New rule in the NCAA this year is that if a player's helmet comes off, the play is immediately blown dead. Anybody else think this is a ridiculous rule? I don't remember ever seeing a player injured as a result of something that happened after his helmet was knocked off.
My first thought was that on some long breakout run, some player on the defense is just going to rip his helmet off.
I meant his own helmet. I'm just talking about the way the new rule was initially reported. That if anyone's helmet comes off the play is blown dead. I'm sure that wouldn't happen but there are always quirks that open up when too many rules are imposed.
Relax guys, that is not what the rule says http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/61375/watch-for-these-rule-changes-in-2012 If a player who is not the ball carrier loses his helmet, he must stop playing. He cannot make a tackle, continue blocking or running a route, for example. If he continues prolonged participation without a helmet, he will be whistled for a 15-yard penalty. There is some gray area here. One example mentioned -- what if an offensive lineman loses his helmet while blocking somebody coming after the quarterback? Does he stop playing to allow the end to go after the quarterback unimpeded? The key will be determining what "prolonged participation" is.
Hmmm.....the same ESPN that wrote the following. It was in a story posted in the Tiger Den thread: It's only if the ball carrier's helmet comes off that the play is immediately over. I should have known better than to quote the Bristol bozos.
One thing's for sure, if it impacts anyone, it will be us. (See missed xp at AU in '05 and taunting rule vs FU last year)
