NCAA Hates Kickoffs, Puppies, and America

Jan 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Kenyan Drake (17) gets past Clemson Tigers safety T.J. Green (15) as he runs for a touchdown on a kick return during the fourth quarter in the 2016 CFP National Championship at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Kenyan Drake (17) gets past Clemson Tigers safety T.J. Green (15) as he runs for a touchdown on a kick return during the fourth quarter in the 2016 CFP National Championship at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The NCAA is at it again and wanting to change the game of college football up even more.

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They just can’t leave well enough alone. It seems that every single year, the NCAA wants to change up something that we love about college football.

Maybe they don’t really hate puppies and America, but you could easily get that impression. The next thing you know, someone representing the collegiate governing body will give a speech to a national political convention in which parts are plagiarized. That part is just a joke. Please don’t send too much hate mail.

The NCAA is, however, engaging in preliminary talks to eliminate the kickoff from college football according to Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports.

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In Dodd’s report, he says “both the American Football Coaches Association’s board of trustees and the NCAA Division I Football Oversight Committee have at least had informal talks about the possibility” for player safety.

I wouldn’t mind seeing a minor change in the rules to protect the players, but in no way would I support seeing kickoffs completely eliminated from the game. Football is a dangerous sport. No one is saying it is not. The players play the game for the love of it, knowing there is a chance they could get hurt. Some of our daily activities have to be done knowing there is a chance we could get hurt. We all more than likely participate in something that is somewhat dangerous, if only for the reason that we love it.

What will a team that’s down two scores with three minutes left in the game do to try to get the ball back? Play a rousing game of paper, rock, scissors at mid-field to see if they can reclaim possession?

Yes, it is one of the most dangerous parts of the game, but there are a lot more aspects that are just as dangerous. What is the end game here? Will they eventually do away with the sport altogether?

If there are no kickoffs, there will be no kickoff returns. That means when someone like Kenyan Drake breaks free in a national title game, I will have no reason to spill my drink and leap (not graciously) over the back of the couch. There will be onside kickoffs like in the same game when Saban gave that devious smile that we still go back to months later.

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Don’t completely change the game that fans and players both love. We can accept something minor, but this is just ridiculous.