College football is often at the forefront of development in the game of football - schematically, at least. Yet the game is behind high school and the NFL in terms of on-field technology. The NFL has allowed play-callers to communicate with quarterbacks through an in-helmet device since 1994, and expanded its use to defensive players in 2008. Many high schools have no restrictions on what sort of communication technology they use during game days.
The college game is behind the times in this respect. But that could change, and soon.
According to a report from CBSSports.com's Jon Solomon, the NCAA football rules committee will consider opening the technological floodgates at its annual meeting next week in Indianapolis.
“The way it is now it's hard to enforce sort of unenforceable rules,” national football officiating coordinator Rogers Redding told CBS. “You don't really want officials checking in a team area to what's going on. High schools just opened it up and said, 'Whatever you want to use, go ahead.' They seem pretty happy about that. There's always the issue of different resources and what's available. You've got rich guys and poor guys. I'm sure we'll talk about it.”
Another proposed rule change? A centralized uniform approval process. Not to rule on some of the more wild looks popping up of late, but to make sure the numbers are actually legible. Think of the numbers Arizona had to alter for not being distinguishable enough from the rest of the jersey. “It just needs to be within the scope of the rules and have contrast in the numbers,” SEC coordinator of football officials Steve Shaw said. “What's contrast? Sometimes it's in the eye of the beholder.”
There's a lot of good stuff in here - eight man officiating crews? longer timeouts? - so we encourage you to check it out.