News Nuggets, 07.31.03
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Rule change on punt returns: Call fair catch or else

College football will eliminate the "halo rule" this season, forcing punt returners to call a fair catch if they don't want to be hit. Under the halo rule, the kicking team was penalized if a player came within 2 yards of a returner before he caught the ball. The rule led to many borderline penalties and gave the returner a cushion as he tried to get away from the initial tackle.

"I always felt like if a guy wanted protection all he had to do was hold his hand up," said Bobby Gaston, the coordinator of officials in the SEC.

This year, a returner must be given only an "unimpeded opportunity" to catch the ball, which is more in line with the NFL rule. The penalty for failing to do that or for contacting a player who has signaled for a fair catch will be 15 yards. Also, if a receiver muffs a ball on a fair catch he can't be hit until it touches the ground or is out of his reach.

Another significant rule change allows teams to enforce an unsportsmanlike penalty after a touchdown on the ensuing kickoff instead of the extra point. Gaston found that the punishment was not significant enough on the extra point, with teams making more than 98 percent of their kicks from the 18-yard line instead of the 3 and not gaining an advantage from starting 1 1/2 yards out either.

The new rule will force a team to kick off from the 20 or allow them to kick off from midfield, making a significant difference in field position, especially late in a game.

There also will be a few minor changes in limiting the situations a player in motion can block below the waist, and in not starting the clock on kickoffs until the ball is legally touched in the field of play.

C-USA sackmeisters pursue national honor

A pair of Conference USA defensive standouts are in the running for a prestigious national award. Texas Christian senior Bo Schobel and Cincinnati junior Trent Cole have been named to the watch list for the Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award.

The second annual Hendricks Award will be presented at the conclusion of the football season to the best collegiate defensive end in the country. The watch list was selected by a prominent committee of coaches, national media, and sports information directors.

Schobel, a 6-5, 260-pounder from Columbus, Texas, was a first team all-Conference USA selection following the 2002 season. He finished third on the squad with 57 tackles, 19 of which came behind the line of scrimmage, while leading the nation’s top-ranked defensive unit. Schobel ranked among the league's top 10 in sacks with 7.5. He has been tabbed as the seventh best defensive end in the nation by The Sporting News and is a preseason All-Conference USA selection.

Cole, a 6-4, 227-pound junior from Wilberforce, Ohio, started nine games last year and finished fifth on the Bearcats with 87 tackles, fourth with 12 tackles for loss and third with five sacks. The preseason All-C-USA selection made a career-high 10 tackles in last year’s win at Louisville, recording a quarterback sack and a fumble caused and recovered.

On-field performance, leadership abilities and contributions to school and community are some of the criteria that will be used to determine the award winner. The candidates may represent any class (freshman through senior) as well as any recognized four-year NCAA member school (Division I through Division III) The candidate’s primary position must be defensive end.

During its inaugural year in 2002, the award was presented to Terrell Suggs of Arizona State University. Suggs, a first round draft pick of the Baltimore Ravens, recorded NCAA records of 13 career multi-sack games, 24 sacks for the season and 3 1/2 tackles-for-loss.

Bower extends benefit of doubt to indicted recruit

Southern Miss head football coach Jeff Bower has given a vote of confidence — at least for the time being — to one of his most-prized 2003 recruits. Bower announced this week that he has decided to allow Anthony Perine, a highly-recruited player who has been indicted on sexual assault charges, to report as scheduled to the Golden Eagles preseason camp.

"I, along my coaching staff, stand behind the commitment we made during the recruiting process, concerning Anthony Perine," said Bower in a statement issued through the school's sports information office. "Just as with all of our student athletes, we made a decision to offer Anthony the opportunity to be a part of our football program not simply based on his outstanding athletic ability, but also on his character. Those facts have not changed and we look forward to having Anthony and his family join our program at Southern Miss."

Perine, a 5-11, 175-pound wide receiver from Lucedale, Miss., was arrested last spring and his trial is pending.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically from staff, ECU, Conference USA and its member schools, and from Associated Press and other reports. Copyright 2003 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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