Report: NCAA committee withdraws controversial slow-down rule proposal
Nick Saban and Alabama lost to Oklahoma's up-tempo offense in the 2014 Sugar Bowl. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The NCAA Football Rules Committee has withdrawn a controversial rule proposal that would have slowed down up-tempo offenses, according to USA Today.
The 12-member committee reportedly elected not to advance to the Playing Rules Oversight Panel the proposal that would have required offenses to wait until 10 seconds ran off the play clock -- while defenses substituted players -- before snapping the ball. The rules panel was scheduled to consider any rule changes on Thursday, but rules committee members decided in a Wednesday teleconference that they would not pursue the change.
The rules committee and proponents of the 10-second delay, including Alabama coach Nick Saban and Arkansas coach Bret Bielema, drew fire from critics when they stated its intention was to prevent the risk of injury brought on by fatigue. Saban's motives were questioned by skeptics who pointed out that Alabama's last three losses had come against teams featuring up-tempo offenses. On Wednesday, Saban said the proposal needs to be looked at closely, but that the pace of a game should be dictated by officials, not offenses.
Auburn coach Gus Malzahn and former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden were among many coaches who expressed their disagreement with the proposal.
