Particularly, the bolded rules, above.The kickoff line is being moved from the 30-yard line to the 35 this season in the hopes that touchbacks will become more common, lessening the likelihood of injuries.As an incentive for the return team to take a knee, the ball will be placed at the 25-yard line following a touchback.
With strong-legged senior kicker Caleb Sturgis, the Gators could put the kickoff deep in the end zone at a high percentage. But, that might not be what Muschamp tells Sturgis, a former standout at St. Augustine, to do.
"We have a guy that can kick it out of the end zone, but you're going to get the ball at the 25 yard line now," Muschamp said. "We have talked about some sky kick situations as far as trying to pin them down. We do run well. That's why we're good on special teams. We talked about trying directional kick the ball with height and see if we can't pin them back in even further."
When making his opening comments about his team at the Southeastern Conference media days, Muschamp referred to Sturgis as "probably the best kicker in the country."
Sturgis was the only UF player on the coaches' All-SEC preseason team to be voted to the first team.
"I texted our team, 'Congratulations to Caleb Sturgis, and the SEC coaches must not think much of the rest of you guys,'" Muschamp said. "He's really good. He's accurate. He's got a great leg, very dependable."
The Gators and the rest of college football will also have to adjust to these new rules.
- If a player continues to compete in a play after losing his helmet, he will draw a 15-yard penalty. Gators fans should have an easy time picturing this scenario. In Florida's 42-14 rout of Ohio State in the 2007 BCS National Championship Game, UF linebacker Earl Everett chased down Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith and tackled him several seconds after losing his helmet while being blocked.
- If a player leaps over a shield of players protecting the punter in an attempt to block the kick, he will draw a 15-yard penalty and give the opponent an automatic first down.
- On an on-side kick, if the kicker drives the ball into the ground to create a lofty bounce, the receiving team is now protected by the rules to field the bounce without the opponent making contact. If contact is made prior kick catch interference will be called.
I love the first comment:
Half-time is being extended 10 minutes to allow the players time to put on a clean dress.
