FanHouse 3 2 5 E

Much of the debate within college football last year centered around Rule 3-2-5-e. The rule changed several clock start and stop rules but in effect removed valuable possessions from each team. It was summarily reversed but in its stead are several new rules.

Notable among them is that teams must now kick off from the 30-yard-line instead of the 35. Fans have been quiet but coaches are starting to make noise about its influence on the college game.

"I think it could change college football as much as anything we've ever seen," Texas coach Mack Brown said.

"I spent three years in the NFL, so it's not a shock to my system," Colorado State special-teams coach Dave Arnold said, "but it's a shock to the college football system."

Added Missouri coach Gary Pinkel: "It'll be a huge impact. Obviously, it depends on your kicker."

Ramifications include opening scholarships up for booming-leg kickoff specialists, more (worn out) starters on the return teams, shorter scoring drives and increased scoring (unless teams get into an SEC-style punts down in the 20, good luck going 80 yards type game).

If nothing else, I'm excited because it opens up the kickoff return game which is one of the most exciting plays in sport. It's also helped guys like Desmond Howard and Rocket Ismail earn fame as exciting returnmen as well as receivers. Expect more of that type of player to once again carve a role into the college game.

Now's a good time to study up and get familiar with the names on this list.

(H/T: The Wiz)

The obvious: 3-2-5-e is D-E-D dead. The news may be a month old but I invoke that all readers must commence upon a happy dance in 3... 2... 1 ...

Happy Dance? Happy Dance. Ahhh, better now. Wha? Huh? Where was I? Oh yeah, rule changes.

The not so obvious: new rules are on the way.

The NCAA "Rules Oversight Panel", overstepping its presumed 'oversight' responsibilities, has finalized the new rules.

On Thursday, the rules oversight panel approved two major timing changes that would revert the rules to what they were in 2005 -- stopping the clock on possession changes and not starting it on kickoffs until the receiving team touches the ball. [snip]

While this year's changes likely mean games will again be longer, the panel approved several other measures intended to help keep game times closer to 3 hours.

Kickoffs will be made from the 30-yard line, like in the NFL, instead of the 35. That, Halpin said, should ensure more returns and shorter stoppages.

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.

Recommended replay review procedures, however, are not changing.

One of the most time-consuming procedures, replay reviews, will not change. The football rules committee withdrew its proposal to impose a 2-minute limit, in part, because of the potential for technical difficulties.

All in all, not a bad day for the college football. Now let's pray to the football Gods for the return of some Desmond Howard/Rocket Ismail level kickoff returns in 2007. Praise be upon thee!