[Husker] Football Rule changes for 2012

[George Rapp]

On Fri, Feb 24, 2012 at 2:56 PM, Mike Nolan <nolan at tssi.com> wrote:

> The NCAA will join the NFL in in 2012 in moving kickoffs from the 30 to
> the 35 yard line.
>
> However, the NCAA will also move touchbacks to the 25 instead of the 20.
> ESPN says is suppposed to  encourage more touchbacks.  That may be true for
> the receiving team, but if that affects field goals as well as kickoffs,
> it isn't clear how that will affect kicking team decision making.
>

This one makes as much sense to me as the misguided "Seibel rule" from the
early 80s.  Nebraska kicker Kevin Seibel had enough leg to boom most
kickoffs out of the end zone, and for reasons that still aren't clear, the
NCAA instituted a rule change giving the receiving team possession on the
30 (vice the 20) if the kickoff went beyond the end line.  I guess the
point must have been made (or the laughter from the press corps got loud
enough), because the rule was rescinded the next year.

What's the incentive now for the kicking team to aim for the end zone?
 Just pooch it so that it bounces around the 10, and take your chances on
stopping the kick returner short of the 25.

Between this rule change and the "required"/"recommended" textbook rules,
I'm beginning to lose a little faith in the infallibility of the NCAA ...
8^)

-- 
George Rapp  (Pataskala, OH) Home: george.rapp -- at -- gmail.com
Work: george.rapp -- at -- hp.com (or) george.rapp.ctr -- at -- dfas.mil

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