Times staff, wires
Friday, April 15, 2011
INDIANAPOLIS — College football could have a very different look next fall.
Teams can choose to shave 10 seconds off the clock for penalties called in the final minute of each half. They will contend with a more liberal intentional grounding rule and could have points taken off the scoreboard for taunting penalties.
The most sweeping change approved by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel is the 10-second runoff, something the NFL has used for years. College teams can take the yardage and the time, the yardage only or decline the penalty.
The committee also approved a change in intentional grounding. Previously, the penalty was called if the receiver did not have a "reasonable opportunity" to catch the pass. Starting this fall, the penalty will be called only if a receiver is not in the area of the pass — again more closely resembling the NFL rule.
And the panel adopted a rule allowing video monitors in the coaches' booths. The televisions will have access only to any live broadcast — no video recorders — to help coaches decide if they should challenge a call.
Those changes coincide with perhaps the biggest change of the season — implementation of the new taunting rule. Last April, the rules panel approved a decision to nullify a TD if a player is called for taunting before he crosses the goal line.
Two Gators transfer
GAINESVILLE — Florida wide receivers Chris Dunkley and Javares McRoy decided to transfer, coach Will Muschamp said. Dunkley, a 6-2, 172-pounder from Pahokee High, did not play last year as a freshman. McRoy, 5-9, 159, was an early enrollee in January from Lakeland High. Dunkley said in a statement that he believes it's in his best interest "to get a fresh start somewhere else." McRoy wants to play with his brother.
"I enjoyed my time at Florida, but I really want the chance to play with my brother Ben, who is at Texas Tech," McRoy said in a statement.
SPURRIER EXTENDED: South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier will earn $800,000 more next season after taking the Gamecocks to their first SEC title game. The former Heisman Trophy winner and coach at Florida, who made $2 million in 2010, will make $2.8 million.
ARKANSAS: Linebacker Ross Rasner, 19, was arrested by university police and booked on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance and being a minor in possession of alcohol, according to police records. … Running back Broderick Green is expected to miss the season after tearing the ACL in his left knee Wednesday in practice.
FURMAN: Coach Bruce Fowler kicked three players off the team and suspended two more after drug arrests. University officials said sophomore defensive end Aaron Riley, junior cornerback Jordan Griffin and freshman linebacker Tim Lawrence were arrested Thursday. All three face distribution of marijuana charges. Fowler indefinitely suspended junior linebacker Sterling Johnson (charged with interfering with police) and sophomore safety Nathan Wade (cited for possession of marijuana).
LSU: The school's board of supervisors extended athletic director Joe Alleva's contract from June 2013 to June 2016. The other terms, including his minimum $550,000 annual salary, didn't change.
SMU: Two years after Mustangs special teams coach Frank Gansz died, his son is taking over the job. Frank Gansz Jr. spent the past three years in the same post at UCLA until leaving last month.
BASKETBALL: Josh Postorino, a former star player at Clearwater, was hired as an assistant at Georgia Tech. Postorino, 34, spent one season as director of basketball operations at DePaul. … Washington State junior forward DeAngelo Casto will pass up his senior season and declare for the NBA draft. … South Carolina extended the deal for women's coach Dawn Staley for three years at $25,000 a year more.
GYMNASTICS: Florida failed to reach tonight's finals in the NCAA women's championships in Cleveland. Oklahoma, Michigan, UCLA, Alabama, Nebraska and Utah advanced. Stanford won the men's crown in Columbus, Ohio, the school's 100th national title in all sports.
MEN'S GOLF: Phillip Choi shot 1-under 69 to help UF take first place after the first round of the SEC Championships at St. Simons Island, Ga. Florida was at 5-over 285, a shot ahead of Tennessee and Arkansas.
Times staff writer Antonya English contributed to this report.