thought experiment

[DSMan]

if college football came up with these rules, would the game change much?

1) determinate game time - if game starts at 11 in the morning, it automatically ends at 2:30 in the afternoon (unless the game is tied)
2) maximum of 30 throws a game
3) 12 plays to get in the end zone

I doubt it would change much but it would be interesting to see what would happen.

 

[SigMaintHawk]

I'd be ok with rule #3 if it had been in effect for the recent Big 10 title game....

 

[DSMan]

i might also add that this play would be more commonly used:

 

[Herkmeister]

I kinda like it the way it is. None of those rules tripped my trigger.

 

[ukiddinme]

The rule i've ALWAYS thought would be fair and good to incorporate at all levels is .... if a penalty occurs in the "1/2 the distance are" then it applies to both teams. For example: if O is on the 2 and D is penalized the ball is then placed on the 1. Which, to me, seems like they can keep on trying to get away w penalties because it's not too detrimental. So then, O should be penalized "half the distance" too for the same penalty IF D has a penalty 1st in that area. So, if D holds on the 2 and it only cost a yard then O can hold and it only cost a yard. Seems fair. Thoughts??

 

[Hawk_4shur]

Meh, can;t think of a rule that would improve the game, but I haven't had my coffee yet.

 

[nu2u]

Decades ago basketball incorporated the 3PT line to reward made field goals from a further distance. I would actually like to see a 4PT line implemented in basketball, perhaps a flatter arc or straight line halfway (or more) between the 3PT line and the half court line, but that is beside the point in my case for applying the 3PT concept to FGAs in football, something like this:

0-30 = 2 points

30- 55 = 3 points

55+ = 4 points

the above yardages above are examples or suggestions to illustrate the concept.

Effect:
(1) reduces incentive to settle for "chip shot" FGs. FGAs 30 yards or less indicate a LOS inside the 25 yard line. In other words, the offense is in (or practically within) the red zone. If you have to settle for a FG from this distance, the opponent has effectively made a stand. 2 points here recognizes the relative ease of the scoring attempt and also indirectly rewards the opponent's defensive effort close to the goal.

(2) increases incentive to attempt high risk scoring attempts. 55 yard FGAs indicate a LOS at the approximately the 40 yard line - the position which usually gives rise to the coach's dilemma: attempt a long, more difficult FGA or punt? Keep in mind that a missed FGA from midfield gives the opponent possession of the ball in favorable field position so there is already built-in risk in addition to the less chance of success. Kick a FG here and be rewarded with an extra point.

Just a thought (experiment).

 

[broth87]

Can we just leave the sports alone? We don't need rule changes in any of them. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. The only thing that ALL sports could be better at its speeding up replay. That's the only thing I'm in favor when it comes to altering any of the sports.

 

[nu2u]

Can we just leave the sports alone? We don't need rule changes in any of them. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. The only thing that ALL sports could be better at its speeding up replay. That's the only thing I'm in favor when it comes to altering any of the sports.

There have been frequent rule changes in the major sports since their inception and there will continue to be rule changes going forward. Progress.

In basketball alone, their was significant opposition (some strong) to rules which, for instance, permitted a player to dunk the basketball, the 10 second "midcourt" line, unlimited player substitution, one-and-one free throws, freshman eligibiity, alternate possession instead of jump balls, the 45 second shot clock, and instant replay. There are, of course, many more rule changes over the years.

At every point, there were coaches and officials who believed that changes corrupted the purity of the game and lobbied against modifying the rules.

Change is inevitable.

...wanted to add that BIG changes are coming to football in the not too distant future IMO. Officials will need to develop and implement safety measures to address permanent brain damage or the sport will gradually decline. On the collegiate level, the issue of player compensation or revenue sharing will continue to be litigated and evolve.

 

[uniFIGHTuniFIGHT]

Can we just leave the sports alone? We don't need rule changes in any of them. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. The only thing that ALL sports could be better at its speeding up replay. That's the only thing I'm in favor when it comes to altering any of the sports.

The AL and NL need to have the same rules. I'm more of a purist and I prefer NL rules but the DH ain't going nowhere, so the NL needs to adopt the DH.

 

[mthawkeyes]

Decades ago basketball incorporated the 3PT line to reward made field goals from a further distance. I would actually like to see a 4PT line implemented in basketball, perhaps a flatter arc or straight line halfway (or more) between the 3PT line and the half court line, but that is beside the point in my case for applying the 3PT concept to FGAs in football, something like this:

0-30 = 2 points

30- 55 = 3 points

55+ = 4 points

the above yardages above are examples or suggestions to illustrate the concept.

Effect:
(1) reduces incentive to settle for "chip shot" FGs. FGAs 30 yards or less indicate a LOS inside the 25 yard line. In other words, the offense is in (or practically within) the red zone. If you have to settle for a FG from this distance, the opponent has effectively made a stand. 2 points here recognizes the relative ease of the scoring attempt and also indirectly rewards the opponent's defensive effort close to the goal.

(2) increases incentive to attempt high risk scoring attempts. 55 yard FGAs indicate a LOS at the approximately the 40 yard line - the position which usually gives rise to the coach's dilemma: attempt a long, more difficult FGA or punt? Keep in mind that a missed FGA from midfield gives the opponent possession of the ball in favorable field position so there is already built-in risk in addition to the less chance of success. Kick a FG here and be rewarded with an extra point.

Just a thought (experiment).

I understand where you're going with this, and it would introduce some interesting late-game scenarios.
(Down 4 with 1:00 left at mid-field. Do you go for the touchdown or settle for driving to the 28 yard-line for a 55 yard field? If you drive deep, but have 3rd and goal from the 8, do you go for the TD or take a 20-yard loss to attempt a FG to tie?)

Besides the end of a half, teams don't attempt long fields on purpose. I don't think it would be right to reward a team who drove to the 35 yard-line twice as much as a team who drove inside the 10.

 

[nu2u]

(Down 4 with 1:00 left at mid-field. Do you go for the touchdown or settle for driving to the 28 yard-line for a 55 yard field? If you drive deep, but have 3rd and goal from the 8, do you go for the TD or take a 20-yard loss to attempt a FG to tie?)

Yeah, the late game intentional huge loss scenario is one potential "flaw" to the proposal. (this is a thought experiment).

Besides the end of a half, teams don't attempt long fields on purpose. I don't think it would be right to reward a team who drove to the 35 yard-line twice as much as a team who drove inside the 10.

,
Remember, its only a reward if the 55+FG is successful. For virtually every college FG kicker, the odds favor a miss.

 

[SoFla-Hawkeye]

Can we just leave the sports alone? We don't need rule changes in any of them. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. The only thing that ALL sports could be better at its speeding up replay. That's the only thing I'm in favor when it comes to altering any of the sports.

You clamor to leave the game alone because "if it ain't broke don't fix it", only to then say speed up replay reviews. I'd put replay reviews in the category of if it ain't broke don't fix it. Refs have come to rely too much on reviews. Worst rule change in recent memory.

 

[93hawkeye]

In general, I am for rules which make the athletes compete and execute for meaningful aspects of the games.
Somebody mentioned alternate posession jump balls. I don't like it...No competition for posession of the ball, you simply get "your turn". Baseball infield fly rule...defense does not need to compete/execute to make the out...etc. I know the fairness arguments...blah, blah, blah.