The NCAA keeps inching closer to adopting an instant replay system for college football that parallels what the NFL has done to incorporate technology into the game. College football coaches will now be allowed to challenge one ruling a game by officials and have it reviewed by instant replay, provided the team has an available timeout. College coaches from around the country have called for the NCAA to completely adopt the NFL instant replay system, which allows NFL coaches to challenge as many as two plays a game but lose a timeout when the original ruling is upheld. Under a proposal approved Tuesday by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel, if a coach’s challenge is successful, no timeout will be charged. The NCAA has allowed the use of replays at all schools and conferences, and nine of the 11 Division I-A conferences used some form of replay. College football introduced instant replays four years ago when the Big Ten was the first conference that allowed its coaches to challenge an official’s ruling on the field. In 2005, replay had been adopted by all conferences. Before adjusting to this new rule, which was proposed by the Football Rules Committee, only the replay official sitting in a booth above the field of play could request to review plays. With the change, plays involving a sideline, goal line or end line are now reviewable. Judgement calls such as holding, pass interference and intentional grounding aren’t reviewable. The panel also approved a revision of the rule on the length of halftime in football games. The recommended time is 20 minutes, but it may be lengthened or shortened with the consent of both schools.
WOODEN CLASSIC: UCLA and USC found out who they will meet in college basketball’s Wooden Classic next year. Texas A&M and George Washington will join the Bruins and Trojans in a doubleheader at the Arrowhead Pond on Dec. 9, 2006. UCLA and Texas A&M take each other on in Game 1 of the while USC and George Washington play in Game 2. It will be UCLA’s 10th appearance at the Wooden Classic and its fourth in a row.
ANNIVERSARY PARTY: On Saturday, more than 100 members of the 1976 UCLA Rose Bowl Championship football team – including coaches, players, cheerleaders and essential staff – will gather on the Westwood campus for a 30-year reunion. The 1976 team beat then No. 1-ranked and unbeaten Ohio State on Jan. 1, 1976 by a convincing score of 23-10 after losing to Woody Hayes’ Buckeyes and two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin earlier in the season.
Compiled by Adam de Jong, Bruin Sports senior staff.