Is it just me, or did that game against Appalachian State go by unusually fast?
It felt as though the Akron game did too, and it was on TV.
Tick, tick, tick — there’s why — the game clock ticked time off before either team had left the sideline for the play.
Turns out I’m not imagining things. Games are going faster this year, bringing all of us less football than ever.
See, because the NCAA was so upset that the average 2005 college football game lasted approximately three hours and 24 minutes, it imposed new rules this season concerning when the clock would run, thus shortening the games.
I’m not sure why longer games are a problem in the first place, but obviously it’s all the clock’s fault.
Could it be that they overlooked a few things?
After all, we do have the use of replay nowadays, which takes up some time.
Or maybe the reason behind it all is the fact that almost no team has a run-first offense anymore — schools like Texas Tech and Hawaii think running the ball is a trick play.
Heck, why not blame all the flags thrown during a typical 2005 N.C. State game? Without Derek Morris, the average game time must drop to at least three hours even.
But being the intellects they are, the NCAA decided the only way to shorten the games would be to start rolling the clock at unusual times.
So as John Deraney kicks off at the start of a game, the clock starts running.
Now let’s say he kicks it into the end zone for a touchback, as he often does. When the ball is placed on the 20-yard line, the clock will start running again.
I find it sadly ironic that the clock ticks away what are valuable seconds and minutes when football isn’t really being “played.”
And here’s what I say a “football play” is: one team has possession of the ball, and the other team is trying to get the ball from them and/or make a tackle.
I believe most would accept that as a working definition.
Well thank you, NCAA, for giving us quicker games and less football plays this year.
Those lost seconds turn into minutes, and anyone who saw the Akron game knows how much can happen in the last few minutes.
Imagine three extra minutes being added to the clock after Akron went up 20-17. If you’re not upset yet, you must be a Zips fan.
Thanks also for keeping the same amount of commercials. After all, college football fans would riot if you got rid of some of your advertisements.
I always like to have a few friends come over and watch ESPN to see thousands of male-enhancement commercials, promos for Monday Night Football and that lizard.
At least until that darn game comes back on, interrupting all our favorite ads. Hey, what happened to my lizard? Not that football game again! Would somebody speed up this game so I can get back to my lizard?
It’s influencing strategy, so expect changes in the way some games end.
Let’s say Duke scores the go-ahead field goal against Florida State with four seconds remaining — stop laughing, stay with me here. Normally Duke would squib kick or do something along those lines.
Regardless, Duke would have to stop the Seminoles, if not on this play, then on the next if it wants to win. However, the new rules mean that if the kicker can just boot a touchback, the game is over.
The Florida State players can only look on helplessly as the ball sails overhead, clinching the Blue Devil win.
How anti-climatic is that?
Sure doubt we’d have “The Play,” its 400 laterals and “The band is on the field!” if Stanford could have just kicked a touchback to beat Cal.
Scenario No. 2 — the game is tied. Garland Heath makes an interception for State and returns it almost the length of the field. State is at the opponent’s 15-yard line with 10 seconds left, but also with no timeouts.
Well unless the field goal unit can get on the field and snap the ball in 10 seconds, Heath’s return is all in vain — the clock will start once the refs place the ball.
Nice effort, Garland, but we’re going into overtime anyways.
I hope I’m not the only who thinks this way, and also that these rules will revert sometime in the near future.
Until then, enjoy the football season for what it’s worth. I’ll try to stomach the lizard as best I can.