New clock rules designed to speed up college football

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- If a North Carolina wide receiver catches a pass of 50 yards or more this season, left guard Kyle Jolly said recently, "he'd better score."Not just because the 6-foot-6, 300-pound junior wants to see those six points immediately on the scoreboard. But because he doesn't relish the new alternative: racing up the field before the new 40-second play clock expires."The offensive line wasn't built for running," Jolly said, laughing. "... So hopefully those long passes and runs will all go for touchdowns, so we don't have to worry about getting up there and getting a play off in time."The new play clock for this college football season -- similar to the one used in the NFL -- is meant to speed up the game by starting the countdown as soon as the previous play ends.In the past, the clock lasted 25 seconds and didn't start until officials spotted the ball. (It will continue to be set at 25 seconds after a change of possession, a timeout, after a measurement, after a replay challenge and between periods of overtime.)In addition, when the ball goes out of bounds, the clock will start when the ball is put in play. Previously, the clock did not begin until the ball was snapped from center. This provision doesn't apply in the final two minutes of each half.So under the new rules, players, coaches and officials all have to hustle a tad more."Our offensive coordinators and coaching staffs like this, because in the past, you're always at the mercy of each referee being a little different, each crew being a little different. Now we're consistent," Doug Rhoads, the ACC coordinator of football officials, said last month."The offensive team can come up and snap it with 39 seconds on the clock, or they can let it run all the way down to 1. ... The offensive team determines the pace at which they're going to operate, not the official."First-year Duke coach David Cutcliffe likes the change in theory but is curious to see if the officiating crew can keep up."What I told Doug is, I want to see where are you going to get the ball ready as opposed to when that 40 seconds starts, and how much time do I really have," he said."If we're no-huddling people, I want that ball, and I want our team over that ball with 33 seconds. Am I going to be able to do it? Can I snap it with 33 seconds? Can I speed the game up or can I significantly slow the game down with a 40-second clock?"To prepare for the changes, Duke, UNC and N.C. State have been using the new 40-second play clock during training camp. Prior to Thursday's game at South Carolina, Wolfpack receiver Jarvis Williams said he hadn't noticed much of a difference because he had to be alert with the 25-second clock, too."We practice that -- hustling, getting downfield, coming back and looking out for somebody to come in for us if we're being substituted for," he added.."... Coach always urges us to get out of the huddle and get to the line fast, so it won't be anything to us. We're accustomed and probably already adapted."UNC coach Butch Davis figures the defense will be tested by the new rules when it plays McNeese State on Saturday because the Cowboys often use a no-huddle strategy with their spread offense.But Tar Heels offensive coordinator John Shoop, who is used to the new clock because of his days as an NFL assistant, said he doesn't think the shorter clock will make much of a difference in his team's attack.As long as those offensive linemen remember to have a sense of urgency after big plays, that is.Said UNC receiver Brandon Tate: "I'm just going to try to score, because I know those guys don't want to run." OTHER RULES CHANGES FOR 2008- Face-mask penalties are 15 yards, whether deemed "incidental" or not. - Coaches will get a second replay challenge if their first one is upheld. - A horse-collar tackle -- when a defender grabs a runner inside the back of his shoulder pads and jerks him to the ground -- is now a personal foul. - When a kickoff goes out of bounds, the receiving team has the option of taking the ball at the 40-yard line rather than the 35. - A chop block is now defined as a high-low or low-high combination by any two players against an opponent (other than the runner) -- with or without delay between the contact. It is a 15-yard penalty. - A 15-yard penalty will be called if a player initiates a tackle with the crown of his helmet, or if a player targets what officials deem a defenseless opponent and hits him above the shoulders.E-mail Robbi Pickeral at robbi.pickerel(at)newsobserver.com. Staff writer Ken Tysiac contributed to this report.(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)