Rationale for :40 play clock after kickoff and TD

[zebrastripes]

Title says it all. As a play clock operator for a D1 program, this is the dumbest rule in NCAA football. What’s the point of having a :40 play clock that starts “immediately” (I wait 4-5 seconds) in these situations if the R is just going to pump the clock to :25? Why not just use a :25 play clock that starts on the ready with no pumping like high school uses?

I really don’t understand the purpose of this rule. If it’s intended to get teams to get their personnel changed quickly, it does a HACK poor job of that because Rs just pump the clock if they’re slow getting out.

[ElvisLives]

I don’t like it, either, but it does ‘help’ get the teams on the field and ready to play, as compared to before this rule, even with the ‘pump up’. As I’m sure you know, this is all to help keep the game to fit in the magic 3-hour window for TV. So, TV takes the few extra seconds it saves in actual game time and steals it for another commercial. Still a 3-hour+ game, but with a couple of additional commercials.
If the NCAA want to shorten the games, they just need to get control on commercial breaks. They are up to 3:35 each for regular breaks in many games. 2:30 were the longest during my FBS days, and those were period changes.

[bossman72]

Title says it all. As a play clock operator for a D1 program, this is the dumbest rule in NCAA football. What’s the point of having a :40 play clock that starts “immediately” (I wait 4-5 seconds) in these situations if the R is just going to pump the clock to :25? Why not just use a :25 play clock that starts on the ready with no pumping like high school uses?

I really don’t understand the purpose of this rule. If it’s intended to get teams to get their personnel changed quickly, it does a HACK poor job of that because Rs just pump the clock if they’re slow getting out.

I tend to agree.  We always pump it, so might as well go back to 25.

[Morningrise]

I see some crews pumping it up liberally in the first half but eventually warning the teams and ultimately holding them to the hard 40 if they keep lollygagging.

[ElvisLives]

I see some crews pumping it up liberally in the first half but eventually warning the teams and ultimately holding them to the hard 40 if they keep lollygagging.

I would love to see the word "lollygagging" in the rule book somewhere. Maybe even defined. That would give the book a distinct southern flair. 

[peterparsons]

Being on offense after receiving a kickoff and having a try after scoring a touchdown are both normal things in a game of football. Teams should be expecting them and be prepared for them when they happen. 40s is more than enough time for the team receiving the kickoff to get their offense on the field and ready to run a play.

I never pump the 25s after a kickoff just because a team is being slow. if the ball's down and ready to go, that's on them. (Then again I also don't have a supervisor telling me something different.)

[Grant - AR]

(Then again I also don't have a supervisor telling me something different.)

This is the key part of your statement.   I think there are some supervisors that don't want to start with a delay of game penalty after a score or kickoff. 

[Imperial Stout]

This sort of reminds me of the 15 second play clock after media timeouts that was in effect I believe only the season.

[peterparsons]

This is the key part of your statement.   I think there are some supervisors that don't want to start with a delay of game penalty after a score or kickoff.

True. However, a line surely needs to be drawn somewhere.

Or bite the bullet and turn it into an ad break slot.

[Grant - AR]

Or bite the bullet and turn it into an ad break slot.

Please don't do that.  We have too many already.

[RobtheRef]

Another question on the same topic,  An onside FK from A-35 recovered legally by the kicking team, play clock to 40 or to 25 ?

[ElvisLives]

Another question on the same topic,  An onside FK from A-35 recovered legally by the kicking team, play clock to 40 or to 25 ?

I'll answer that by asking this question:
Is that the first down following a free kick?

Answer that question, and you should have the answer to your question.