Kickoffs Moving: Is Roger Goodell Running the NCAA Now Too?

The NCAA has made a rule change in major college football that will continue to remove excitement from the game.

Starting next season, kickoffs will be moved to the 35-yard line from the 30, the first step in promoting touch backs in hopes to lessen injuries on kickoffs.

The NFL made the change a year ago and we saw a dramatic increase in touch backs, taking one of the most exciting elements out of the game. Coaches cringed when guys would return one from deep and if they didn't have success like Randall Cobb's eight-yard deep touchdown return, it was regarded as a poor decision.

Now the NCAA has added another dimension to the rule, placing touch backs at the 25-yard line, effectively helping coaches convince their returners to take a knee if it goes in the end zone. On average, teams began drives last season from their own 31-yard line, showing that returners are more than able to get the ball out past where it would be spotted for a touchback.

So will the new rules help anything?

Sure, coaches can tell players to take a knee whenever possible and ensure a 25-yard line start, but when it comes down to it they won't do anything different. These are speedsters; fast burners who know that a big return can change the face of a game. Stopping them from doing what they do best is no easy task.

I hope this isn't the start to more stringent rules by the NCAA to protect players, a la the NFL. Roger Goodell has already changed everything about professional football with his protection of players, especially quarterbacks. The last thing we need is the NCAA doing the same thing, giving major advantages to high-powered vertical offenses.

We've lost sight of the sport of football to a degree, and it's starting to take over at all levels. While serious injuries are a tragedy, it shouldn't be used to take away the excitement of the game we love.