INDIANAPOLIS — Eye black with messages and wedge blocks will be banned from college football this fall — and taunting in the field of play will start costing teams points in 2011.
Yesterday, the NCAA’s Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved the three rules changes.
One year after the NFL banned wedge blocking on kickoffs because of safety concerns, the NCAA followed the lead. The new rule says that when the team receiving a kickoff has more than two players standing within two yards of one another, shoulder to shoulder, it will be assessed a 15-yard penalty — even if there is no contact between the teams.
The reason: NCAA studies have shown that 20 percent of all injuries occurring on kickoffs result in concussions. The hope is it will reduce concussions, an issue that has received greater attention over the past year.
The NCAA deemed it so important that it made a rare rules change in an off-year of the normal two-year process. But it’s the taunting rule that will create the biggest buzz.
Currently, players who are penalized for taunting on their way to the end zone draw a 15-yard penalty on the extra-point attempt, two-point conversion attempt or the ensuing kickoff.
Beginning in 2011, live-ball penalties will be assessed from the spot of the foul and eliminate the score. Examples include players finishing touchdown runs by high-stepping into the end zone or pointing the ball toward an opponent.
Celebration penalties following a score will continue to be assessed on conversion attempts or the ensuing kickoff.