went right over your head.

 

[BMF]

Stewart Mandel's mailbag comments on this:


What are your thoughts on Nicole Auerbach’s piece about changing the kickoff rule? Does this proposed rule change (a team that fair-catches the kickoff inside the 25 gets a touchback) help or hurt both safety and the on-field game?

John B.

I don’t think there’s any question it helps with safety, but it’s also just kind of awkward. It’s like the rules-makers are saying, “We know having the two sides come racing at each other full speed from opposite ends of the field has always been a recipe for disaster, but the public will mutiny if we get rid of it altogether, so here’s a weird compromise.” If you think kickoff returns are so dangerous that you’re manipulating the rules to try to avoid them, then you might as well go ahead and eliminate them.

Which would be fine with me.

There are some traditions in sports I hold sacred and believe should never be touched — like, say, the announcement of the NCAA tournament bracket — but kickoffs are not one of them. If you just let the other team take over at the 25 after a score, like we do in overtime, it would reduce the number of injuries far more than it would reduce our enjoyment of football. Eventually you’d barely remember them.

But I guess this fair-catch rule is an OK compromise for now. In the meantime, I will continue to advocate for a far more urgent matter: ridding the sport of those embarrassingly archaic first-down markers. We need GPS chips in the football, and we need them now.

 

[Floridagator]

Sissification of America continues.