COLLEGE FOOTBALL OFFICIATING, LLC

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1 COLLEGE FOOTBALL OFFICIATING, LLC CFO COORDINATORS ANNUAL WINTER MEETING Irving, TX, January 24-26, 2016 Summary Report The annual winter meeting of the College Football Officiating (CFO) Coordinators was held in Irving, TX, at the headquarters of the National Football Foundation. Other than for some who were unable to attend due to weather issues, the Division I coordinators attended and were joined by: Jon Steinbrecher, Commissioner, Mid-American Conference and Chair, CFO Board of Managers Bill Hancock, Executive Director, College Football Playoff Ron Prettyman, NCAA Managing Director of Championships and Alliances Ty Halpin, NCAA, CFO Administrator Jeff Triplette, Arbiter Sports Dave Yeast, Arbiter Sports Ed Stewart, Big 12 Conference and NCAA Football Rules Committee Atsunora Hamada, Japanese American Football Association Atsuo Tanaka, Japanese American Football Association Welcoming Remarks Rogers Redding, CFO national coordinator, welcomed the coordinators and visitors, and thanked the National Football Foundation for once again hosting the meeting, this being the fourth consecutive year. Steve Hatchell, CEO of the National Football Foundation, welcomed the group and introduced several members of his staff: Matthew Sign, Will Rudd and Ron Dilatush. He thanked the coordinators for their work on behalf of college football and expressed the Foundation s pleasure with the flourishing relationship between the NFF and CFO. Steve noted the NFF s initiative, Football Matters, a concerted effort to counter some of the negative images of football in the public eye. He noted that there are 773

2 colleges and universities playing college football involving more than 70,000 student athletes. Comments from Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher, Chair, CFO Board of Managers Commissioner Steinbrecher (Mid-American Conference) addressed the group on behalf of the Board of Managers. In his remarks he cited the need for continuing diligence regarding player safety. He reminded the group that the NCAA was born out of the concern for the health and safety of the players. Commissioner Steinbrecher commended the coordinators on their work and encouraged them to continue to improve in the consistency of officiating. He cited three areas of challenge: speed of the game; technology; and lack of public understanding of the differences between NFL and NCAA rules. He also cited the increasingly important role of instant replay, especially in relation to the targeting fouls, and noted that the CFO is in the process of creating a new position for national leadership and direction for instant replay. NCAA Update Ty Halpin briefed the group on several topics: Rules Committee Survey. This year the rules committee will meet in Orlando on February Halpin cited the more vigorous effort to engage the coaches in the rules process and particularly the rules survey. He reported that to date, about 75% of the coaches have responded to the survey, an unusually robust response rate. Background Checks. This process is going well, with the good work also of Sutton Associates. Uniforms. Discussion focused on the importance of clearly visible uniform numbers and contrasting team jerseys. Halpin is working closely with the manufacturers about the legality of jerseys and what words and markings they might contain. The discussion also brought out the need for a centralized jersey-approval process. Differences between NCAA and NFL rules. We should work to communicate this better, including the commentary on plays for the media videos Rules Changes The coordinators discussed potential rules changes to come before the rules committee. The editorial subcommittee will take the counsel of the coordinators in making its recommendations. Among the items discussed: Technology. Sideline tablets generate considerable interest among the coaches, and issues to be resolved include whether video should be allowed. Coach-toplayer communication is also an emerging issue. Cost and implementation are of major concern to the institutions. Scrimmage Kick Formation. This should require that if a potential kicker is alone deep in the backfield, he must be at least 10 yards deep rather than seven, and that a kicker and holder at seven yards would be the requirement for more than one player. The rule should reflect the requirement be that it is obvious that a scrimmage kick will be attempted. Defenseless Player. Add sliding ball carrier to the list of defenseless players. 2

3 Charged Team Timeouts. All timeouts are recommended to be one minute (plus the 25-second count) unless the head coach requests a 30-second timeout, which would restore the previous rule. Another option is to allow a coach one full timeout with the other two being for 30 seconds. (Media timeouts accompanying team timeouts supersede this rule.) Game Clock. Rule (Referee s broad clock authority) would be enhanced by mandating that, at the option of the offended team, the game clock start on the snap after a foul by the team ahead in the score. The 10-second-runoff rule would not be affected by such a change. Ineligible receiver downfield The committee last year changed the rule to allow ineligible receivers to roam only one yard downfield rather than three, but this was reversed at a higher level. The coordinators recommend that the committee again approve this change. Tripping. The coordinators recommend that tripping be made illegal for all players that is, the exception for ball carrier needs to be eliminated. Targeting. See below in the Instant Replay report. Blocking Below the Waist. Coordinators recommend that it be disallowed except in close line play immediately after the snap. Low Hits on the Passer. The exception to allow for a wrap-up tackle should include language that prohibits forcible contact with the head or shoulder. Unsportsmanlike Conduct. Two UNS fouls by the coach should result in disqualification, which is the rule for players. Medical Observer. The experiment has been successful and should be made a rule change. National Referee Conference Walt Anderson (Big 12) chaired an ad hoc committee to develop plans for a national conference for Division I referees. He presented a plan that was well received. The conference will be held in Chicago on Friday and Saturday, April Dave Parry Award The selection committee chaired by Bill Carollo announced its recommendation of Don Lucas as the 2016 David M. Parry awardee. The CFO Board of Managers has approved this choice. Lucas will be the guest of the CFO at the coordinators 2016 summer meeting in June for the formal presentation of the award. Arbiter Sports Update Dave Yeast reported continued growth in the football membership in CFO. In 2016 there will be one mechanics manual for both seven- and eight-member crews. The launch date is June 1,

4 Instant Replay Committee Committee chair Bill Carollo (Big Ten and MAC) led the discussion of issues with instant replay. He observed that instant replay had been part of college football for about ten years, and this is a good time to reflect and review. The discussion focused on two main issues: catching a pass and targeting. The rules about catch/no catch make a distinction about the process of the catch that is sometimes lost: going to the ground as a part of catching the ball versus after the catch has been completed. Several videos were viewed and analyzed, the point being made that the idea of a second act after a receiver has completed the catch needs emphasis. In the area of targeting, the coordinators support giving the replay official more latitude and flexibility to examine the entire targeting call, as distinct from only ruling on where the forcible contact occurs, which is the current rule. There is also support for the replay official to create a targeting foul, but only in the rare case where the officials on the field miss a blatantly clear and obvious instance of targeting. The replay officials would be admonished to take such action only if they are presented with an undoubtedly egregious targeting play that was not so ruled by the officials. The 2016 National Instant Replay conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency O Hare in Rosemont, IL, April 29-30, Attendance is expected for instant replay officials and communicators. Coordinators are encouraged to attend also. Mechanics Committee Committee chair Steve Shaw (SEC and Sun Belt) reported for the committee. There is general satisfaction with the mid-season adjustment in covering ineligible receivers downfield. Changes in mechanics for 2016 include: Moving the Center Judge to the offensive backfield on field goal and try kick attempts. Having the sideline replay assistant signal by pointing to the referee when instant replay gives the go-ahead for the try. Include spitting on an opponent in the list of automatic unsportsmanlike conduct fouls. Rule a foul by the defense for clapping to create a distraction that induces a false start. Tom Symonette (MEAC) and Harold Mitchell (SWAC) reported on the experiment to move the umpire (seven-person crew) to the offensive backfield. Because the MEAC will use eight-person crews in 2016, the issue becomes moot for that conference. The SWAC has permission to continue the experiment with the umpire for the 2016 season. The committee also revisited the Officiating Philosophies and recommended several changes, which the coordinators endorsed. These will appear as highlighted items in the 2016 mechanics manual. The coordinators renewed their firm commitment to follow the national mechanics in all conferences. Deviations from the mechanics manual are allowed only with the explicit approval of the national coordinator. 4

5 College Football Playoff Bill Hancock, executive director of the College Football Playoff, briefed the group on the playoff. He reviewed this year s playoff and cited the positive features of retaining the four-team format. Hancock also discussed the process for membership on the selection committee and the lineup of new members. Technology Committee Committee chair Jim Jackson (OVC) led the discussion. He reviewed a low-cost system for intra-crew communication during the game. He also demonstrated a software program Coach Paint that allows highlighting of videos and shared the contact information with those interested. Recruiting Committee Committee chair Byron Boston (Southland) reported for the committee and commended the group for its efforts in recruiting minority officials. He observes that the addition of the eighth official has created additional opportunities. He noted an improvement in postseason games where crews were seen to include more minority officials, including some at the Referee position. He also cited the positive aspects of the coordinators operating within a culture of sharing officials across conferences. Boston emphasized that these results are giving younger officials and especially minority officials hope that they can work and advance in officiating. Bowl Game Issues Symonette and Mitchell reported on the initial Celebration Bowl played in the Georgia Dome between the MEAC and SAWC conference champions. The officials assigned from the Southland conference reported a very positive experience. The two conferences and ESPN are happy with this first edition of the game. Coordinators for the conferences on games in the Football Bowl Association reported concern over the length and complexity of the new independent-contractor form that the bowls require for all officials. Dennis Hennigan (ACC) was asked to work with the FBA attorney to create a document of more reasonable length and content. The national coordinator will work with the FBA in an attempt to resolve this. FCS Playoff Issues The FCS coordinators reported that they are pleased with the new process wherein the national coordinator assigns the crews for the playoff games. They also expressed appreciation for being informed about the crews as the tournament progresses. 5

6 Future Meetings 2016 National Instant Replay Conference Hyatt Regency O Hare 9300 Bryn Mawr Avenue Rosemont, IL April 29-30, National Referee Conference Renaissance Chicago O Hare Suites Hotel 8500 West Bryn Mawr Avenue Chicago, IL April 29-30, 2016 CFO Coordinators 2016 Summer Meeting (Hosted by the Atlantic Coast Conference) The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota 1111 Ritz-Carlton Drive Sarasota, FL June 5-7, 2016 Division II and III Coordinators 2016 Summer Meeting NCAA Offices Indianapolis, IN July 6, 2016 CFO Coordinators 2017 Winter Meeting National Football Foundation Irving, TX January 29-31, Rogers Redding CFO National Coordinator 6