Why the NCAA needs a new rule regarding substitutions...

Balance is the key to college football...

     It seems to me that the offenses in college football pretty much have an edge over most defenses even before all this HUNH sense. Every play was a conspiracy about how to beat the defense and gain an edge. I mean, the defense quite literally had no idea what was coming their way most of the time.  For those of you who are not old enough to remember the wishbone in its being, there were those who thought no defense could ever stop the formation. HUNH might have its day in the sunshine but like the wishbone.

     I listened to Hugh Freeze on Paul's show the other day and he admitted it was a way to try to beat teams with better talent. For all of those who love the HUNH its pretty much an admission that your team can't play on a level playing field. You need an edge. It's not exactly like cheating but it's close. For those who say that defenses need to be in better shape you could just as easily say "recruit better" you losers. If it takes trickery and chicanery to win you must be pretty desperate. That's precisely what this is all about. It's about schools who can't cut the mustard on the recruiting trail, merely wanting a shortcut. I'm sorry that Auburn believes there program is inferior to Alabama. The historical truth is that most programs, if not all, are inferior to Alabama. Alabama didn't get to the place they earned by taking shortcuts. They earned it by going to places and beating teams when the nation believed that  Southern football was second rate. The Tide went up on the East Coast and played Penn who was the undisputed powerhouse in college football. They beat 'em. Then the Tide and other Southern teams beat West Coast teams so often the PAC Conference wouldn't allow those rednecks to play. Whether Auburn likes it or not, the Alabama Crimson Tide gave Auburn as chance to have a decent football program. That's not speculation. It's a historical fact.

     Here we are nine decades later and Auburn is still trying to match the Tide. They can't do it for a lot of reasons. Finally it took a coach who understood that truth and bevies up this gimmick offense.  Programs like Auburn, Ole Miss, and Oregon who are not generally considered national powers want to use an offense that college football never envisioned. Now, let me say that they aren't cheating. There is no rule, at least not yet, that says you can't play an offense without a huddle. So to say that these schools cheat by violating the rules isn't true. What they are doing is far worse than that - they are violating the very essence of college football. The huddle and the anticipation of the next play are an inherent part of the college game.  I'm sure if more plays are run you can score more often. I'm also sure more players will be injured. That's just common sense. What are the chances of a player being hurt on one play? Not much. What are the chances of a player being hurt in a 75 plays? Certainly, its  more. But I do think that people who argue the injury factor are just blowing hot air to some degree.  That horse left the barn when 15 games are year could be played. Let's not be hypocritical and argue player safety as the main reason to make a rule. The main problems is competitive fairness.

    I'd think that what most fans want is for the best 22 players to be on the field at any given time to decide who has the better team. The HUNH bunch don't believe that however. I can't blame  them. Everyone wants to win.  It seems only fair that both teams have a chance to get their best players in any given situation on the field. But some teams know they can't win that way so they will naturally try other ways. I don't blame Gus in doing what he is doing. At least he is admitting he can't man up with Alabama year in and year out. I recognize that Alabama lost to Auburn. No sour grapes from me on that one. The reason Auburn beat Alabama is that the Alabama field goal kicker had a terrible night. That's it. It wasn't the AU offense that beat Alabama. It was Alabama's kicking game that beat Alabama. In general, I don't really like high scoring football games as much as I do a defensive last man standing affair. Auburn and the others will do what they think will benefit them. They are sort sighted however.

    When the three point shot in basketball started I was concerned. It was my belief it would hurt college basketball. Instead of fundamentals, teams could rely on shooting alone. The three opened up the inside which was what the rule intended. There were only so many great big men around, but a lot of shooters. We then entered an era of slam dunk heaven. ESPN focused on the dunks, and players got even weaker on fundamentals. Everyone wanted to flush one. If you couldn't be a member of fly slamma jamma, then you wanted to shoot the three. And that's where basketball is today. Dunking and bombing are skills, of course. But they are not fundamental skills in basketball.  They are the bastard children of a bad rule. I'm sure that the same will occur with the HUNH offense. Here's my hunch about what will happen.  Quarterbacks will not have NFL  skills like in the past decades. The hurry up offense doesn't produce the  type quarterback you need in the NFL. All the emphasis will switch to the offense  I mean, why play defense when you have a hard time stopping the scoring? Let's just score more. The game of football has always been about balance. Why shouldn't the defense be allowed to substitute unless the offense subs? That rule was made to keep a certain balance on the field. Why give the offense a further advantage? It doesn't make sense. Will this proposed rule happen? It in the near future. If not this season then the next. Why?  Who wants to see Baylor or Texas Tech win a national championship?  Certainly not the NCAA and ESPN.  ESPN probably loves all this scoring. But when second rate teams starting playing for and winning national championships things will change. When TV ratings hit the bottom of the barrel we'll see some balance restored. Would you rather see Alabama and Southern Cal play for a national championship or two teams that you can't remember the conference they are from?

    In the long run talent generally wins. Has a HUNH team ever won a national championship?  The reason that the hurry up is being used is to cover up inferior talent. Do you think players are not going to catch on that the NFL doesn't want to see people run for hundreds of yards against a dog tired defense? What Auburn did last season was remarkable. Take nothing away from the Tigers. I suspect that their second time  around the SEC might not be as much fun. Defenses adapt. But it may take some type of rule to allow the offenses not to overwhelm defenses, and change the essence of college football.