South Bend, Ind. – An NCAA committee has proposed rolling back some football rules that were enacted last season to shorten games after coaches complained the changes were unfair.
The NCAA football rules committee, meeting Wednesday in Albuquerque, recommended going back to starting the clock on the snap after a change of possession instead of when the referee signals the ball ready for play. It also suggested starting the clock on kickoffs after the ball is touched by the receiving team rather than when it is kicked.
Last season, the average Division I-A game lasted 3 hours, 7 minutes – 14 minutes shorter than in 2005. In 2006, games averaged 127.5 plays, 14 fewer than in 2005.
To make up for the time being added back, the committee proposed the following changes:
Using a 15-second play clock immediately after timeouts instead of a 25-second clock;
Reducing timeouts from 65 seconds to 30 seconds;
Kicking off from the 30-yard line instead of the 35 to cut down on touchbacks;
Limiting the time officials have to review a replay to two minutes.
The rule changes need to be approved by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel on March 12.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
McGriff leaves Kansas State for Miami
Wesley McGriff, who was named the defensive backs coach at Kansas State on Jan. 10, resigned to take an assistant coaching position at Miami.
The University of Oregon has hired insurance executive Pat Kilkenny, a prominent school booster, as its athletic director. Kilkenny replaces Bill Moos, who in November announced plans to step down next month.
NFL
Singletary interviews for Chargers job
The San Diego Chargers began their coaching search so quickly that the first candidate to be interviewed ran into the guy he hopes to replace.
Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary met with team executives less than 48 hours after Marty Schottenheimer was fired. The former Chicago Bears great said he crossed paths with Schottenheimer, who was still cleaning out his office.
“I saw him and said hello,” Singletary said.
Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, the son of former NFL head coach Buddy Ryan, is scheduled to interview today. Other candidates the Chargers have received permission to interview are Norv Turner, a former head coach with Oakland and Washington, and Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera.
The Dallas Cowboys hired Ray Sherman and John Garrett as receivers coach and tight ends coach, respectively.
Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Jared Allen will serve two days in jail for driving under the influence of alcohol. Allen’s two-day stint will be at the Johnson County (Kan.) Jail. He also must spend two days in a lockdown treatment program and one day on house arrest.
SOCCER
Italy supplants Brazil as No. 1 team
World Cup champion Italy ended Brazil’s 4 1/2-year stay at the top of FIFA’s world soccer rankings, taking the No. 1 spot for the first time since 1993.
Italy’s most recent game was in November. Brazil, had been No. 1 for 55 months, slipped to second place because of a 2-0 loss to Portugal last week.
The United States rose three places to 28th following last week’s 2-0 victory over Mexico.
Italy had 1,562 points, 22 more than Brazil, and 27 more than third-place Argentina.
The United States will play Argentina, Paraguay and Colombia in the first round of this summer’s Copa America, soccer’s championship of South America. The Americans, invited as a guest to the tournament in Venezuela, are in Group C and open June 28 against Argentina in Maracaibo. The United States plays Paraguay on July 2 in Barinas and Colombia on July 5 in Barquisimeto.
NBA
Hawks’ Johnson replaces all-star Kidd
Joe Johnson of the Atlanta Hawks was chosen by commissioner David Stern for the NBA’s East all-star team as a replacement for injured New Jersey Nets guard Jason Kidd, who will miss Sunday’s game with a back injury.
Dallas Mavericks forward Devean George has a sprained right knee and will miss tonight’s game against the Houston Rockets.
