Turn back the clock
Published: 6/2/2007 2:30 PM
Last Modified: 6/2/2007 2:30 PM
You knew just how universally despised last year's new college football clock rules were when Bob Stoops and Mack Brown agreed to spit on them.
The coaches argued they cheated the players, and the fans who'd paid gobs of money to watch the players, out of 10-15 plays a game. Which, in turn, cheated things like statistics and records and comeback attempts in the final breaths of games.
Well, the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel felt the wrath of Stoops, Brown and about every other Div. I coach and voted to return the rules to the their old form last April. Next fall, therefore, the clock starts at the point of kickoff returns and not kickoffs, and on the first play after a possession change and not immediately following the possession change.
Meaning, coaches get their 10-15 plays back. Fans get their money's worth. And the record books might get cracked a few more times.
Should make Sept. 8 that much more of a pleasant afternoon. That's when Miami comes to Owen Field for the first time in 22 years. You'd hate to deprive Sooner fans, or college football fans for that matter, of even a drop of that anticipated passion.
The revised rules were designed to cut down on game times. But who wants to cut down on OU-Miami?
-- Guerin Emig
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
