NCAA Changes Mind

Beside the change in kickoffs from the thirty yard line, the NCAA has a few other significant changes for 2007.

Last season, the NCAA wanted to speed up football games. This season it wants more plays. Many coaches complained about the 2006 changes, which resulted in about 14 fewer plays per game, had altered the game too much. Others said it prevented teams from rallying late in games. Due to the concerns, the NCAA football rules committee recommended going to back to the old system. "The dramatic number of plays taken out of the game was a concern to everybody, including the rules committee," said Ty Halpin, a spokesman for the oversight panel. "These guys practice all week to play in the game and we found there were less opportunities for them. That was a big part of the rationale." Bobby Bowden at the kickoff luncheon on Friday estimated that it will probably mean 12 more plays per game.

Another rule that will take effect in 2007 involves media timeouts. After media timeouts during televised games, teams will have less time to run plays. Previously, teams had a 25-second play clock; now it will be 15 seconds. Halpin said it could prevent the long stoppages when teams are merely simply trying to save time.