Move to eliminate kickoffs should be a nonstarter
College football wouldn't be the same game without the chance for Brandon Boykin to take it all the way. (Associated Press)
College football without kickoffs. If you have trouble wrapping your mind around that concept, Mark Richt doesn’t.
Richt said Tuesday at the Peach State Pigskin Preview held at the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in Macon that he would support a proposal by Rutgers coach Greg Schiano that the kickoff be eliminated. Schiano’s idea is that kickoffs, considered the most dangerous play in football, would be replaced by a team punting from their own 30-yard line after scores and at the start of each half. If they chose to, they could opt to go for it in a fourth-and-15 play that would serve the same purpose as an onside kick.
As quoted in the Athens Banner-Herald, Richt noted that kickoff plays are violent. “You’ve got a bunch of guys that can run fast and are strong and they are not afraid, it’s kind of a manhood thing. No one’s going to back down.”
It’s easy to see where these coaches are coming from. Rutgers player Eric LeGrand ended up paralyzed from the neck down while covering a kickoff last season. At Georgia, Decory Bryant suffered a broken neck that ended his playing career and just last year freshman T.J. Stripling had a season-ending injury while covering a kickoff.
So it’s not surprising that Richt said, “if it went to a vote, I would vote for no kickoff also. I would just place the ball at the 23-yard line or whatever the average has been. I’m sure the defensive coaches would want it on the 18. Offensive coaches would want it on the 30.”
It’s also not surprising that while coaches might support getting rid of kickoffs, players likely wouldn’t, even if the move is aimed at their safety. As the Dogs’ Christian Robinson said Tuesday, “You don’t just want to line up and play. That first kickoff when the crowd is going wild, that’s part of the game. If you eliminate that, you eliminate part of the game.”
As the Bulldogs Blog reported, even Richt admitted, “It is an exciting play. It’s probably gonna be a bigger story than it should be. I don’t think it’s gonna happen anytime soon, I don’t. It’d be a major, major rule change, no doubt.”
On the surface, you’d think this idea would go about as far as a squib kick. But Rogers Redding, the infamous former Southeastern Conference coordinator of officials and current national coordinator for officiating, told the Birmingham News recently the proposal will be discussed next year by the NCAA Football Rules Committee. “I think it certainly makes sense to explore it,” Redding said. “Player safety is first and foremost on the agenda of the rules committee. I have no doubt this will come to the committee and will get some serious consideration, if for no other reason than it’s intriguing.”
OK, most fans are in favor of emphasizing player safety, but at what point do you start compromising the game beyond repair? And can you really imagine Georgia football without the likes of Gene Washington, Scott Woerner and Lindsay Scott racing down the field returning kickoffs?
Not forgetting, of course, the Dogs’ current kickoff return threat, Brandon Boykin, who is tied for the SEC record, having raced back four kicks for touchdowns in his career. And three of those returns covered the entire 100 yards of the field, the most recent last year at Kentucky.
Do we really want to eliminate that kind of thrill from college football?
That’s not intriguing. That’s crazy.
QUOTABLE DAWG
Christian Robinson at the Macon Pigskin Preview on Georgia’s offseason workouts this year: “We’re working more efficiently right now and we have a mindset. We’re not just lifting weights. We’re lifting weights to win a game on Saturday.” I know we hear that sort of quote every offseason, but I’m hoping this time it more accurately reflects what we’ll actually see on the field come fall.
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195 comments Add your comment
1eyedJack
June 15th, 2011
11:59 am
NO, NO, NO!!!
EVERYTHING in life contains a partical of risk.
Joey
June 15th, 2011
12:01 pm
I can think of at least 3 initerior linemen in the NFL that got paralyzed while only blocking, and/or tripping over another lineman. A couple more were WRs.
Bad things can happen anywhere on the field.
The Fallen Roman Empire
June 15th, 2011
12:02 pm
We loved our gladiator sports with lots of blood and injuiries as well. I see lots of parallels between us and America today.
iTiSi
June 15th, 2011
12:02 pm
So does MR think the punt is not just as dangerous? The returner standing back there ALONE with no protection with 2 or 3 guys coming at him full speed. How many times have we seen them creamed and injured even after signaling for a fair catch? Mr. Richt (the wussy) has some convoluted thinking going on here. Bet a week’s paycheck he is a liberal in his politics or a Progressive(brainless liberal) !!!!!! Improve the uniform maybe, but eliminate the kickoffs, is he crazy or been drinking DLo juice?
Father Flanagan Boys Home
June 15th, 2011
12:03 pm
Please Mark Richt come home! College football is for the Sabans, Bear Bryants and the Danny Fords of the world.
Joey
June 15th, 2011
12:04 pm
Did Rome ever have a socialist emperor?
Chuck
June 15th, 2011
12:10 pm
Rogers needs to find out if the rule change will prevent anybody from eating somebody else’s lunch before he weighs in.
Ryan
June 15th, 2011
12:12 pm
This is idiotic, why don’t we just get rid of football and all become die-hard fans of our favorite school’s soccer team?
AltamahaDawg
June 15th, 2011
12:13 pm
Just another installment of:
Some OTHER coach bring up something, reporters rush over to get Mark Richt’s office to ask him for a quote on his very limited take on it, and everyone falls over each other to offer up their psychoanalysis of what’s wrong with him.
OldFan
June 15th, 2011
12:13 pm
The whole “wussification” reaction is nonsense. If you want to show how manly you are, then play without helmets and pads. We used to do that in sandlot tackle football years ago. Guess we were just tougher in those days. Fact is these kids are bigger, faster, and stronger than ever. Give them 40 yards to build up steam, and it becomes more a gladiatorial contest than a sporting event. Maybe one solution is to place the two lines out well ahead of the kicker and returners. At least some of the force of the collisions would be reduced, but the opportunity to make the big play is still there.
NWGA Dawg
June 15th, 2011
12:13 pm
This is absurd. It’s FOOTBALL!!! The only thing I would be OK with is on the kickoff NOT letting the kickoff coverage team get a 10-15 yard running start. Eliminate that, and I think we can keep the kick off.
Bless Her Sacred Name
June 15th, 2011
12:26 pm
God bless Saint Jan Kemp, the courageous lady who exposed the sickness and deceit of the UGA athletic department. It started with the evil sleazemeister Vince Dooley and continues unabated with Mark Richt, the biggest phony in college athletics today.
It Ain't Rocket Science
June 15th, 2011
12:27 pm
Wow, this sounds like a bad idea to me. I mean, what do you do to open the game. 100,000 fans on the sideline and you place the ball on the ground to start the game. I don’t think so. A returned kick can mean a victory for some teams, and a boost for every team.
It also may be the only way some of the kids get to play in a game and it is there moment to shine.
I am not sure either, if it is anymore dangerous to the athlete than say an interception, being run back, and someone having a clean shot on the guy with the ball. Might be a little revenge involved, for the guy doing the tackling. Football is a violent sport anyway, when you consider the size of a lot of these players today. Perhaps they could increase some of the rules, to prevent cheap shots, or unnecessary hits. Up the penalties on the rules violations already in place.
I sure hope they do not eliminate the kick off.
ARdawg
June 15th, 2011
12:28 pm
Tissues for the Mamby Pamby Jack Wagons and Tech fans. It’s football for crying out loud. If Richt is so concerned for player safety why is he coaching it? Kick offs are part of the game and often a game changers. Shut up Richt and errr umm get back to the business of coaching?
It Ain't Rocket Science
June 15th, 2011
12:30 pm
Anybody want to let “Bless her sacred Name”, be the tackling dummy in fall practices. Same guy, 100 differnet nicks to say the same thing every time. Isn’t there a mental condition for that sort of thing?
solja
June 15th, 2011
12:30 pm
Yet another example of THuga’s wussification. The next big idea from Athens and Saint Mark will be to move to flag football. No wonder all you hear from Thuga fans is crying and whining about getting hit!!!
Sebastian
June 15th, 2011
12:31 pm
Why should Richt worry so much about a play that Georgia will only run once per game.
Athens= God's Country
June 15th, 2011
12:33 pm
Kickoffs at Sanford are about the only time the older fans will make any noise. GATA.
It’s up to the players to protect themselves. It’s part of the game. Do you go for the ball or protect yourself?
And yes Kevin, progressives ARE ruining the country.
staffordinfection
June 15th, 2011
12:36 pm
uh. is it just me or were we talking about FOOTBALL NOT POLITICS! Get over it!
schmeckdawg
June 15th, 2011
12:43 pm
It Ain’t Rocket Science
June 15th, 2011
12:30 pm
Anybody want to let “Bless her sacred Name”, be the tackling dummy in fall practices. Same guy, 100 differnet nicks to say the same thing every time. Isn’t there a mental condition for that sort of thing?
GREAT CALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Top Dawg
June 15th, 2011
12:48 pm
How are punts more “safe” than kick-offs?
Still@theBAR
June 15th, 2011
12:51 pm
Football is all about CONTACT. Let us just make it FLAG football and the guys can play forever in never get hurt.
For UGA fans “Flag Football” isn’t what UGA plays. “FLAG FOOTBALL” at UGA means the refs throwing Flags on every play for the Dawg players committing Personal Fouls>
GTBob
June 15th, 2011
12:55 pm
If we aren’t going to make changes for player safety then I say we go back to the old days with no pads. Plus eliminate all of the player safety rules like late hits. It’s football. If he doesn’t want to get hit then give him a skirt and tell him to sit on the sidelines. Head to head contact should also be allowed.
jay
June 15th, 2011
1:01 pm
I could see it if kickoffs were the only element of the game where serious injuries occur. However, every snap could be a career ending injury possibility. Where do you draw the line?
JB
June 15th, 2011
1:01 pm
Let see what else we can come with…..Every team goes to a bowl. Everyone gets a trophy. When do we take it to flag football? When do the QB’s start wearing green no contact jerseys in games? Geez.
No games over 85 degrees or under 32. How about 2 half’s for rest.
I'm Just Saying
June 15th, 2011
1:04 pm
My goodness if that isn’t a reason to fire the imbecile I don’t know what is. Good for you ugump….Saint Richt has turned sissy on you…two years ago he was more concerned with the fashion of uniforms…last year we went limp noodle on you and canceled two-a-days and your team struggled…now he wants to end one of the most exciting portions of a football game…you losers get the coach you deserve…limp noodle Richt…go Dawgs…er i mean go pomerainians…lol…LOSERS
savannahdawg
June 15th, 2011
1:06 pm
I didn’t even finish the article. Someone get real please! Kickoffs are no ore dangerous than a receiver running across the middle, or a punt return. Come on coach……….enough of this. Let’s ban pass rushing too. You can only stand on the line with your arms up in the air, no rushing! Why don’t we just say the hell with it and turn everything into flag football! IT’S FOOTBALL!!! SOMETIMES PEOPLE DO GET HURT! IT’S FOOTBALL!!!
slapajacket
June 15th, 2011
1:07 pm
Sombody has been watching to much lingerie league football. Besides, let’s just all go ask the wizard of tide roll oz what is best for college football. He knows everything about everything.
kevin
June 15th, 2011
1:07 pm
Rugby is a NCAA sport
June 15th, 2011
11:43 am
Have you seen Rugby? Football with NO pads. They may not have a kickoff but damn they are hitting each other with no pads or helmets! We are talking about kickoffs? I agree, this is just more wussification of America. All the know-it-all liberals! Open up Cuba for gods sake if you want somehting to do so I can have some legal Cuban Cigars and Rum!
Yeah, because all us liberals are anti-kickoff. Idiot.
kevin
June 15th, 2011
1:10 pm
GTBob
June 15th, 2011
12:55 pm
Your slippery slope arguments for removing kickoffs from college football are silly. No one is for exposing players to more danger than they need to be exposed to. However, parts of the game are crucial to it being the game it is and some parts of the game are dangerous.
Rugby is a NCAA sport
June 15th, 2011
1:22 pm
Kevin,
Go get my cigars and rum then!
Chris S
June 15th, 2011
1:28 pm
Given the Dawgs historic inability to cover kickoffs, I understand why Richt would be in favor of this move.
Coach Grohbo
June 15th, 2011
1:29 pm
Big advantage for Georgia as they are way ahead of the NCAA on this one.
They have already reduced their number of kickoffs;
They have already reduced their number of kickoffs landing in bounds;
They have already eliminated the fielding other teams’ kickoffs (beginning in the Auburn game); and
They have already eliminated blocking and tackling and other vestiges of physical football.
…and yet they sustain more injuries than any other team in college football.
Go figure.
Travis
June 15th, 2011
1:32 pm
Great…..and while we are at it- lets do away with 4th down….only three downs. Also, instead of 4 qtrs, lets play 3 qtrs with each being 2 minutes. One more thing, no tackling- this way we can do our best to make sure no one gets hurt. WHAT A JOKE…you have to be kidding me….football has been played for 100 years. Yes sometimes gets hurt and yes, sometimes it is a terrible injury. Football is a rough sport….duh……it happens in ANY sport…look at baseball (UGA this year)……
kevin
June 15th, 2011
1:33 pm
Rugby,
Being funny requires context and timing and your comments have neither.
Rugby is a NCAA sport
June 15th, 2011
1:38 pm
O but it struck such a cord with you it made you have to respond… thats the beauty of it…
Druid City
June 15th, 2011
1:39 pm
Reading this article makes me even more grateful we no longer have a pacifist running our football program in Tuscaloosa.
Ogeechee Dawg
June 15th, 2011
1:42 pm
Kick-offs are a part of the game – here is a solution:
1. Kick-off at the 40 yard – line – meaning pretty much a guarantee for fewer returns – yet allows an onside kick when a team needs a possesion change or wants to try to shift momentum.
2. If we eliminate kick-offs – better look at eliminating punt returns as well.
Remember the Hawaill player that ran through Mikey Henderson in the Sugar Bowl? He did this with intentions to hurt a UGA player. All punts are to be fair catched. Still can recover a fumble off a mis-played punt – or pin an opponent with a great place punt.
The above two are not bad ideas – but where do you draw the line?
Here is what could be considered next:
- College football needs to look at eliminating crossing routes – even a clean hit on an unsuspecting WR is way too dangerous and football has seen devastating injuries due to crossing routes.
- College football needs to look at eliminating TE drags – this route.
- College football should eliminate the holder on point after attempts and field goals in lieu for drop kicking the ball through uprights. The holder is in a dangerous – unprotected position.
kevin
June 15th, 2011
1:45 pm
Rugby,
If by strikes a chord you mean I can’t help but notice how asinine injecting political jabs into a discussion about kickoffs is–seems forced at best and idiotic at worst.
Never ever again
June 15th, 2011
1:45 pm
kick-off from the 40 … they have created this situation with kick-offs from the 35 … it all happened with the rules changing … OR Maybe we all have envolved beyond this primitive sport … just do away with the game … that way no one will ever get hurt again.
This (mindset) is why UGA will be 6 and 6 again … somethings are happening in Athens and I don’t think it is all for the good.
TallaDawg
June 15th, 2011
1:46 pm
A lot of you fellows have self-esteem and/or masculinity issues, if kick-offs are so important to prove the toughness or lack of “wussification” of “your” team that it is worth the much higher likelihood of severe injury or paralysis to a very young man.
Rugby is a NCAA sport
June 15th, 2011
1:48 pm
O Kevin, O Kevin,
I was far from the 1st to make the assurtion, but I appreciate highlighting mypost to respond to. I am truly flattered and humbled by it. I accept this award on behalf of all the people whom have ever rubbed you the wrong way. Please, O Kevin, O Kevin find it somewhere in your hart to forgive me….and bring me my damn Cigars and Rum!
Mark (another one)
June 15th, 2011
1:52 pm
The stats quoted in other articles show that kickoffs have more and more serious injuries per play than any other play in football. That inlcudes punts, interceptions, pass players, etc.
But I enjoy the kickoffs so I have mixed feelings. I also loved the crack-back, the chop block, the clothesline, and certainly the horse collar. I even enjoy it when a lineman holds up a runner to let his teammates take shots at the ball.
I also enjoyed the leather helmets (like President Ford used to wear) and leather flaps for pads. Think about the big offensive linemen of the glory Packer days (180-220 lbs.) and the hit they could deliver. Don’t let things change. These guys are fully aware of the dangers of their sport and willingly sign away the liability for brain and spinal damage. Glory to college football (or is it Gory?).
bjohndawg
June 15th, 2011
1:52 pm
You should eliminate coaches on the sidelines…they are exposed to hard out of bounds hits and they have no protection except their sweater vests.
Waiting also the waterboy must not be on the sidelines, cause you remember those crazy hits he took from players coming out of bounds. I think you should eliminate the punt to…the punt returner is totally exposed.
And you should eliminate the shotgun formation…the center is totally exposed what with having to look between his legs….Also recievers can not catch a pass that would cause them to leave the ground, totally exposed. The pass can go no higher then their forearm extended or it is incomplete.
We must also eliminate the team coming out of the lockeroom and onto the field and busting through a team banner. How many players have we seen trip and fall over a banner and end their careers. Mascots are out….they are just to rough with each other.
I think that all players should be just bubble boys. Playing in a 360 degree bubble. What with all the staph infections and mrsa infections in college football. Any touching between players must be eliminated. They could try to tackle each others bubble.
NC Dawg
June 15th, 2011
1:56 pm
Bad idea..how is punting the ball from the 30 different that a kickoff?
Ted M
June 15th, 2011
2:04 pm
“they could opt to go for it in a fourth-and-15 play that would serve the same purpose as an onside kick.”
I think coaches would try that a lot more than onside kicks are tried now.
Larry
June 15th, 2011
2:09 pm
After reading his coach’s preference, I wonder how motivated Brandon Boykin feels today?
I would think it would be nice to believe that your coach believes in what you’re doing!
DFWdawg
June 15th, 2011
2:12 pm
You have got to be kidding me. Let’s just give up. Call all the other countries out there and tell ‘em “make an offer. America is dead.” The Libs, Oprah and Dr. Phil have won. Let’s get rid of tackling also, two hand touch is just fine. And that forward pass…nonono. TOO dangerous. And score boards are so caveman. WE’RE ALL WINNERS!!! Take off your jock and pull up yer panties boys, the ship is going down. Out!
UGA Insider
June 15th, 2011
2:12 pm
T J Stripling is going to play and play often this fall. We have depth and immense talent currently at LB. No excuses for Grantham this year.
ps. Please Dawg fans don’t chime in about the secondary… they have talent and depth as well so I don’t want to hear it.
Stinkin' dog
June 15th, 2011
2:17 pm
I’d be embarrased were I a fan of the football program presently being fielded by UG-Athens. As a member of a fellow SEC institution, I’m embarrased for you fans of this once proud football program.
Leadership starts at the top – when your coach is a lap dog and no longer has the intestinal fortitude for kick-offs, you may as well kiss this season good-bye. Maybe you can convince Urban Meyer to come to Athens for 2012?