2013 Rule Changes

In March of 2013, the NCAA administered multiple new football rules that will take effect this season, but one in particular has already sparked heated offseason discussions.

Per the NCAA’s website, the rule states:
Players who target and contact defenseless players above the shoulders are to be ejected. The change increases the on-field penalty for targeting by adding the automatic ejection to the existing 15-yard penalty.

There’s no doubt that the football world as a whole, from pop warner through pros, is focusing on making the game safer and it isn’t a surprise that the NCAA made a change this season.

Many attribute this rule change to a controversial play that happened in last year’s Big 10 Championship match up between Nebraska and Wisconsin. In the third quarter, Nebraska receiver Kenny Bell delivered a hit to Wisconsin DB Devin Smith – a hit so big it has over 4.4 million views on YouTube. Smith sprinted after receiver Jamal Turner and was sideswiped by Bell. Smith flipped upside down, hit his head on the turf and didn’t return for the rest of the game. Turner ended up making it into the end zone, but the play was flagged and called back.

In section 2-27-14, the NCAA added the following definition to what categorizes a defenseless player:
2-27-14g: A player who receives a blind­side block
Having watched the play over and over, it’s clear that Bell drove his shoulder into Smith, however because Smith’s head was turned the opposite direction, he had no idea it was coming. The visceral reactions of Smith’s head rocking back and body hitting the ground were enough to cause the refs to throw the flag and clearly enough to make the NCAA alter the defenseless player definition and add what is now being called the "Kenny Bell Rule".

The additional rule changes are below, per the NCAA website:

• Adding a 10-second runoff with less than a minute remaining in either half due to the clock stopping because of injury.

• Establishing three seconds as the minimum amount of time required on the game clock in order to spike the ball to stop the clock. If one or two seconds remain on the clock, there is only time for the offense to run one more play.

• Requiring a player that changes numbers during the game to report this to the referee, who will announce it.

• Precluding multiple players from the same team from wearing the same uniform number (Aka the “Lane Kiffin Rule” because last year Kiffin had his backup QB switch jerseys during a two-point conversion play – The backup QB switched into the number of USC’s punter)

• Allowing the use of electronic communication by the on-field officiating crew.

• Allowing instant replay to adjust the clock at the end of each quarter.

And finally, even fashion took a hit.

• Clarifying uniform rules as follows: “Jerseys must have clearly visible, permanent Arabic numerals measuring at least 8 and 10 inches in height front and back, respectively, and be of one solid color that itself is clearly in distinct contrast with the color of the jersey, irrespective of any border around the number.” (Sorry about that, Oregon. Looks like we have a "Duck Rule" now.)

- Hayley Elwood
@hayleyelwood
hayley.projectcfb@gmail.com