While coach after coach seems to be blasting the proposed rule that would potential slow down up-tempo offenses, we now know two coaches who were on the inside of the discussions regarding the rule proposal. Alabama head coach Nick Saban and Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema were both allowed to have a say in front of the NCAA’s Football Rules Committee.
According to the Associated Press, neither coach had a vote in the proposal on the table. Bielema was on hand to represent the American Football Coaches Association, but Saban has requested an opportunity to address the concerns he had regarding potential changes to slow down the offensive pace that has been spreading in college football. Both coaches have previously made their opinions rather clear on the subject of up-tempo offenses, and neither coach is likely to be found voicing the same responses coaches like Rich Rodriguez and Mike Gundy have shared to this point.
The proposal calls for offenses to be prevented from snapping the football before the play clock hits 29 seconds, giving opposing defenses 10 seconds to make substitutions on the field. If an offense snaps the football before the 29-second mark, they would be penalized five yards for a delay of game.
The general opinion seems to be the proposal will not be approved by the playing rules oversight committee, which meets on March 6.
For those wondering, nobody seems to have come out against the other proposed rule, which would overturn a 15-yard penalty when an ejected player returns to the game following a targeting rule. So that one appears to be a lock to be approved, as it should be.