NCAA to consider rules change in wake of University of North Texas punt return

[TexasTowelie]

It isn't often that a school hatches a play that changes the rule book in college football.

North Texas appears as if it might be close to doing just that following wide receiver Keegan Brewer's 90-yard punt return for a touchdown in a 44-17 win over Arkansas on Saturday.

Brewer stood under the punt and caught it at the UNT 10-yard line. He didn't signal for a fair catch, but he acted like he did.

The rest of UNT's players were in on the act and set up a wall along the sideline. Once Brewer broke for it, he was gone. Arkansas' players had quit pursuing him and started heading to the sideline.

Read more: https://www.dentonrc.com/sports/colleges/mean_green/report-ncaa-to-consider-rules-change-in-wake-of-unt/article_47bc0fad-766b-5b37-a928-31724e066e91.html

Link to tweet

[House of Roberts]

1. I saw a player on a kickoff, call for a fair catch at the five yard line.

And the team received the ball at the twenty five, just like it was kicked into and downed in the end zone.
What happened to a kickoff being a live ball once it goes past ten yards?

[TexasTowelie]

2. The rules have changed because kickoffs and punts are the most dangerous plays

and result in the most injuries. The impact is much greater when players are running at full speed down the field compared to plays from scrimmage.

The plays are still live unless a fair catch is made though. I agree with the changes for fair catches in order to protect the players.

[caraher]

3. I don't immediately see a burning need for a rule change

I thought it was kind of a BS play... it's a risky play to the returner because if the cover team realizes he hasn't signaled a fair catch, he is awfully vulnerable to getting really belted by a tackler. That risk alone should make this play virtually irreproducible.

Though if it's a coach calling it who doesn't much care about the injury risk, a rule might be good.

[VMA131Marine]

4. Easy solution

If the receiver of the kickoff doesn't signal for a fair catch and also does not attempt to return the kick, all the kicking team needs to do is touch him to render him "down" and the play over.

[ProfessorGAC]

5. I Like Caraher's Idea Better

I think the easiest solution is to have the coach do something like COACH!

Make sure the special team players know that if a guy doesn't SIGNAL a fair catch, it's not a fair catch.

What the NCAA is proposing is to make a rule because the Arkansas team doesn't pay enough attention.