ACC FOOTBALL MEETINGS
Replay not a 'cure-all'


HOT SPRINGS, Va. - It's buyer beware as college football enters a brave new world of instant replay.
For those still fuming about a blown call or an omission that cost your favorite team a possible victory, the Atlantic Coast Conference has issued a disclaimer about the new replay system this year for most Division I-A games. - College Football -
"It's not going to be a cure-all," said Tommy Hunt, coordinator of ACC officials, speaking Tuesday during the final day of the ACC Football Kickoff at The Homestead in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
In other words, chill out. - College Football -
"We will still make mistakes," Hunt said. "And there will be mistakes that are not detectable by replay officials.
"It's kind of like getting a new car. It looks good, it smells good when you first buy it. But you haven't driven it yet. Until you drive it, you don't know what kind of car it is.
"That's what instant replay will be like for us this year. It's sort of experimental. Until we get all the kinks out of it, we're going to make a few mistakes, so bear with us." - College Football -
In other national rules changes this season, defensive players will no longer be allowed to leap in the air to block a kick if they land on any other player. It will be a personal-foul penalty if they do.
The previous rule made it an infraction if the leaping player landed on an offensive player at the line of scrimmage. - College Football -
The play was a speciality of former Florida State safety B.J. Ward, who blocked a number of kicks while leaping and landing on teammates during the play. - College Football -
"As I told the (ACC) coaches to tell your players, if you can't fly, don't leap," Hunt said.
Penalties for celebration or taunting have also been stiffened. If two players celebrate together with gyrations or taunting actions, it will be a double penalty and the ensuing kickoff will be from the 10-yard line.
If three or more are involved, the team must kick off from its own 5.
Instant replay still is the most significant change. Shiny or flawed, it represents a dramatic step for college football. - College Football -
After the Big Ten took the lead, using instant replay on a full-time basis last season, eight more of the 11 major conferences have copied the Big Ten model starting this fall. The only two conferences not doing it are the Western Athletic and Sun Belt.
But it's not what you might see on Sundays in the NFL. - College Football -
Only one conference, Mountain West, is allowing coaches to challenge a call. But the NCAA has also mandated what plays can be reviewed. One replay official, sitting in a private booth in the press box, will tell the head referee on the field whether a call should be overturned.
Any judgment call, such as pass interference, holding, personal foul penalties, offside and illegal formations, will not be permitted for review. Only plays involving fumbles, scoring, whether a player was in or out of bounds, or whether a player caught or dropped a pass will be allowed for review. - College Football -
"It's not the NFL system. It was not intended to be the NFL system," ACC commissioner John Swofford said. "I think we all owe the Big Ten a debt of gratitude, because they were willing to try and find a system that will work for college football and be affordable for college football."
In the NFL, of course, all games are televised. In college football, more than half the games are not televised. In those games, four cameras will be used for replay, paid for by the member conference. In televised games, as many as eight camera angles will be available.
The ACC is using a high-tech, computerized video system, patterned after the NFL's equipment, so the replay official has the fastest, easiest way to determine controversial calls. Decisions are expected within 90 seconds to avoid lengthening the game.
Some players aren't so sure that will work. - College Football -
"I think it's going to slow down the game," Florida State tailback Leon Washington said. "Sometimes, you want to get done with the game and go home and go out. I think the referees to a great job. But hopefully this will be a good idea."
The league is spending $440,000 to outfit an instant-replay system for all 12 teams. Each replay booth will have a technician from the host school and two hired replay officials supplied by the conference. One will decide if a play should be reviewed; the other will make the ruling.
"I think it's a great idea. I was in favor of it," said Miami coach Larry Coker. "We all want to do what's best for the game, and let's get the calls decided correctly." - College Football -
However, a replay system would not have benefitted the Hurricanes in the national title game loss to Ohio State three years ago. The most controversial call in the game was a pass interference play, which would not have been reviewable.

BILL VILONA
FLORIDA TODAY