NCAA could be close to closing loophole that teams have used against Josh Heupel and the Tennessee Vols for years
The theatrical dramatics could finally be over for opponents of the Tennessee Volunteers, as well as any other offense who's looking to go quicker than a snail's pace on offense. According to The Athletic's Chris Vannini, the NCAA rules committee is considering a rule change that would require a player to sit out for the […]
The theatrical dramatics could finally be over for opponents of the Tennessee Volunteers, as well as any other offense who's looking to go quicker than a snail's pace on offense.
According to The Athletic's Chris Vannini, the NCAA rules committee is considering a rule change that would require a player to sit out for the remainder of the drive if they went down with an injury, fake or not.
As any Tennessee fan who's watched any stretch of games during Josh Heupel's tenure in Knoxville knows, opposing coaches have had players fall down "injured" when the Vols are on offense and driving the football.
As of now, there is no real redress for defenses being able to get a free timeout to regain their composure and disrupt the rhythm of the Vols' offense. Further, that player could jog back onto the field a play later and be right back as if nothing happened.
There have been attempts at accountability, with the NCAA permitting teams to submit video evidence and complaints to NCAA director of officiating Steve Shaw. Greg Sankey also sent out a strongly worded memo to teams last season. But ultimately, nothing has come of it from habitual offenders.
The new proposed solution is logical in a number of respects. Obviously, it should serve as a deterrent for just any player to fall down and slow the game down, particularly in a crucial drive, knowing they can't go back in. Coaches could still get, theoretically, around this if there's a player they want to sub out and don't plan for him to return to action that drive.
It also serves to allow players who actually are injured from rushing back onto the field before perhaps they're actually ready. As much as the NCAA and the NFL push about improving player safety, here's a terrific opportunity to act like you truly are concerned about that.
If the rules committee comes up with a proposal, it would be sent to the NCAA's Playing Rules Oversight Panel for consideration and for a vote of approval in April, per Vannini.
We'll see by the time the Vols wrap up their spring practice if there will finally be a resolution, or if we can expect to see more opponents rolling around on the field when Nico Iamaleava and the Tennessee offense are trying to operate.
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