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University of Minnesota Athletics
Rules Changes Could Be Controversial
7/28/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
July 28, 2011
There will be 17 new rules for players, coaches and officials to be aware of when the 2011 college football season begins. Big Ten Coordinator of Football Officials addressed the media contingent in Chicago during the Big Ten Kickoff Media Days Thursday and discussed those changes.
"We change the rules every other year," Carollo said. "So from that standpoint, that's a lot to grasp by our officials, by the coaches, by the players."
While there are 17 new rules changes, the one getting the most attention is the change to the celebration/taunting penalty. If a player is deemed to be excessively celebrating or taunting an opponent during a play, the penalty will be enforced as a live-ball foul. That could negate a touchdown, should a flag be thrown before a ball-carrier crosses the goal line.
"If I'm running into the end zone and I get to the two yard line and I turn to my opponent and do something that is taunting or do something that's drawing attention to myself, it's a foul as before, but we always enforced it on the extra point or on the kick off," Carollo said. "This year, live ball. So it's just like a clip at the two-yard line. We throw the flag. We will take away a score and go from the two-yard line, back them up 15 yards out to the 17.
"Is there common sense in this? Is it quick? Is it spontaneous? Is it a quick celebration? That's okay," Carollo continued. "So we're imploring the (officials) to use some common sense. Let's not get too technical. Let's not over-officiate it. At the same time if ... it's excessive, it's drawing attention to themselves .. we want that out of the game."
While everyone knows the change is coming and the Big Ten officiating crews have been taught how to enforce it, there is almost assuredly going to be controversy with this rule. At least that's what Carollo believes.
"I'm confident we'll have some controversy the first couple times," he said. "It will get national attention. Either the coaches or the players learn their lesson. But we spent a lot of time in the spring, we're going to continue that crusade to all the clubs in August here at camp, making sure the players understand what is and what is not a foul."
Carollo also mentioned two other specific rules changes he believes will have be noticeable to fans. One has to do with low blocking and how the penalty for it is enforced. In addition, a penalty that causes the clock to stop with less than one minute remaining in the game will result in a 10-second runoff.
