We've had coach reaction to the NCAA's proposed 10-second rule, as well as a story on where the rule comes from. But we haven't spoken to the people that will ultimately implement the rule (if it passes, which remains doubtful): the officials.
Dennis Dodd of CBSSports.com spoke to Rogers Redding, national coordinator of the College Football Officials organization. He's the Mike Pereira of college football, the spokesman for all men in stripes. If anyone could explain the rationale behind such a large piece of legislation, it would be him.
Surely, there would be some real numbers proving that this rule is a necessary step to make the game a safer place, right?
No. This is the NCAA, after all.
"I think it's fair to say it's one of those things that's been growing," Redding told CBSSports.com. "It hasn't been a huge surge. It's kind of one those things that was floating in the background and it kind of came to a head. ...
"I think it's fair to say there's not really much hard data on this."
Sigh.
Art Briles had an interesting suggestion, though I'm not sure it accomplishes the aim the committee was looking for. "If they're going to change anything in my mind, change it to a 35-second [play] clock," Briles said. "People don't want to come sit in the stands and watch the clock move."
Ultimately, proponents of the rule are looking for a way to get gassed defenders out of the game. Turns out the committee has noticed all those players faking injury to stop the game, and their cries have been heard.
"If you've got a [defender] who's [tired] and can't get out of the game, we don't want to get in a situation where people are saying he's flopping to the ground," Redding said. "This is an opportunity from the standpoint of the rules committee to make it a little more fair."
Only one thing is certain at this point: this fight is just beginning.