SEC announces its rule changes...

Submitted by Mr. Yost on

http://espn.go.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/102216/secs-shaw-addresses-new-hi…

Going to 8-man officiating crews and now a "Brady Hoke rule" that is mentioned on the front page.

Here are the other rules...unfortunately, I like all of these and wish all conferences adopted them. Pretty logical stuff coming from a backwards conference.

Proper ball inflation: Shaw said the SEC is not changing a rule regarding proper inflation of game balls -- it remains the standard 12.5 to 13.5 pounds per square inch -- but the league's officials will pay close attention to the issue following the "Deflategate" controversy that marred the New England Patriots' run to a Super Bowl title.

Coaches will have the ability to have balls rechecked at halftime if they believe something is awry.

"If there's a concern either way -- whether through the officials or coaches -- we're going to take them all back in at halftime and test them and they'd better still be where they were," Shaw said. "So we're going to be more cognizant, but we're not going to change. Our procedure has worked very, very well and so we're just going to have kind of a heightened awareness and the coach will have an opportunity to have us retest them if he feels he needs it at halftime.

"And then if balls are out of scope at that point, from a game perspective, we're just going to fix them, but we're going to make a note and report that."

New uniform rules: Shaw addressed two new rules related to player uniforms: a ban on overbuilt facemasks and a change that prevents players from tucking their jerseys underneath their shoulder pads.

Any player not wearing his equipment properly will be asked to leave the field for a play, Shaw said, or until the issue has been corrected.

Some within the sport expressed concern that the ornate facemasks that became popular in recent seasons might cause players' fingers to get caught within the bars of the facemask, and Shaw added that the additional weight of those masks created a safety issue.

"Some of them with the weight can impact the integrity of the helmet," Shaw said. "But secondarily, and probably more importantly, the weight tends to pull the head forward. And as you know, we've all talked about heads-up tackling, see what you hit. The last thing we want guys doing is lowering their head."

As for the jersey rule, Shaw said the intent is to prevent the player's back from being exposed and also to aid the officials if they need to identify his jersey number, such as when they would be assessing a penalty.

"Now when you [hear], ‘What's the big deal if they wear their jersey up?' and all that, they need to keep those back pads covered to protect themselves, and for identification purposes," Shaw said.

Pile penalty/new replay possibility: Shaw said a new rule will make it a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty to pull an opponent off the pile following a play.

The rule is intended to reduce post-play skirmishes.

"You've seen it where we have a fumble, we have a big pileup and then people start going in and pulling people out," Shaw said. "And now all of a sudden, we're having to officiate to keep from having fights all over the field."

Shaw also discussed an SEC instant replay modification that will apply to onside kicks.

Officials will now be able to review whether players from the kicking team began blocking opponents before they were eligible to do so. By rule, players on the kicking team are not allowed to touch the ball -- or to block their opponents -- until the ball travels 10 yards unless a player from the receiving team touches the ball first.

More on medical observers: SEC commissioner Mike Slive said earlier this week that the league plans to have an independent medical observer in the replay booth for all conference and nonconference football games.

The medical officials will be able to stop games should the teams' on-field training staffs and the officiating crew miss a potential injury.

Shaw revealed on Thursday that Florida was the pilot program for the initiative during the 2014 season.

"I think it will be very rare when the medical observer takes impact in the game," Shaw said. "But in that situation where they might, it could save a player from worse injury or concussion or whatever. So I think it's a safety component. It's a no-regrets. If they never stop a game, you haven't lost anything, but if they stop and protect one player, [it's useful]."

Wolverine Devotee

May 29th, 2015 at 12:17 AM ^

What isn't listed is the new Dave Brandon rule that states that all press releases on important issues shall be released at 1:28am. 

taistreetsmyhero

May 29th, 2015 at 12:42 AM ^

that can so drastically affect the game and has nothing to do with the live play. i understand the need for safety and all, but i don't really watch football to see who is the better behaved team. a 15 yard penalty for pulling a guy off a pile going against michigan would make me unreasonably upset.

natesezgoblue

May 29th, 2015 at 12:59 AM ^

The overbuilt facemask ban is silly. My son has 4 different facemask. The overbuilt one is one of the lighter ones because it's riddells Light weight series mask. Are they going to ban visors too because they make helmets heavier?

LBSS

May 29th, 2015 at 1:04 AM ^

I can't be the only person who gives absolutely zero fucks about how inflated the balls are. I get that if the rule says something, not following it is cheating. Fine. But why not just let guys inflate them to the pressure they like? If Aaron Rodgers likes his balls firm and Tom Brady likes his squishy, then why shouldn't they have firm and squishy balls, respectively?

The whole thing seems very dumb to me.

CoverZero

May 29th, 2015 at 7:02 AM ^

I agree with you on the BALLS.  In fact, I believe that within limits, each team should be able to rub or fix the ball the way that they want to prior to the game....

I also dont give a Fuck about the SEC or whatever they are doing.

The SEC is now REACTIONARY.

They know that they have suddenly lost MASSIVE GROUND to the Big Ten in the past 2 years...and it is getting worse for them!

Anything that the SEC does now, is based out of fear.

Give credit to OSU for whipping their asses... give credit to Delaney for not backing down...give credit to BT schools for making great hires in recent years *the BT now has the top 4 HC out of any major conference and top 8 overall out of any major conference...

and credit Jim Harbaugh for trolling the shit out of them and scaring the bejeezus out of them.

The SEC is done.  They will still be competitive....however the Big Ten and Pac Ten are now ahead of them.

LSAClassOf2000

May 29th, 2015 at 6:59 AM ^

"You've seen it where we have a fumble, we have a big pileup and then people start going in and pulling people out," Shaw said. "And now all of a sudden, we're having to officiate to keep from having fights all over the field."

Well, at least you know that while it is entirely possible that you can get backed up to the Gulf Of Mexico if you decide to start shit after a fumble, you still risk the prospect of being greyshirted unexpectedly because the coaches found someone whom they believe to be the next, say, Herschel Walker after they told you the exact same thing previously. It's nice to know that the SEC - as a conference - addresses the human side of the equation from time to time, eh? 

phork

May 29th, 2015 at 9:01 AM ^

Nor should it mar the Billion to 7 AFC championship.  But I enjoy the stat about how people link the less fumbles over a time period that the Pats enjoy and linking it to deflated balls.  While I have no doubt that holding on to a less pressurized pig skin might help, the underlying factor is that Coach B will sit your ass or cut your ass if you have Fumblitis.

gopoohgo

May 29th, 2015 at 12:40 PM ^

also reported that the Patriots are the only team that does fumble-gauntlet drills (RBs run through a line of players who are trying to strip the ball from them) during their summer camp tour.

But you're absolutely right, survivor bias (you fumble? you cut) plays a big role.