New Rulings - Helmets Off

[VALJ]

(1) RPS by defense because of use of crown to chest of QB; he stumbles back, falls backward and when his head hits the ground, his helmet comes off. Ruling - foul for RPS was not the "direct" cause of the helmet off; QB has to leave game for one play. (2) RPS by defense who hits QB late and drives him to the ground, forcing his head to contact the ground which results in his helmet coming off. The helmet comes off here more because of the "direct" result of forcing the QB's head to hit the ground and thus would qualify as a foul that resulted in the helmet coming off and the QB would NOT have to leave the game for one play.

Interesting - especially since it would seem that the QB being driven into the ground would be more likely to suffer a head injury than the one in the first situation.

[TXMike]

The players are not being required to leave the game because they may have suffered a head injury.  they are being required to leave as part of the punishment for not having the helmet on properly.  If we determine the foul was why the helmet popped off then they are excused from that punishment. If not, then they are not excused.  So, as was said, this leaves the very real possibility that after a big hit, the hitter will be penalized AND the hittee will be leaving the game for a play.  Lots of coaches, fans and players are going to struggle with that one. 

Coach:  He roughed my QB and because of that my QB hit the ground and his helmet came off.  He should not have to sit.

Zebra:  Yes coach, your QB was hit a tad late so we flagged the hit.   But even if the hit had been a tad earlier and been legal, your QB still would have hit theground that way and his helmet would have still come off.

[VALJ]

The players are not being required to leave the game because they may have suffered a head injury.  they are being required to leave as part of the punishment for not having the helmet on properly.  If we determine the foul was why the helmet popped off then they are excused from that punishment. If not, then they are not excused.  So, as was said, this leaves the very real possibility that after a big hit, the hitter will be penalized AND the hittee will be leaving the game for a play.  Lots of coaches, fans and players are going to struggle with that one. 

Coach:  He roughed my QB and because of that my QB hit the ground and his helmet came off.  He should not have to sit.

Zebra:  Yes coach, your QB was hit a tad late so we flagged the hit.   But even if the hit had been a tad earlier and been legal, your QB still would have hit theground that way and his helmet would have still come off.

I was looking at this rule more as a safety thing than a "punishment" thing.  I guess that logic makes sense, if I look at it that way.

[El Macman]

Ultimately, it is a safety issue. If the helemt isn't on and secure, it doesn't serve its purpose - that of protecting the wearer (to its maximum ability to do so).
But, sadly, rather like our federal government, there seems to be some need on the NCAA's part to protect people from their own foolishness and irresponsibility. It wouldn't take but one hit to the exposed head to teach a guy to wear his helmet - and wear it securely. Perhaps even his teammates would learn, too; especially if he lost significant playing time. Instead, they make us the 'stupidity police.'
I suppose they had to find something to take the place of us being fashion police.

The good news is that the punishment for this reckless beahvior may be strong enough to put an end to this issue. I stll say it won't be a problem after week 2.

[James]

It wouldn't take but one hit to the exposed head to teach a guy to wear his helmet - and wear it securely.

Unless the brain damage erases his memory of getting hit 

[sj_31]

Apologies if this was covered in another post and I missed it.

Is it correct to state that, for the purposes of a player sitting out the next down, that it applies to the first play of overtime? In other words, halftime is the only exception to missing a down?

[fencewire]

 Recent interpretations by RR have been conveyed that they must sit the next down, nothing buys them back, timeout, quarter, half, or regulation.  They have to sit the next down of the game.

[El Macman]

In other words, halftime is the only exception to missing a down?

Echoing Fencewire - there are no exceptions. Period. If his helmet comes off illegally, he sits out the next down of that game.

[JasonTX]

There are already some high school players around here complaining how tight they are fitting these helmets.  Looks like some may be getting the idea of how serious this is.