AUBURN FOOTBALL: Malzahn recommends 'healthy … Tuesday, February 18, 2014 1:04 pm | Updated: 6:05...
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AUBURN FOOTBALL: Malzahn recommends'healthy debate' on new NCAA rule proposal
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Posted: Tuesday, February 18, 2014 1:04 pm | Updated: 6:05pm, Tue Feb 18, 2014.
Alex Byington | AU Sports WriterOpelika-Auburn [email protected] on Twitter
Gus Malzahn finally made his stance clear — there is“absolutely zero evidence” that shows fast-pacedoffenses pose any threat to player health and safety.
The Auburn head coach broke his silence Tuesday,nearly a week after the NCAA Rules Committeerecommended a proposal that would allow defenses tosubstitute players in the first 10 seconds of the 40-second play clock, thus potentially slowing down hurry-up offenses like Auburn.
“The bottom line: This is not a rule-change year,”Malzahn said. “For a rule to be changed, it has to beunder the umbrella of health and safety. And the factthat there’s absolutely zero evidence — documentedevidence — that it is hazardous on the pace of play,only opinions.”
Last week, the NCAA Rules Committee proposed twonew rules changes, including adding a 10-secondwindow after the ball is spotted that will allow defensesto safely substitute players on and off the field withoutthe offense changing players — as is currently required.That rules would not be in place for the final twominutes of each half so as not to inhibit teams trying toget back into a game, but any violation of the rule priorto that point would result in a 5-yard penalty.
“This rules change is being made to enhance student-athlete safety by guaranteeing a small window for bothteams to substitute,” Air Force Academy head coachand rules committee chairman Troy Calhoun said in a
00:00 / 15:20
Albert Cesare/[email protected]
Auburn Tigers head coach Gus Malzahn yells at a referee in the 4thquarter during the BCS National Championship at the Rose Bowl inPasadena, Calif., on Jan. 6, 2014. Florida State Seminoles defeatedAuburn Tigers 34-31.
Auburn's Coach GusMalzahn (Feb. 18, 2014)
Auburn's Coach GusMalzahn (Feb. 18, 2014)
Auburn's Coach GusMalzahn (Feb. 18, 2014)
Auburn's Coach Gus Malzahn (Feb. 18, 2014)
Auburn's Head Football Coach Gus Malzahn talks to the media.
statement last week. “We felt like it was time to act in the interests of protecting our student-athletes.”
Malzahn said he’s spoken to Calhoun and recommended tabling the proposal to next year during a normal rule-change year so both “sides” of the offense-versus-defensive argument can “have a healthy debate on movingforward with the rules.”
“The only way you can change a rule (in an off year) is for health and safety reasons,” Malzahn said. “And the factthat there’s no documented proof, only opinions, I think that it’s very important.”
When asked about the topic in a national conference call with reporters Tuesday, Calhoun agreed with Malzahn onhis point — if there’s no evidence to support the claim that up-tempo offenses raise the injury risk to players,there’s no point in having the rule.
"If there is nothing that arises that's firm, there's no way you want to enact a rule. That doesn't make any sense,"Calhoun said, according the Associated Press. "But if there is something that surfaces where there is legitimateconcern here, now you're talking about some responsibility that's involved."
All rules proposals must be approved by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel, which will discuss and makerulings on any changes March 6. Calhoun said he’d prefer if evidence is presented before the comment periodends March 3.
Malzahn rejected the idea that players’ safety is in danger because of a heightened pace of play.”
“I’ve been running a fast-paced offense since 1997, and I’ve never felt like on either side that it was a health andsafety issue on offense or the other side,” Malzahn said.
Malzahn said he’s confident the 10-second run off rule will be either rejected or tabled to next year.
“I would like to think that it wouldn’t (be passed this year),” Malzahn said. “I’m just going to do everything in mypower the right way to stand up.”
According to various reports, both Alabama head coach Nick Saban and Arkansas’ Bret Bielema — two defensive-minded coaches that have been critical of the fast-paced approach — were present and major proponents of therule change but neither were members of the committee or allowed to vote when the proposal.
But NCAA coordinator of officials Rogers Redding told the Associated Press last week that Bielema was at themeeting in Indianapolis as a representative of the American Football Coaches Association.
“Coach Saban asked for the opportunity to meet with the committee and talk about this,” Redding said. “It’s notroutine, but it’s not unique, either.”
Baylor head coach Art Briles, who’s offense averaged 3.32 plays per minute last season according to the CollegeFootball Matrix, released a statement last week disregarding the legitimacy of the proposal.
“I see no merit in adding a new rule to the game that could only affect a small percentage of teams,” Briles said.
The committee also proposed a change to the targeting rule that was enacted this past season, recommendingthat both the 15-yard penalty should not be enforced unless it’s combined with another personal foul.
The 10-second rule proposal instantly spread throughout the college coaching world as several offensive-mindedhead coaches decried any idea that would effectively slow down fast-paced offenses such as Auburn, Arizona,Baylor, Ole Miss and Oklahoma State, among others.
“It’s ridiculous,” Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez told USA Today. “It’s a fundamental rule of football that the offensehas two advantages: knowing where they’re going and when they’re going. The defense has one advantage: theycan move all 11 guys before the snap.
“What’s next, you gonna go to three downs rather than four downs? It’s silly.”
Some outspoken coaches even made jokes about the idea.
On Thursday, Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy took to Twitter to voice his displeasure with the newproposal.
“The 10-second rule is like asking basketball to take away the shot clock - Boring!. It’s like asking a blitzinglinebacker to raise his hand,” Gundy tweeted.
Alex is the Auburn University Sports Writer for the Opelika-Auburn News.
Follow him on Twitter at @AUBlog for the latest in Auburn Sports.
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Per my previous tweet, Spence McCracken is not on Auburn's staff. He was just watching practice Tuesday morning. He's a former AU player
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Posted in Football on Tuesday, February 18, 2014 1:04 pm. Updated: 6:05 pm.
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Auburn HC Gus Malzahn at theBobby Bowden NationalCollegiate Coach of the YearAward Ceremony inBirmingham, AL.
Auburn's Coach Gus Malzahn(Mar. 17, 2014)
Auburn HC Gus Malzahn at theBobby Bowden NationalCollegiate Coach of the YearAward Ceremony inBirmingham, AL.
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Hugh Railey · Backwoods Legit Leisure Consultant atRetired
I support the rule with one caveat, blitzing linebackersand defensive backs should have to declare to theoffence and allow substitutions if necessary.
AU Football ScheduleClick on score for more details of each game
Schedule 2014Date Opponent Result / Time8/30 vs. Arkansas TBA9/6 vs. San Jose State TBA9/18 at Kansas State TBA9/27 vs. Louisiana Tech TBA10/4 vs. 14 LSU TBA
10/11 at Mississippi State TBA10/25 vs. 4 South Carolina TBA11/1 at Mississippi TBA11/8 vs. 18 Texas A&M TBA11/15 at Georgia TBA11/22 vs. Samford TBA11/29 at 7 Alabama TBA
Copyright © 2014 by STATS LLC.All rights reserved.
Schedule 2014Date Opponent Result / Time8/30 vs. Arkansas TBA9/6 vs. San Jose State TBA9/18 at Kansas State TBA9/27 vs. Louisiana Tech TBA10/4 vs. 14 LSU TBA10/11 at Mississippi State TBA10/25 vs. 4 South Carolina TBA11/1 at Mississippi TBA11/8 vs. 18 Texas A&M TBA11/15 at Georgia TBA11/22 vs. Samford TBA11/29 at 7 Alabama TBA
Copyright © 2014 by STATS LLC.All rights reserved.
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Auburn HC Gus Malzahn at theBobby Bowden NationalCollegiate Coach of the YearAward Ceremony inBirmingham, AL.
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Auburn Tigers linebacker LaDarius Owens (10) attempts to deflectWestern Carolina quarterback Troy Mitchell (10) pass during theNCAA football game Saturday, Oct. 12, 2013 at Jordan-HareStadium in Auburn, Ala.
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