Martin: Better leave your hat on with new rules for SEC football
So I hope LSU managers fit Tyrann Mathieu (and whatever nickname he is using this week) with a snug helmet. Because I guarantee you, if Mathieu's helmet comes off, he is not stopping.
Steve Shaw, the coordinator of SEC Officials, talked about a new rule at SEC Media Days in Hoover last week in which if a player's helmet comes off, he can not continue to participate in the play. If a player continues participating in the play beyond their continuing action, that's a 15‑yard foul.
I just cannot see Mathieu stopping just because his helmet came off. And my guess is there are probably a few other select players. I'm not saying it's a bad rule, as a matter of fact, it's a great rule. But you are asking a few guys who will sacrifice anything to make a tackle to change their whole way of thinking.
If a player's helmet comes off and it is not the result of a foul, not a penalty involved in that, then they have to leave the game for one play. There are no exceptions. And you can't buy a player back in with a time out.
Shaw said playing time is the most precious commodity to players, so we think that will give them incentive to get these buckled up and fitted properly.
"So the incentive there is for player safety, if your helmet comes off, we're done," Shaw said. "We've seen the play, the lineman is rushing, his helmet comes off, the quarterback scrambles out, he goes chasing, now that's a foul. If your helmet comes off, another incentive to fit it properly, you're done for that play."For the full story, subscribe to the The Ouachita Citizen's NEW E-Edition! |
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