The Rest of College Football

[entropy]

I guess The Big East wants to remain a distant #6 conference from the other 5 BCS conferences.

BE was smart they'd create an east and west division. Build off of TCU/Louisville in the west and go hard after KU/KSU/Missouri. Heck with teams like Villanova. Get some teams that allow the Big East to compete and create some buzz.

[WM Wolverine]

Kansas, Kansas State & Missouri would be great additions to the Big East, too bad they have no reason to leave the Big XII till Texas blows it up.

[entropy]

Meineke Car Care is taking over as title sponsor of the Texas Bowl.

More...

[entropy]

Arizona State adopted a new logo

lots of pics here: http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/spo...cc4c03286.html

[entropy]

The Big 12 and Fox Sports announced a 13-year deal Wednesday that officials say will ensure the long-term stability of every member of the league, from the strongest to the weakest.

More...

[entropy]

Former Army head coach Homer Smith, regarded as one of keenest offensive minds in the annals of college football, has died. He was 79.

More...

[JRB]

New Rules...

NCAA committee approves rule changes

• 27

Updated Apr 15, 2011 4:20 PM ET

The most sweeping change approved by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel on Thursday is the 10-second runoff, something the NFL has used for years. College teams will now have the option of taking the yardage and the time, the yardage only or declining the penalty.

The committee also approved a change in how intentional grounding will be called. Previously, the penalty was called if the intended receiver did not have a ''reasonable opportunity'' to catch the pass. Starting this fall, the penalty will be called only if a receiver is not in the area of the pass - a modification that more closely resembles the NFL rule.

And the panel adopted a rule allowing video monitors in the coaches' booths. The televisions will have access only to any live broadcast of the game - no video recorders - to help coaches decide if they should challenge a call. If the monitors are available to the home team, they must also be available to the visitor.

Those changes coincide with perhaps the biggest change of the season - implementation of the new taunting rule.

Last April, the playing rules panel approved a decision to nullify touchdowns if a player is called for taunting before he crosses the goal line. Examples include players finishing touchdown runs by high-stepping into the end zone or pointing the ball toward an opponent.

The panel decided then to wait one year before making the change.

Previously, the 15-yard penalty was assessed on the extra point attempt, 2-point conversion attempt or the ensuing kickoff. Penalties called after the player crosses the goal line still will be assessed on those plays, but live-ball fouls will be assessed at the spot of the foul and eliminate the score.

In addition, the playing rules panel wants to make the game safer.

Players lined up within seven yards of the center on scrimmage plays will still be permitted to block below the waist anywhere on the field.

But receivers or running backs lined up outside the tackle box will only be allowed to block below the waist if they are blocking straight ahead or toward the nearest sideline. If they go inside and block toward the play, it would be a penalty.

The defensive team also will be assessed a 5-yard penalty if three or more players try to overpower one offensive lineman on place kicks.

[entropy]

WSJ article today has the Pac-12 asking for $2.3 billion/10 years.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...267695112.html

[amaizenblue]

Don't like the rule about nullifying the TD for high stepping or whatnot. I understand it's an attempt to keep emotions in check, but I REALLY don't consider that taunting. But whatever.

Here's a thought: I wonder what will happen if someone purposely runs the length of the goal line, on a breakaway TD in order to take seconds off the clock, a la Brandon Stokely on that luckbox catch he made against Cincinnati a year or two ago. I could see that being flagged under this new rule, despite it being an extremely "heady" and appropriate play.

[lineygoblue]

That will be an "interpretation" situation. If he's showboating, he's going to get the flag. If he's trying to run out the clock, they'll probably keep the hanky in their pocket. I would hope if its a decent crew with half a brain amongst them, that they'd get together and wave off any flag in that situation.

[Dr. Strangelove]

The Sun Belt may be adding an 11th team. My guess is it's Louisiana Tech

http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/04/07/2154460/sun-belt-might-add-11th-school.html

[entropy]

2010 spring game attendance figures for the final top 25:

1. Auburn (14-0): 63,217
2. Texas Christian (13-0): 7,500
3. Oregon (12-1): 25,211
4. Stanford (12-1): 4,000
5. Ohio State (12-1): 65,223
6. Oklahoma (12-2): 16,481
7. Wisconsin (11-2): 23,567
8. Louisiana State (11-2): 22,710
9. Boise State (12-1): 12,000
10. Alabama (10-3): 91,312
11. Nevada (13-1): 1,500
12. Arkansas (10-3): 30,000
13. Oklahoma State (11-2): 7,000
14. Michigan State (11-1): 30,000
15. Mississippi State (9-4): 34,127
16. Virginia Tech (11-3): 41,000
17. Florida State (10-4): 51,000
18. Missouri (10-3): 15,000
19. Texas A&M (9-4): 15,000
20. Nebraska (10-4): 77,936
21. Central Florida (11-3): 7,288
22. South Carolina (9-5): 22,000
23. Maryland (9-4): 2,500
24. Tulsa (10-3): 3,000
25. North Carolina State (9-4): 25,372

[Jamie H]

It is only a matter of time before that new taunting rule is used, probably inappropriately, to change the final score of a game.

[lineygoblue]

It will happen. Definitely.

[Jeff Buchanan]

Look, let's be serious here .....

If you are the head coach or a position coach and you cannot instill in your players the idea that they can change the outcome of a game if they make a bad choice and parade around in the end zone after a score in any way that could be interpreted as taunting, you should leave CFB.

Heat of the moment arguments? BS ..... Self discipline is an important trait to be instilled in sports and at University. Just score the points and hand the ball to the referee. Is that so hard? Mike Hart seemed to learn that lesson. So can every M football player who has the privilege of donning the maze and blue.