Football players take note.

    In 2011, taunting could wipe out a touchdown under the new NCAArules. It also applies to the National Junior College AthleticAssociation member schools.

    Taunting, especially name-calling, has become as popular as popcornand boiled peanuts at football games. As a game wears on, badbehavior usually escalates.

    Basically, it’s a bad habit and a bad example for youngerplayers.  Really, tauntingis inexcusable.

    Co-Lin head coach Glenn Davis said he was pleased to see thetaunting rule installed. However, there can be a thin line betweena violation and an accidental act.

    “The bad thing is it depends on somebody’s (an official’s)judgement,” said Davis. “You always wish the kids would just playand go on to the next play.”

    Obviously, taking away a touchdown would be critical. It couldchange the outcome of a game. The rule would penalize the offendingteam 15 yards from the point of the foul.

    Remember, if Bubba decides to make a flying leap into the end zonewhen he isn’t trying to escape a would-be tackler, that touchdownwill be canceled.

    Unsportsmanlike conduct on dead-ball situations will find the15-yard penalty assessed on the extra point or on the ensuingkickoff.

 

    Need more time if you are trying to score?

    Need less time if you are trying to keep the ball way from theother team?

    Another new football rule that will be enforced is a 10-secondrundown of the game clock if a team commits a foul that stops theclock in the final minute of both halves. The opponent has threeoptions: Take the yardage penalty and the 10-second rundown. Takethe yardage penalty without a 10-second rundown. Decline both the10-second rundown and the penalty yardage.

     “It can be a pretty severething when a team is awarded penalty and time,” said Davis. “Itwill make a difference.”

    Efforts to better manage blocking below the waist and enhanceplayer safety are a priority this season. Blocking below the waistwill be illegal except on scrimmage plays. Players within sevenyards of the center can still block below the waist.

    Also, running backs/ receivers in the backfield and outside thetackle box (five yards on either side of the center) or players inmotion can block below the waist only on players facing them ortoward the nearest sideline.

    “They have to block north or south or toward the sideline,” Davisnoted. “They are trying to stop blocking below the waist. The blockthey are doing away  withis the back-side sprint cutoff. When the ball is running away froma receiver, you can’t go across the field and cut a DB (defensiveback).”

    Another blocking rule of note. There will be a ban on threedefensive players lining up shoulder-to-shoulder and moving forwardon place kicks. Coaches on the NCAA Football Rules Committee citedexamples of where one offensive lineman is overpowered by threedefensive players in an attempt to penetrate the line of scrimmageand block a kick.

    Rules changes are supposed to improve the game of football. In manycases, how the game officials interpret the rules will be critical.Some coaches will cuss and fuss, depending upon the situation.

    It should be interesting.

 

    Co-Lin plays its first football game Sept. 1, at Coahoma. CoachDavis said the Wolfpack players report Aug. 4 for preseasonworkouts and practice begins the next day.

    The Mississippi Association of Independent Schools permit footballteams to begin preseason practice July 25. Brookhaven Academy willbe in that number Monday morning when new head coach Tripp McCartywelcomes his team for a 7 a.m. workout.

    McCarty said  he wants topractice three times before 3 p.m. in an effort to avoid theextreme afternoon heat. He and his staff will hydrate and feed theplayers between the 90-minute workouts.

    The BA Cougars will participate in the Parklane Jamboree at McComb,Aug. 12. Centreville Academy is the other entry. The Cougars kickoff their season Aug. 19, at Silliman Institute in Clinton, La.

    Parklane, under the direction of Bo Milton, starts practice Mondaymorning at 7:30. The Pioneers will practice again at 11:30.

    Milton said his team will host Columbia Academy for a scrimmageAug. 5. Picture Day is July 26, starting at 5 p.m.

    Copiah Academy, coached by Scotty Cline, also begins preseasondrills Monday. The Colonels will host a jamboree Aug. 13.

    Meanwhile, the public schools or Mississippi High School ActivitiesAssociation members, begin preseason practice Aug. 1. Two-quarterscrimmages against another school are permitted on Aug. 12 or 13.Classic Games are scheduled for Aug. 19.

    Wesson’s Cobras will get a head start on the Classic menu byhosting the Crystal Springs Tigers on Thursday, Aug. 18.

 

    Contact sports editor Tom Goetz by Email:tgoetz@dailyleader.com