I just posted this as a comment in a recent thread, but thought I'd test the waters with my first forum topic. What changes, if any, would you like to see in CFB?
I personally would like to see a sliding point scale for field goals. Say 0-45yrds is worth 3pts, 45-50yrds is 4pts and 50+yrds is 5pts or something very similar.
I think it would add quite a bit of strategy to the game. With under a minute to play do you go for a 5pt field goal down by four, do you try and get the first down to get a 4pointer and the tie, or do you try and go for the TD?
I know I'm probably in the minority with this, but I think adding a little bit more risk/reward would add to the excitement.
thoughts?
One thing I would change would be to make the pass interference foul a subjective spot call, if it's deemed blatant/intentional by the officials --- like in the NFL. For instance, a CB in man coverage could get beaten off the line of scrimmage and the opposing team's QB could throw a 50 yard bomb to his WR...the CB who got beat is trying to catch up & knows he can't, and he can't turn his head around in time to even see the ball...so what does he do? He just tackles the WR before the ball gets there, because, hey - a 15-yard penalty is a lot better than giving up a 50 yard TD catch. I don't blame him, or his coaches who teach their DBs to do this. That's taking advantage of the rules. I believe, instead, that the NCAA should mirror the NFL & make a situation like this subjective to the official's decision of whether it was blatant/intentional. So, it would be a 50 yard spot foul instead of just 15 yards, in this case. And, if it's P.I. in the end zone --- move the ball to the 1 yard line, like the NFL does, (or at least inside the 5 yard line, depending on where the line of scrimmage was.)
Another thing I would like to see is the ball being kicked off from deeper in the kicking team's territory - (back to the 30 from the 35) - so we can have more of arguably the most exciting play in football....the kickoff return. Who likes touchbacks? (well, besides Roger Goodell); Nobody. Again, the premise of the reason for this rule change is flawed. Most concussions/injuries, etc. do not occur on kickoff returns -- they occur in the field of play on 1st, 2nd, & 3rd downs.
The last thing I'm not crazy about is the cut blocking technique employed by triple option teams, (Georgia Tech, Navy)...you still see this in the NFL today, too. Maybe it will take another defensive lineman's career getting ended because they were cut at the knees, to bring change. It's just ugly for football.
"You win with people." - Woody Hayes
Not in-game related, but I would ban oversigning of all types. No >25 class, no scholarship breaches (>85), no grey-shirting. Period.
This would make the game more fair in most cases, and take an edge off of the SEC's domination, which would in turn make the CFB landscape more exciting.
I was just going to post the same comment. well said
Touchdowns are worth 13 points, but only when scored by Ohio State players.
Easy...get rid of the NCAA....enough said
"There's nothing that cleanses your soul like getting the hell kicked out of you."
"I love football. I think it is most wonderful game in world and I despise to lose."
Woody Hayes 1913 - 1987
I don't follow the economics of college football real close, but wouldn't colleges make more money if the NCAA didn't exist? For example, why shouldn't all the big boys of college football secede from the NCAA, create their own sports league, make their own rules, and basically run a semi-professional league with home playoff games, TV deals, etc.? Maybe players could get a little money to buy a pizza or (hand placed over heart for added drama) cash in on all those #5 jerseys that all us wackos spend $70 on all the time. Maybe a free tattoo would be just that, a free tattoo - big deal. Finally, on a serious note, if players spent every free second on football and legitimately couldn't get an education while playing, maybe they could come back afterward and utilize a scholarship so that they're being educated at the time when perhaps they're a little more mature, a little less distracted, etc. In short, I hate the NCAA too.
I would narrow the distance between the hash marks to match the NFL...college has the wider hash marks leading to more severe angles on closer kicks (kicking field goals is harder in college than in the NFL)...more irritating is how little space there is on the the short side of the field when the ball is placed on the hash marks. As the players have gotten bigger that space on the short side looks smaller and smaller.
D. Anthony
I don't know I like that bit of strategy when the wide side of the field is so wide (especially for things like 2 point conversions. I think narrowing them just makes the game more vanilla (ie more NFL-like and not in a good way).
This has always bothered me a little bit. There is no rule that says you have to have a balanced line on a field goal attempt, is there? or that the holder has to be directly behind the center? If your kicker really struggles from extreme angles, do one of 2 things. First, score TD's. Second, just scoot your holder over so it's a less extreme angle and put an extra guy on that side of the line. Or just line up your kicker so he's not kicking across his body.
When told OSU set school record for 50+ games this year, UFM said "That's good. We're gonna break that next year."
I picked that up from the Buckeyes years ago. Whenever we kicked (the HS team I coached) a FG from a hash mark, we went tackle over, putting two tackles toward the middle of the field. The holder lined up behind the strong side guard instead of the center. The snap dosen't take any longer, and the ball is more centered for the kick. It always amazes me when I see any college team not employ that set. My wife and I made a joke of it, particularly when a right footed kicker is kicking from the right hash (they tend to over correct). Just moving him over 1 yard dramatically increases the accuracy.
I would be personally responsible for out of conference scheduling.
I got to down vote you on that due to the fact that I have been applying for that position for years!!!
Bowl games
1)Less bowl games. There's too many and many schools lose money on them. There are what, 120 teams in FBS (d 1a), and what, 70 of them play in bowls? That's 58% of the teams.
2)No invites for 6-6 teams to bowls. Rewarding mediocrity is stupid. No winning record =no bowl game. Using this motto should help #1.
I agree. This rewarding mediocrity is stupid.
"You win with people." - Woody Hayes
I like the bowls. I run a pool and my wife just loves it when I print out all 8 pages of the picks, tape them all together and hang it on the wall downstairs so I can keep up with the points. It's a Christmas tradition.
You could also have a playoff and not lose any of the bowls too. Just have some fenced off for the losers in the first couple of rounds.
I like bowl games. I just think there are too many. And I think finishing 6-6 should get you nothing. For example, OSU didn't have any business playing in the Gator Bowl last year.
I agree on 6-6. They need to break up some of the tie in bowls so that teams with better records can go instead. As for the number of games. I like it. I end up being home around XMAS anyway and it gives me something to do other than surf the web and clear the browser all day.
A few on my wishlist:
Yes to crafty proposal!!!
Nice topic....I've been thinking about mainly safety stuff for a few years...
1. I'd make potential helmet to helmet hits reviewable by replay.
2. I really think it'd be interest to alter the traditional helmets...whether they're eliminated entirely, or take the facemasks off...something.
3. Adopt a rugby-like rule for the point after kick...if you score the td crossing the goaline near the sidelines you kick from a more severe angle than if you cross in the middle of the field. It would alter game scores dramatically, teams would go for 2 more often I'm sure.
4. Length of game...fewer commercials and interruptions (other than in-game replays obvs).
Wait wait....you want to take the face(mask)...off? Nick Cage approves.
When told OSU set school record for 50+ games this year, UFM said "That's good. We're gonna break that next year."
Nice.
Here is one that should be amended for both the NFL and college. With many now wearing long hair, it is sometimes called a horsecollar when in fact it is just the hair being pulled. That should be a reviewable play. Dallas got burned on that a few weeks ago against the Browns.
Adding more points more field goals farther away? That would be strange. On the one hand, it's harder to do for the kicker. On the other, it's much easier to do for the rest of the offense.
that's the thing-it's risk/reward. If you're down by 3 with 8 seconds left and you're looking at a 47yrd field goal what do you do? Trust the kicker to win the game? Try and get a quick first down/spike/kick all in 8 seconds? Do you try a deep throw?
“The teams that don’t respect their coaches and don’t trust their coaches are the teams that go .500"
~Zach Boren
Right but in a normal scenario the effect of the rule would be to penalize teams who get closer to the endzoe, which is just weird. It would also likely encourage offenses to stop moving the ball when they get to a certain yardline.
I see your point. I would argue that it would encourage teams to be more agressive at going for the score if they are in the 3pnt zone (and those yardages could obviously be moved).
I don't think it would necessarily stop teams from moving the ball. If they have a strong kicker then yes, I could see a couple of teams hold up in the range that puts them up by one, but for the marjority I don't see it being the case at all. After all the whole point is really to score six.
I mean WWUFMD?
To me, the risk/reward would just add another level of excitement (excitement=$ after all) and encourage teams to develop kickers/special teams even further.
“The teams that don’t respect their coaches and don’t trust their coaches are the teams that go .500"
~Zach Boren
Good idea, but I personally do not like field goals.
The only thing I'd change about college football: the game, are all the NFL-style rules that inhibit pass coverage like the 5-yard chuck rule. College defensive backs breath on a receiver wrong and they get a flag. It's no wonder we see basketball scores for games. At first I marveled at the WVU-Baylor game this season then I thought what a joke some defenses have become. These rules certainly don't help them.
As for college football in general, I wouldn't change it. I WOULD change the NCAA and make its enforcement of its rules more level handed and much less hipocritical. Fine, OSU got caught breaking rules. I can live with the consequences. What I cannot live with are other schools getting away with things 1000 times worse (Cam Newton). You cannot tell me Bama and LSU and the entire SEC are 100% squeaky virgin clean. They're just really good at getting away with crap. I'd investigate them even harder than I would anyone else.
I'd also ban all over-signing. If we're not allowed to do it nobody is. It isn't fair that a few schools get to do it and not everyone like back in the old days. Players who don't get a scholarship to their dream college find someplace else to go. It won't kill you. (just as long as it isn't TTUN)
"Sherman ran an option play right through the south" - Greatest.Civil.War.Analogy.Ever
1. Playoffs - at least 8 teams in, but the teams must be conference champions, coming from a conference with a CG. Seeding to be determined by national ranking, opening rounds at the highest ranked team's stadium. I know this will get a lot of groans, but it would force the indy's to join a conference. It would also place a lot of importance on the regular season in order to advance - it would actually make every regular season game part of the playoffs. You could still have a dark horse (like Wisky) emerge from a conference to challenge the leaders. You could also place performance standards on conferences in order for their league champion to advance. Lot's of possibilities.
2. Like above, certain penalties should be reviewable - I saw many facemasks that went uncalled this year and some helmet to helmet penalties that were not actually helmet to helmet. If nothing else, add a "video" ref who has the power to call a penalty from the press box on live action. Very few penalties escape the video cameras.
3. Add incentive to the kick off! The ball was moved at the 35 this year and KO touchbacks come out to the 25 in order to eliminate many returns (arguably one of the most exciting plays in football, yet among the most dangerous as well). Yet, teams like OSU elected to kick the ball to just inside the 5 to try to pin the opponent deep. Put in a caveat in that either allows the kickers to score a point (yes a single point) for placing KO's through the goal posts or only brings the ball out to the 20 instead of the 25. Also allow receiving teams to do whatever they want to "goal tend" to keep the ball from going between the uprights! Might add a little excitement in a different vein to the KO!!!
4. Interference / defensive holding penalties - actually call them when the occur! Dbacks are taught to grab a fist full of jersey, not to slow down or knock a receiver off his route, but to pull themselves closer to and get up to speed with a fast receiver. Educate the officials on what to look for. It is either holding or, if the ball is in the air, interference. Call it!!!!
+1 to Urbz.
If I could only change one thing, I would make every team have to conform to the same set of rules. Alabama & LSU wouldn't be allowed to have an on-field competitive advantage in recruiting like they've had for years and years. Same signing limits no matter what conference you're in, 4 year scholarships, medical hardships would have to be approved by a national committee, etc. No oversigning, period.
Thanks man. I think it's a real advantage for the teams that do it.
Change everything back to the way it was in 2006. Including conference alaignment. And the college football theme music for espn.
oh my - good call on the college football theme music, I forgot about that. I remember the theme music going into the big showdown vs. Texas that year - it was pretty sweet.
"You win with people." - Woody Hayes
I think this may be the theme song they used from that era, (mid-00s)
"You win with people." - Woody Hayes
2 weeks in between games, thereby doubling the length of the season. CFB withdrawls would be less severe.
An angry fan...rooting for an angry team...led by angry coaches
I would allow teams that did not go to bowls the same number of extra practices that teams going to bowls get.
Always seemed imbalances to me that the bad teams lose out on practices.
- Players should get a stipend. But schools are penalized for every player who doesn't graduate with a degree in a valid major. (A member of NC State's NC CBB team died of a cardiac arrest while on the job... about two years ago. He was a CAT bus driver. /smh) (And by valid major -- No, Exploration or Kinesiology doesn't count. If you can't find a way to make a living in your field post-grad, then you can't major in it. And yes, English majors do find jobs... it can happen.)
- Regular season should be the playoff. Four conferences of 16 teams. Division winners play for CCG. Conference champions play in semis. Two semi winners play in NCG. While conferences can have more than 16 teams if they desire, the four have to have at least 16. But any school left out is SOL. Doesn't mean they can't play in bowls or play members of the 4 NC conferences as OOC games. But let's finally put to rest this Cinderella fairy-tale bs that Dan Wetzel, John Feinstein, and other cfb blow-hards have been trying to force-feed us for decades now. THESE GUYS CAN'T COMPETE WITH THE BIG BOYS.* Boise State, you better find yourself a seat and quick.
- And I don't know what the answer is but something has to be done about concussions. If anything has the capability to destroy cfb as we know it -- it's concussions. IMO, we've only seen the tip of the iceberg as far as the damage being done to these young men.
* Not being a hypocrit in regard to my recent support for NIU's belonging in the Orange Bowl. The huskies used the same BCS rules that Utah, Boise State, Hawaii, and TCU did to land a BCS bowl. To deny them access because they are a MAC school and not a WAC or MWC school would be patently unfair. The MAC was a better conference than the WAC, MWC, Sunbelt, Conf-USA, and BIG EAST this year.
But yes, if NIU wants a shot at the NCG then they need to fnd a way to get into one of the 4 NC conferences.
#fistpumpgobuckeyes
1 challenge per game (get to keep it if it is upheld)
No more instant replay otherwise. None.
Joke because evidence supposed to be irrefutable. I think that any time it takes more than 10 seconds to recheck, it's no longer irrefutable. They can't be trusted to do this right, so let's get rid of it.
I'm such a nerd, I would insert more accelerometers in helmets to track the effects collision impacts have on college football to determine if their is an effective way to redesign helmets for player safety. Virginia Tech is one of the few schools that does something like this but their research is focused on concussions.
Ohio State's band SLAUGHTERED Michigan's band. If this were a football game, it would have been Florida State vs. Savannah State. - SB Nation following OSU vs. UM 2012