New Rule Could Take Points Off The Scoreboard

A new rule being considered by the NCAA could drastically alter the game by taking points off the scoreboard.

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“Before the player crossed the goal line, personal foul, taunting. 15 yards from the spot of the foul. Please take six points off the scoreboard. First down.”

Can you imagine a referee saying that at a college football stadium near you? Get ready, you just might hear it in 2011.

Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti made some waves on Wednesday when he suggested changing unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on touchdowns to live-ball penalties. If enacted, the rule could negate scoring plays.

Bellotti, who serves as the chairman of the NCAA rules committee, stressed that the idea was still in its infancy stages, and that the committee was just floating the idea out there to see what feedback they get.

What this means is that, if a player starts his celebration before crossing the goal line, the penalty would be enforced at the spot of the foul, just like a holding penalty, potentially taking points off the scoreboard. If the player taunts after crossing the goal line, the penalty will be treated as a dead-ball foul, and enforced after the score.

In a society that is too much “me” and not enough “we,” the NCAA is attempting to promote sportsmanship among its players, and emphasize teamwork. While the potential new rule has the right foundation, it lacks the proper reasoning to warrant points coming off the scoreboard.

Nearly every other penalty in the NCAA rulebook is called because a player did something to create an unfair advantage for himself. If a WR pushes off and makes a spectacular touchdown catch, one can argue that he made the catch because he created an unfair advantage for himself. If a RB takes one to the house from 80 yards out, but the LT held on the play, the RB gained an unfair advantage. Those points should come off the scoreboard.

With unsportsmanlike penalties, however, that’s not the case. A wide receiver isn’t scoring because he’s taunting, he’s taunting because he’s scoring. That doesn’t make it right to taunt. Players should be penalized for self-aggrandizing behavior. But calling live-ball fouls on infractions that have no direct effect on the actual play is too harsh of a penalty.

If the NCAA wants to make a step to promote sportsmanship, great. Taunting and self-promotion have no business on the football field. There’s plenty they could do to ratchet up the punishment. They could make the taunting penalty 15 yards on the extra point AND the kickoff. Or, they could force the offending team to “go for two,” but only make it worth one point. But, taking points off the scoreboard on penalties that have nothing to do with the game itself is too big of a step.

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Column Archive:
New Rule Could Take Points Off The Scoreboard – February 12, 2009
Kiffin Swings at Meyer … And Misses Badly – February 5, 2009
Playoffs … Be Careful What You Wish For – February 4, 2009
UGA Loses RB Samuel For Spring Practice - January 28, 2009
Alabama Signs Coach Away From Auburn - January 21, 2009
America Deserves a USC vs. SEC Title Game – January 10, 2009
Chizik Putting Together A Solid Staff – January 6, 2009
End Of The Season Accountability – December 31, 2008
3 Non-BCS Games You Should Watch – December 10, 2008
Who Will Be The Next Auburn Coach? – December 3, 2008
Big XII Blunder – December 1, 2008
Arkansas’ Loss Has Been Ole Miss’ Gain – November 23, 2008
SEC Championship Hype A Bit Premature – November 20, 2008
Auburn vs. Georgia Still Has Meaning – November 12, 2008
Auburn In Must-Win Situation vs. Ole Miss – October 28, 2008
Georgia vs. LSU – SEC Elimination Game – October 21, 2008
Franklin’s Firing Isn’t All Bad – October 8, 2008
SEC West September Synopsis – September 28, 2008
Fixing Auburn’s Offense – September 15, 2008
Wells or Not, USC’s Defense Will Dominate – September 10, 2008
No Need To Panic, Auburn Fans – September 2, 2008
SEC and ESPN Reach Mega Deal – August 25, 2008
What Will Happen In The SEC – August 18, 2008
Bama Is Not Back – August 5, 2008
SEC Under-The-Radar Games – July 26, 2008
Enough With The Buckeyes – July 16, 2008
SEC Coaches: How Many Is Too Many? - July 8, 2008
New Coordinators No Problem For Auburn - July 1, 2008