Rules Change Video from CFO (Shaw)

[ElvisLives]

Interesting things from the video.

Regarding defensive substitutions, we see the rule change that makes this a "Live Ball Foul."  So, fundamentally, if we see more than 11 on the field, we hold until the ball is snapped, then toss a flag and let the down be completed, then report the foul.
As the Impractical Jokers would say, "Welllllllllllll…"
BY INTERPRETATION - as seen and spoken in the video - if the snap is imminent and no B player is attempting to leave the field, and Team A calls a time out, that's going to be a dead-ball substitution foul on B, and we don't charge Team A with a time out.
BY INTERPRETATION - as seen and spoken in the video - a departing player (in excess of 11) will have to be truly OB to NOT be charged with a live-ball substitution foul.  No more "if his next step would take him off  the field, he's OK."  Gotta be off the field to not get stuck with a foul.  My only question is: Does that mean at least one foot on the ground OB?  That would be MY interpretation, but I'm not the interpreter.

No revelation here, but confirmation that fouls for infractions of the jersey rules will be a 15 yard penalty after the opening kickoff, plus a timeout, and then a timeout at the beginning of each subsequent period (still wearing illegal jerseys). What I don't know is: When is the timeout to be charged in the subsequent periods?  When the ball is declared ready for play for the first down?  After the first down?  No clarification on that.

A player can wear another jersey over his 'base' jersey.  He is supposed to report his number change.  If he doesn't, it is a UNS.  But how will we always know?  We don't know these guys (even at high school).  Billy Bob wears 55 normally, but they put 88 on him, send him in, and he doesn't report. I doubt I'd recognize Billy Bob wearing another jersey.
Well, probably another rule change that really just won't be a problem.

When I was umpiring minor league baseball, we had to keep an eye on the players during warm-up, to be sure they weren't fraternizing with the crowd, etc.  We called it "rat patrol."  So, now the NCAA "rat patrol" is 90 minutes.  60 minutes was OK.  We needed the 40 minutes or so to warm up, record kickers numbers, chat with the QBs, talk to the BBs and chain crew.  90 minutes - OK maybe actually 70 minutes - just because the coaches can't/won't control their players and themselves?  Geez.  I hope NCAA guys get a big pay raise.

Good video, though.

 

[bossman72]

Interesting things from the video.

Regarding defensive substitutions, we see the rule change that makes this a "Live Ball Foul."  So, fundamentally, if we see more than 11 on the field, we hold until the ball is snapped, then toss a flag and let the down be completed, then report the foul.
As the Impractical Jokers would say, "Welllllllllllll…"
BY INTERPRETATION - as seen and spoken in the video - if the snap is imminent and no B player is attempting to leave the field, and Team A calls a time out, that's going to be a dead-ball substitution foul on B, and we don't charge Team A with a time out.
BY INTERPRETATION - as seen and spoken in the video - a departing player (in excess of 11) will have to be truly OB to NOT be charged with a live-ball substitution foul.  No more "if his next step would take him off  the field, he's OK."  Gotta be off the field to not get stuck with a foul.  My only question is: Does that mean at least one foot on the ground OB?  That would be MY interpretation, but I'm not the interpreter.

I'm not sure what the impetus was behind this to change it to live ball.  I guess the dead ball aspect was too inconsistently enforced?  It's funny because the NFL used to do it this way, then conformed to the college rule a few years ago.

No revelation here, but confirmation that fouls for infractions of the jersey rules will be a 15 yard penalty after the opening kickoff, plus a timeout, and then a timeout at the beginning of each subsequent period (still wearing illegal jerseys). What I don't know is: When is the timeout to be charged in the subsequent periods?  When the ball is declared ready for play for the first down?  After the first down?  No clarification on that.

I'm guessing after the first time you run a play with the wrong jerseys.  I guess the foul is playing a down with the wrong jerseys not simply having them (made up interpretation in my mind as to why it's not penalized right away).

A player can wear another jersey over his 'base' jersey.  He is supposed to report his number change.  If he doesn't, it is a UNS.  But how will we always know?  We don't know these guys (even at high school).  Billy Bob wears 55 normally, but they put 88 on him, send him in, and he doesn't report. I doubt I'd recognize Billy Bob wearing another jersey.
Well, probably another rule change that really just won't be a problem.

Same problem when they came up with the rule that a player can't come into the game at the same position wearing a duplicate number without reporting.  We don't know these guys, so I'd never catch it anyway.  The only time it came up in my career was in a D3 game where the opposing coach said "we saw this on film" and pointed out that their QB was #12, and then they bring in a RB with #12 as the wildcat QB, so the defense can't really tell the difference.  We told the other coach about it before the game, so he didn't run it.

[ElvisLives]

I'm not sure what the impetus was behind this to change it to live ball.  I guess the dead ball aspect was too inconsistently enforced?  It's funny because the NFL used to do it this way, then conformed to the college rule a few years ago.

I'm guessing after the first time you run a play with the wrong jerseys.  I guess the foul is playing a down with the wrong jerseys not simply having them (made up interpretation in my mind as to why it's not penalized right away).

Same problem when they came up with the rule that a player can't come into the game at the same position wearing a duplicate number without reporting.  We don't know these guys, so I'd never catch it anyway.  The only time it came up in my career was in a D3 game where the opposing coach said "we saw this on film" and pointed out that their QB was #12, and then they bring in a RB with #12 as the wildcat QB, so the defense can't really tell the difference.  We told the other coach about it before the game, so he didn't run it.

As for the substitution 'interpretations', I know they are trying to keep Team A from burning a timeout due to confusion as to the defensive formation. But, now, I can see a really smart and rule-savvy QB (such as Kellen Moore at Boise State back in my FBS days) being able to recognize the pending defensive infraction, make it look like he wants to snap the ball, but then quickly request a T/O, before Team B has an opportunity to get somebody off the field.  Bang - he orchestrates a Sub foul on B, when, in reality, there was no confusion on Team A at all.

Regarding when the "illegal jersey" T/O is charged, I don't really care when it is to be charged - just tell us.  I don't want to the be the guy that does it after the first down of the 2nd/3rd/4th period (with a delay penalty for being out of T/Os), when everybody else is doing it after the ball is ready for play.

As for duplicate player numbering, the easiest fix for that is to prohibit more than one squad member being assigned and/or wearing any number other than 50-79 (i.e., eligible numbers).  I mean, really.  They need more than 60 'skill' players?  That's ten full sets of 'skill' players.  And I don't think anybody ever tried to sneak in a different nose guard wearing a duplicate number.  And that is something we could officiate.

[Archie]

At 90 minutes, we can watch the trainers throw a ball around to themselves and maybe see the kickers come out on the field.

[ElvisLives]

At 90 minutes, we can watch the trainers throw a ball around to themselves and maybe see the kickers come out on the field.

All for the big bucks...

[Etref]

All for the big bucks...

Especially for a 2 PM game in early September in the south!

[ElvisLives]

Especially for a 2 PM game in early September in the south!

Had a Labor Day game in Ruston, Louisiana, on a Monday, noon kickoff.  I was the S and the time.  As much as I struggled, our R had to get an IV at halftime.  Didn't think he was gonna be able to go in the send half, so, I was ready to step in. Fortunately, the IV worked, and he was able to get back out and finish. 

Had a game third week in September in Laramie, Wyoming, 7:00 pm kickoff.  Frickin' blizzard.  We spent the morning shopping for gloves, head covers, etc., in Denver.  Didn't get back to downtown Denver hotel until 2:30 am, with 6:00 am flight home - and you know how far the airport is from downtown Denver.   

Given the choice, I'll take heat over cold.  Either way, that extra 30 minutes for pregame this year will really help.   

[bossman72]

I mean, really.  They need more than 60 'skill' players?  That's ten full sets of 'skill' players. 

It's more for recruiting so the recruit can keep his number in college.  That's more important to players than it should be.  It's not nothing to do with lack of available numbers.

[ElvisLives]

Hey, I have an idea.  In addition to pandering the these entitled millennials by a) giving them the opportunity for a free education worth anywhere from 100k to 500k over four years (I say ‘opportunity,’ because so, so many walk away the minute they think they can get a professional contract), b) making sure they get to wear their high school number without doing a thing to earn it, and c) feeding them waaaayyyy better than actual students, why don’t we let them get paid to hawk shoes, cars, energy drinks, etc.

Oh, wait.  The NCAA already thought of that.

[ElvisLives]

But seriously, folks...

In addition to clarification regarding when to charge a timeout to a team wearing illegal jerseys in the 2nd and 4th periods, another clarification needed is: Are they entitled to the full time out?  Historically, in other situations, the answer has been "yes," they get the full time out.  But the language in the memo I have seen uses the expression, "...and the loss of a timeout in each quarter that illegal jerseys are worn."  "Losing" a timeout could be interpreted as simply having the number of timeouts available reduced, as opposed to being 'charged' with a timeout, but being allowed the benefit (?) of the extra 60-90 seconds of rest. I kinda like the thought of simply having the number of T/Os reduced.  Think about it.  Especially in an FBS game, this will happen after the opening kickoff, and after the kickoff to start the third period.  Who needs rest after the K/O starting each half?  The other times it will happen will either be before the snap for the first down of the 2nd or 4th periods, or after the first down of those periods has been played.  But, that's after coming back from at least a 90-second quarter-break - more likely a 2-1/2 minute quarter-break.  For other levels of NCAA (including Texas HS), they'll be coming off of a 60-90 second quarter-break.  Even that is plenty of rest.  I'd like to see just an announcement that, due to the continued use of illegal jerseys, [team] loses a timeout; they have "x" timeouts remaining. But, I'm not in charge.
As you FBS guys have meetings (virtual or real) with your coordinators, please see if you can get the answers.

The good news is that this may happen once or twice all across the country.

[bossman72]

But seriously, folks...

In addition to clarification regarding when to charge a timeout to a team wearing illegal jerseys in the 2nd and 4th periods, another clarification needed is: Are they entitled to the full time out?  Historically, in other situations, the answer has been "yes," they get the full time out.  But the language in the memo I have seen uses the expression, "...and the loss of a timeout in each quarter that illegal jerseys are worn."  "Losing" a timeout could be interpreted as simply having the number of timeouts available reduced, as opposed to being 'charged' with a timeout, but being allowed the benefit (?) of the extra 60-90 seconds of rest. I kinda like the thought of simply having the number of T/Os reduced.  Think about it.  Especially in an FBS game, this will happen after the opening kickoff, and after the kickoff to start the third period.  Who needs rest after the K/O starting each half?  The other times it will happen will either be before the snap for the first down of the 2nd or 4th periods, or after the first down of those periods has been played.  But, that's after coming back from at least a 90-second quarter-break - more likely a 2-1/2 minute quarter-break.  For other levels of NCAA (including Texas HS), they'll be coming off of a 60-90 second quarter-break.  Even that is plenty of rest.  I'd like to see just an announcement that, due to the continued use of illegal jerseys, [team] loses a timeout; they have "x" timeouts remaining. But, I'm not in charge.
As you FBS guys have meetings (virtual or real) with your coordinators, please see if you can get the answers.

The good news is that this may happen once or twice all across the country.

Well, in a 10 sec runoff situation, I don't think we administer a time out when they use it to avoid a runoff.  I think this would be similar.

[ElvisLives]

Guess I should have checked the ARs sooner.  AR 1-4-5-I gives us all the direction we really need.  The rule has been changed to make the 15-yard penalty and the first charged team T/O occur AFTER  the kickoff for the 1st and third periods. Got it.  We should be able to assume AR 1-4-5-I will be updated for the distance penalty and procedure for the 1st and 3rd periods.  But, it already also addresses the T/O for the 2nd and 4th periods.  Charge it after the RFP signal (and before the ball is put in play) for the first down of the period. Got it. No need to change that.  But, it would be nice if they would clarify if the team is entitled to the full T/O, or if we just take it off the board and move on.

As long as we are dealing in the dreaded "what ifs" - what if a team with illegal jerseys makes it to extra periods?  I think the rule and AR make it clear enough that the offending team would get charged with their lone T/O in each extra period, when the ball is declared ready for play for the first down of each period.  That could be huge, that late in a game.  Especially if they don't actually get the timeout.