College Football 2006 Clock Rule Change

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Dear NCAA Football Rules Committee,

Please change rule 3-2-5-E before any more games are ruined by its presence.

After watching the effects of the new clock rules that have been implemented for the 2006-07 season, we, the undersigned, are convinced that rule 3-2-5-E must be changed. This rule states that: When a team is awarded a first down, the clock will be stopped and then will start on the ready for play signal. Although this rule has been effective in achieving its stated objective of reducing the length of the game, it has also served as a significant detriment to the games quality.

Before the introduction of this rule, a team could mount a fourth quarter comeback through outstanding clock management, combining the use of both time-outs and first-downs in order to drive the length of the field and score. With the current clock rule, this beautiful, surgical process has been eliminated and the end result is a drastic reduction in both the number of fourth quarter comebacks and fan enjoyment. This is a travesty. End of game comebacks and skillful play selection are two of the most critical aspects of an enjoyable college football game and this rule has destroyed both. Decreasing the length of a college football game is not worth this cost.

Please do not wait until the 2007-08 season to alter or repeal this rule. It is a failure and will be changed in (over)due time. Please do not let an entire season of this beautiful sport be damaged by waiting until next year to officially realize this fact.

53 Signatures

  • Chris Loersch
  • Nathan Arbuckle
  • Lee Ascher
    • Comments
    • change the rule back (L.A. 9/7/06)
  • Alison Pfent
  • Amanda Scott
    • Comments
    • Good idea!
  • Dustin Smith
  • jacob l glover
  • Mike McCaslin
  • Matthew Cory Bennett
  • Andrew Thiel
  • Anna Han
  • symke Haverkamp
  • Glenn Henrdon
  • symke Haverkamp
  • Aaron Hiler
    • Comments
    • Please eliminate the 2006 clock rule change ASAP. It has already ruined the quality and excitement of the 2006 college football season.
  • Matthew Besz
  • Timothy P Moran
    • Comments
    • Don't screw with the College Game, it is great as is!!!
  • steven ruttkay
  • David Ragsdale
    • Comments
    • Terrible, terrible, terrible. Tampering with the system...
  • Matt Brooks
    • Comments
    • yeah
  • Caleb Hollingsworth
    • Comments
    • If I recall correctly, the first down clock rules remain the same as in previous seasons. I am, however, disappointed with the new rule which keeps the clock running after a change of possesion. This greatly changes the fourth quarter play with respect to timeouts. You have virtually taken away one timeout from the trailing team in the fourth quarter, thus hindering a chance for the great comeback. Truly disappointing.
  • John Farrow
    • Comments
    • Change it now!
  • Charlie Murphy
    • Comments
    • I like grapes and bananadas
  • Brian Fogg
    • Comments
    • Who wants less College Football???? Honestly!!!! Tell me one person! How about we reduce commercials!
  • Dan Mazur
  • Randall Vinson
  • Greg Day
    • Comments
    • This rule is unfair to the players, as this rule is now changing the dynamic of college football. Please change this rule asap
  • Patricia
  • Mark Frost
  • Adam Hauser
  • Jeff Rozinski
    • Comments
    • 4th quarter comebacks are a great part of football. These changes make it more difficult for the trailing team.
  • Mike Sparrow
  • MICHAEL BAERENWALD
  • Will
  • Tim howe
  • Alex Wellman
    • Comments
    • Making the game play shorter so that you can get more commercials is wrong, plain & simple. Think about the fans!
  • Eric Hettler
  • Ryan LeWinter
    • Comments
    • Worst rule change EVER
  • Kellen Moore
    • Comments
    • This has ruined the game of College Football, shorten halftime if you have to shorten something else
  • Mitchell Bailiff
    • Comments
    • I refuse to watch any NCAA sports until this rule is reversed. I had not missed a Texas Longhorn football game since 1968, radio, TV, or in person, I lived for college football for 38 years, but I refuse to watch when the NCAA lessons the quality of the game!
  • Ryan Dymock
  • Dave Kurns
    • Comments
    • I believe this hurts the game. We can explore other alternatives for the networks to benefit.
  • william W. Grey
    • Comments
    • It hurts the game
  • Don Barrett
    • Comments
    • change!
  • Todd Criner
    • Comments
    • The clock SHOULD NOT before the first down play on a change of possession!
  • Andy Criner
    • Comments
    • The new rules SUCK!!
  • mike schmitt
  • Mike Wassil
    • Comments
    • Please change this awful clock rule immediate. It's ruining college football. And before you meddle with any other major rule, please analyze it from every situation possible before you implement it. In fact, implement it in Division II or I-AA games before you destroy D-I.
  • Jorge Chavez
  • Brian Neukam
    • Comments
    • Other than my school, I have found myself watching much less college football this season. I have only watched one bowl game, and I used to watch every one. I sincerely hope that this rule is changed back to its original form. The college game has definitely lost its edge. It is really evident while attending games-I am a season ticket holder. You realize that if you are down by more than a touchdown at the end of the 3rd quarter, the game is over. The ebb and flow of the game is lost. I feel that this rule was implemented to allow for more commercials and more time for reviewing calls on the field. If you really want to reduce game times, get rid of instant replay, relegate it to coach's challenges, or only allow it in the last 5 minutes of the game!