[PAmedic]

Assuming "major college football" includes DI-AA (FCS)

http://espn.go.com/college-football/sto ... rd-line-35

highlights:

INDIANAPOLIS -- Kickoffs in major college football will move from the 30 to the 35-yard line next season, a change intended to keep players safer...

... Another new NCAA rule involving free kicks will move touchbacks from the 20 to the 25-yard line, a move intended to encourage more touchbacks.

The panel also approved a rule that will require a player who loses his helmet during a play to leave the game for one play, and there are also new guidelines regarding blocking below the waist and blocking on punt returns.

Players will also be prohibited from leaping over blockers when trying to block punts

I like the deal about the helmets...

[PAmedic]

and since you're kicking from the 35, but really DON'T want to give them the additional 5 yds to the 25...

maybe Kacere will get to do KO's after all

[BiggAl57]

This hurts us when we have Fogg back there.

[01LUGrad]

This is stupid. Pretty soon we will be watching flag football on Saturday (and Sunday) afternoons.

Not seeing Fogg run all over the place on kickoff returns is really going to hurt us next season.

[PAmedic]

the more I think about it, the more I bet by mid-season this will be a wash. Teams are gonna wanna avoid giving you the 25 just as much as anything so I bet you see a lot of run-backs starting from the 5 or 10. A quick returner like Fogg will be able to break them off from there, no doubt.

NFL season started with a bunch of touchbacks, then that dude broke one for 102 or whatever it was, then you started seeing everyone bringing them out after that.

Wouldnt shock me to see that again after the initial adjustment.

Not to mention there are a lot of kids at this level that can't put it into the EZ from the 30 or 35, esp against the wind.

[kick49]

I figured you guys would expect me to comment on any kicking or ST thread! So here are my thoughts...

THE RULE SUCKS! It is nice for kickers because it will obviously promote more TouchBacks and better automatic field position (which will make them look better). But moving the ball to the 25 after a TB is dumb.

This rule will affect Fogg as well, which sucks because we need his athleticism and ability to return kicks so that we can score or receive better field position off large returns. As we have seen in the NFL, coaches will continue to draw up schemes so that returns can still be made. So hopefully Minter will dial up a few different returns so that we can still manage this rule change.

Big South kickoff specialists do not possess the big legs as other conferences have in the past, so it may not affect Fogg as much as we think. Big South conference kickers haven't contributed in the TB category in recent years or even been close from the 30. So hopefully the 5 yard difference will not affect Fogg as much...at least in conference play.

[PAmedic]

the more I think about it, the more I bet by mid-season this will be a wash. Teams are gonna wanna avoid giving you the 25 just as much as anything so I bet you see a lot of run-backs starting from the 5 or 10. A quick returner like Fogg will be able to break them off from there, no doubt.

NFL season started with a bunch of touchbacks, then that dude broke one for 102 or whatever it was, then you started seeing everyone bringing them out after that.

Wouldnt shock me to see that again after the initial adjustment.

Not to mention there are a lot of kids at this level that can't put it into the EZ from the 30 or 35, esp against the wind.

I figured you guys would expect me to comment on any kicking or ST thread! So here are my thoughts...

THE RULE SUCKS! It is nice for kickers because it will obviously promote more TouchBacks and better automatic field position (which will make them look better). But moving the ball to the 25 after a TB is dumb.

This rule will affect Fogg as well, which sucks because we need his athleticism and ability to return kicks so that we can score or receive better field position off large returns. As we have seen in the NFL, coaches will continue to draw up schemes so that returns can still be made. So hopefully Minter will dial up a few different returns so that we can still manage this rule change.

Big South kickoff specialists do not possess the big legs as other conferences have in the past, so it may not affect Fogg as much as we think. Big South conference kickers haven't contributed in the TB category in recent years or even been close from the 30. So hopefully the 5 yard difference will not affect Fogg as much...at least in conference play.

your check is in the mail.

SEE GUYS> I KNOW STUFF

not just a pretty face here

[bradyfan]

I really don't understand why so many people have problems with football becoming a safer game. Kickoffs is one of the most dangerous parts of a football game, 11 people getting a 45 yard start at one guy? More injuries happen on a kickoff than at any other part of the game. This is a great move by the NCAA and it was a great move by the NFL last year.

The problem that football is facing, is that it has become exceedingly dangerous. As more and more studies are showing the brain damage and body damage that professional football players deal with when they retire, more and more moms prevent their kids from playing. If fewer and fewer mom's are allowing their kids to play football, what do you expect to happen to the talent? It's going to decline. Bad football = bad ratings, and less tickets. This is a great move by both the NFL (last year) and the NCAA (this year) to make the game safer.

[Purple Haize]

I see a lot of onside kicks!