It’s Florida State 13, Miami 10. Only 2 minutes, 19 seconds remain in the game Monday night, and Florida State has first down at the Miami 45. Conventional wisdom says Miami coach Larry Coker should save a timeout for his final possession.
But conventional wisdom has changed. A new rule requires the clock to start on a change of possession when the ball is marked, indicated by the referee’s whistle. It’s no longer on the snap of that possession’s first play. Coker knew precious seconds would tick off before Florida State would snap the ball. He had a decision to make.
And the world was watching.
“We had to use a timeout while their offense was on the field,” Coker said Wednesday. “Time had started. That’s the big thing. We had to call a timeout before the ball was even snapped.”
Miami quarterback Kyle Wright wound up throwing an interception with 29 seconds left to end Miami’s chances, but the point was made. Miami ran out of time. Not only Miami, but teams across the college landscape. The new rule designed to speed up games had a major effect on the first weekend of college play.
And the coaches are not happy.
“We ran like 20-something less plays,” Michigan State coach John L. Smith said of his team’s 27-17 win over Idaho. “We’re trying to speed up the game by two or three minutes. What they’ve done is taken away football and added commercials. Fans are cheated out of some football. I’m not in favor of it.
“It didn’t create a bunch of problems for us, but I can see down the road where it might create some problems for a lot of coaches.”
For example, say Wright hadn’t thrown that interception. What if the clock had run out with the Hurricanes at the 50?
“It eliminates teams from making that last-minute comeback, which just so happens to be the most exciting part of the 60 minutes we play,” Purdue coach Joe Tiller said.
The rule is designed to shorten games. The rule did its job. The NCAA doesn’t keep time statistics, but according to USA Today, the average game last weekend lasted 3 hours, 3 minutes compared to 3:20 on opening weekend a year ago. Teams also averaged only 126 plays compared to 139 in 2005 and 46.6 points to 51.1.
“We averaged 70 plays last year,” Florida coach Urban Meyer said. “(Saturday) we ran 58. It would be absurd to say it’s all because of the clock. But we’re (realistically) talking about eight plays.”
West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez had to take a timeout when his team got the ball with 20 seconds left in the half against Marshall. He also had only 10 possessions for the game instead of a normal 12 or 13.
“It still went about 3 1/2 hours,” Rodriguez said. “I don’t know if they had more commercials, but the game certainly dragged on a lot longer than the new rules meant to affect.”
The rules committee voted in the rule, but it received recommendations from administrators and commissioners. The coaches didn’t vote. Only one week of games has been played, but coaches are bracing for when the rule change directly affects the outcome of a high-profile game.
“My guess is they’ll change the rule,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said. “That’s what I’m hoping, anyway. I don’t like it. It takes away from the excitement. It takes away from the kids. People pay a lot of money to watch it and they’re getting less of it. Are they going to give a 20 percent rebate on tickets because they’re getting less football?”
John Henderson can be reached at 303-954-1299 or jhenderson@denverpost.com.
