One season after allowing conferences to decide individually whether to adopt instant replay, the NCAA Football Rules Committee has implemented a universal review system.
Starting this fall, coaches across the country will have the power to challenge one call per game, provided they have a timeout. The team keeps the timeout if the call is overturned but loses it if the field ruling is upheld.
Instant replay has been used in NCAA football games for the last two seasons on an experimental basis. In 2004, the Big Ten became the first conference to try a replay system. One year later, nine of the 11 Division I-A conferences used some form of instant replay.
In 2005, the ACC, copying the Big Ten model, employed booth officials to determine whether or not a play should be reviewed and then to pass on the ultimate ruling to officials on the field.
John Cochrane, commissioner of the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and head of the panel that approved the changes, stressed the need for a universal system.
"The intent of the Rules Committee was to write a consistent replay system into the playing rules," Cochrane said. "It wasn't a question of being discontented with what was being done across the country last year. It was just an effort to consolidate and establish some consistency."
The previous replay system was criticized for its inconsistencies. When teams from different conferences met, the road team was given the right to decide which replay system was to be used. Consequently, when Pac-10 member USC visited independent Notre Dame, the Trojans decided to play the game without replay.
By regulating it at the NCAA level, the revamped system will also try to solve an issue raised during last season's Rose Bowl between USC and Texas, when a controversial Longhorn touchdown was not reviewed because the television monitor in the replay booth malfunctioned.
Duke head coach Ted Roof said he was excited about the more consolidated replay system and increased power given to the head coach.
"I'm all for it," Roof said. "Replay can enhance our game. From an officiating standpoint, a coach's standpoint, a fan's standpoint-everybody wants to get it right."
Roof echoed the sentiments of some other college coaches when he wondered if a single challenge per game would be sufficient. Roof said he would prefer to be able to challenge one play per half, but he did acknowledge that replay was used about twice every three games last year for the Blue Devils.
"I think [one challenge per game] is a good compromise," Cochrane said.
Roof said he and his staff had yet to discuss how they would decide whether to review a play.
"It'll be a staff thing, but it will also be a gut thing based on what I see on the field," Roof said.
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