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Friday, February 28, 2014 • D 3
ASSOCIATED PRESS
In this Nov. 16, 2013, photo, Auburn running back Tre Mason (21) outruns Georgia cornerback Damian Swann (5) for a touchdown in Auburn, Ala.
Pace of Play Debate Should Be More Data, Less Drama
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Maybe the most refreshing
take about a proposed rule
change that would tap the
brakes on college football’s
pedal-to-the-metal offenses came from Temple coach
Matt Rhule.
“I’m selfishly for it,” Rhule
said.
Rhule shares some of the
safety concerns held by
Arkansas’ Bret Bielema and
Alabama’s Nick Saban about
how hurry-up offenses increase the number of plays
per game and don’t allow
defenses to substitute for fatigued players. Rhule said it’s
better to be out in front of a
potentially dangerous situation than too late.
Citing player safety, the
NCAA football rules committee passed a proposal two
weeks ago to prohibit teams
from snapping the ball until
at least 10 seconds had run
off the 40-second clock,
with the exception of the final two minutes of each half.
Ultimately, Rhule supports the proposal because
he believes it helps his team,
which does not push the
pace offensively the way
programs such as Oregon,
Auburn and Texas Tech do.
He said the introduction of
the 40-second clock in 2008
and the rise of up-tempo offenses have fundamentally
changed college football and
created an advantage defenses can’t combat.
“Shouldn’t both sides be
able to decide if they want to
make substitutions?” he
asked.
Instead of turning the debate over pace of play in college football into a playersafety melodrama based on
hypothetical worst-case
scenarios, maybe it’s time to
have an honest discussion
about whether cutting de-
fenses some slack is good for
the game.
Rhule was one of the 25
FBS coaches, out of 128 total
surveyed by ESPN, who said
they were in favor of the proposal, which still must be
approved by the NCAA
playing rules oversight panel
that meets March 6.According to the survey released
Wednesday, 93 FBS coaches
(73 percent) are opposed to
the proposal, nine are undecided and one coach declined to participate.
Whether you agree with
Rhule or not, there is some
validity to his argument.
Points per game (27 to
29.5),yards per game (371.6 to
412.5) and yards per play (5.48
to 5.75) have been steadily rising since the 40-second
clock was introduced in ’08.
Before then, officials would
take 12 to 15 seconds to spot
the ball and declare it ready
for play, allowing time for
both teams to sub before the
25-second play clock started.
Coaches complained that
from crew to crew and conference to conference, officials were inconsistent about
the time it was taking to spot
the ball.The 40-second clock
solved that problem, with an
unintended consequence.
“The pace of the game was
now being turned over to the
offense,” NCAA coordinator
of officials Rogers Redding
said. “I don’t think anybody
anticipated at the time that
would lead to the great proliferation of up-tempo and
no-huddle offenses like we
see today.”
But that’s not the reason for
the proposal. This is a nonchange year for NCAA rules,
so alterations to the rule book
can be made only to address a
safety issue.However,there is
no data showing hurry-up offenses put players at risk.
Bielema explained his
stance to reporters last week,
and it didn’t seem to win
over any of the dissenters.
Instead, he drew the ire of
the University of California
by referencing Golden Bears
player Ted Agu, who died after collapsing during a conditioning run Feb. 7, as evidence to support the proposal.
Bielema said he’s concerned about athletes with
the sickle cell trait, a genetic
condition that can alter red
blood cells during strenuous
exercise and cause muscles
to break down. Bielema said
they could be put in grave
danger by no-huddle offenses that don’t allow defenses to freely substitute.
There is no reason to doubt
Bielema’s sincerity,but when
football coaches play doctor,
things get messy.
“Using that as an argument lacks any real medical
or scientific support,” said
Dr. Andrew Gregory, associate professor of orthopedics
and pediatrics at Vanderbilt
University.
Gregory said the cases of
sickle cell-related deaths in
college football have been
caused by what he called
“heroic training,” during
which players push themselves past their limits.
“But those issues surround training and not the
game,” he said. “You don’t
see muscle breakdown during the game because you’re
probably not playing enough
to get in trouble.”
At this point it will be surprising if the pace-of-play
proposal is passed. The rules
committee could even decide
to withdraw the proposal before it gets to the playing
rules oversight panel.
The pace-of-play issue isn’t going away, but maybe
the debate can become more
about data than drama.
YOUR SPORTS
Burt Reynolds (Not That One)
Part of Mariners Camp
ASSOCIATED PRESS
PEORIA, Ariz. • He knows
the question is coming because at some point it has to
be asked.
“The
name?”
Burt
Reynolds asks.
Yes, the name. It has to be
asked.Because thus far,there
is little known about Burt
Reynolds the baseball player,
who finds himself part of the
Seattle Mariners spring
training camp.He’s spent the
last three seasons playing in
independent leagues on the
East Coast after getting released by the Tampa Bay
Rays organization.
“I’ve been hearing it forever,” Reynolds said. “I don’t
know what to say. It’s just a
name.”
He’s a 25-year-old outfielder who has never played
above class Single-A,yet he’s
with the Mariners and with a
locker at the end of the clubhouse right next to $240 million star Robinson Cano. It
just happens that Reynolds is
Cano’s cousin, and the
Mariners’ biggest offseason
investment wanted his
cousin to get another shot at
impressing a major league
club.
“It means a lot. He was
playing independent ball and
to be able to get a shot, get a
chance, it’s really good to see
your family,” Cano said.“And
the way he’s been swinging,
the coaches seem pretty
happy with the way he’s been
swinging. Hopefully in the
games he’ll get his chances
and do his job.”
For his part, Reynolds is
thankful for the opportunity
that he’s getting because of
his ties to Cano, whom he
considers a big brother. He
was signed by the Mariners
in December shortly after
Cano finalized his 10-year
contract to leave New York
and make a new home in the
Pacific Northwest.
“He knows I’ve got what it
takes and he feels like a lot of
people, and myself, that I
shouldn’t be out of baseball.
I should be given the opportunity,” Reynolds said. “He
thinks I’m ready and he feels
as though I could do something.”
Reynolds’ best season in
pro ball was his first while
playing for rookie league
Princeton in 2008. He hit
.289 with six homers and 36
RBIs that season, but his career never took off.So he understands why his name raises eyebrows when someone
notices it on Seattle’s spring
roster.
Reynolds said it was his
dad’s decision to name him
after the famous actor.It was
difficult as a child having a
famous name, but Reynolds
has become more comfort-
SHOOTING
Magic Valley Gallery League
Match 7
RIFLE SCORES
Buhl Club
1. Bruce Lohnes
2. Dave Gyorfy
3. Jerrod Vaughn
Rupert Club
1. Nyles Tilley
2. Clint Davis
3. Quick Draw
Twin Falls Club
1. John Pitts
2. Mark Bulcher
3. Keith Pryne
1. Hugh Sheldon
2. Ryan Ennis
PISTOL SCORES
395
381
370
382
299
280
397
386
358
SPORTING RIFLES
Rupert Club
1. Max Vaughn
2. Jesse Vaughn
3. Tana Ricondo
Twin Falls Club
1. Abby Evans
342
262
317
307
284
234
JR. RIFLE
Buhl Club
No Score
Twin Falls Club
Buhl Club
1. George Wagner
2. Bruce Lohnes
3. Dave Gyorfy
Rupert Club
1. Nyles Tilley
2. Quick Draw
3. Jesse Vaughn
Twin Falls Club
1. Dan Brown
2. Mark Bulcher
3. Robert Anderson
545
526
520
545
535
514
579
560
537
TWO-HANDED PISTOL
Buhl Club
1. Ghost Shooter
2. Pam Kubic
3. Priscilla Sisson
Rupert Club
1. Tana Ricondo
2. Ivan Ragsdale
3. Mike Ricondo
Twin Falls Club
1. Judy Pitts
2. Judy Barnes
3. Abby Evans
513
439
470
523
399
397
507
429
313
WRESTLING PARTICIPANTS
District IV State
Wrestling
Participants
AS LISTED ON OFFICIAL IHSAA BRACKETS
CLASS 4A
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Seattle Mariners' Burt Reynolds takes a lead off second
base as he participates in baserunning drills during
spring training baseball practice in Peoria, Ariz.
able as he’s gotten older to
where he can chuckle at odd
exchanges in the past.
Like when he was on a
flight to Florida and the captain of the plane decided to
announce
that “Burt
Reynolds is aboard today.”
Reynolds had to kindly inform the crew that they were
slightly mistaken on which
Burt Reynolds was aboard.
“The flight attendants had
a blast,” Reynolds said. “It’s
going to happen. I have the
name.I’m just used to it now.”
98: Tyler Williams, Jerome; Manuel Garcia, Canyon
Ridge; Colby Clark, Burley; Francisco Lara, Canyon
Ridge.
106: Nick Evans, Jerome; Jarrett Young, Canyon
Ridge; Hunter Douglas, Twin Falls; Blake Gilchrist,
Minico.
113: Ernesto Salinas, Twin Falls; Austin Pierson,
Jerome; Victor Velasquez, Canyon Ridge; Chase
Bingham, Minico.
120: Juan Ramirez, Minico; Allan Jeppsen, Minico;
Omar Laris, Twin Falls; Ryan Anderson, Wood River.
126: Cody Peterson, Twin Falls; Gaige Kepner, Canyon
Ridge; Wyatt Bingham, Minico; Hugo Lara, Jerome.
132: Byron Bailey, Jerome; Kyle McClure, Canyon
Ridge; Ben Lauda, Twin Falls; Cooper Bailey, Wood
River.
138: Fernando Parke, Burley; Adrian Borrayo,
Canyon Ridge; Joseph Bailey, Jerome; Zaide Slotten,
Canyon Ridge.
145: Austin Bobrowski, Jerome; Spencer Geilman,
Twin Falls; Cesar Castellanos, Jerome; Daniel
Hernandez, Canyon Ridge.
152: Ryan Altom, Twin Falls; Eric Bryan, Canyon
Ridge; Kadin Williams, Jerome; Alex Gonzalez,
Jerome.
160: Mike Whitaker, Jerome; Luke Allred, Minico;
Chase Mayo, Canyon Ridge; Kevin Lovell, Twin Falls.
170: Ryker Fenstermaker, Burley; Dakota Miller, Twin
Falls; Cole Wright, Burley; Zachary Borrayo, Jerome.
182: Shaun Cahala, Jerome; Zachary Argyle, Jerome;
Brendon Belnap, Twin Falls; Matthew Gil, Minico.
195: Travis Osterhout, Burley; Austin Hobbs, Burley;
T.J. Strunk, Minico; Bruno Garay, Jerome.
220: Jordon Crist, Canyon Ridge; Andy Sevillano,
Jerome; Garrett Pirtle, Twin Falls; Skylar Baecht,
Canyon Ridge.
285: David Jimenez, Canyon Ridge; Chris Liggett,
Burley; Keegan Luker, Twin Falls; Lucio Carillo,
Jerome.
CLASS 3A
98: Jack Toothman, Filer.
106: Garrett Williams, Buhl.
113: Zac Hallett, Kimberly; Chase Wingfield, Buhl;
Rain Robinson, Filer.
120: Preston Hurd, Filer; Jeff Hernandez, Gooding;
Jesse Pena, Buhl.
126: Wyatt Larson, Kimberly; Spencer Rimer, Buhl;
Santos Gutierrez, Gooding.
132: Cristian Jaramillo, Buhl; Spencer Ferguson,
Gooding; Daniel Schliebe, Filer.
138: Junior Gutierrez, Gooding; Tristin Daniels, Filer;
Shannon Seward, Kimberly.
145: Adan Diaz, Kimberly; Austin Ericson, Gooding;
Adam McLean, Buhl.
152: Richard Langley, Gooding; Bryson Lehman, Filer;
Kristopher Scott, Gooding.
160: Torin Brunson, Gooding; Mark Poehler, Buhl; J.T.
Grover, Kimberly
170: Raymond O’Dell, Kimberly; Kaden Barrus,
Gooding; Zach Sharp, Filer.
182: Joe Harris, Kimberly; Zak Constable, Gooding;
Caleb Rundle, Filer.
195: Alex Lehman, Filer; Francisco Viveros, Kimberly;
Landunn Koyle, Gooding.
220: Ty Faulkner, Gooding; Manuel Lepe, Filer; Josh
Finley, Gooding.
285: Cole McGinnis, Gooding; Dillon Hone, Filer.
CLASS 2A
98: Cade Horn, Shoshone; T.J. Speers, Declo; Britton
Bedke, Oakley; Spencer Anderson, Raft River.
106: Trey Crider, Declo; Grant Anderson, Raft River;
Mathew Mazur, Declo; Zach Matthews, Wendell.
113: Austin Thompson, Wendell; Brody Smith, Oakley;
William Wells, Oakley; Trevor Speers, Declo; Matt
Arellano, Glenns Ferry.
120: Jesse Clearwater, Oakley; Calvin Korom, Oakley;
Deon Teeter, Raft River.
126: Gunner Adams, Declo; Trent Gines, Wendell;
Jorge Alonzo, Declo.
132: Wyatt Smith, Raft River; Julian Gonzalez,
Wendell; John Nunnelee, Declo.
138: Brian Penrod, Wendell; Colton Rose, Raft River;
Blaine Phillips, Declo.
145: Riley Hedelius, Glenns Ferry; Chase Roberts,
Glenns Ferry; Kaleb Burk, Valley.
152: Levi Mitton, Oakley; Armando Jimenez, Wendell;
Dalton Petersen, Raft River.
160: Casey Clapp, Wendell; Max Martell, Glenns
Ferry; Luke Gilbert, Raft River.
170: Kyle Mitton, Oakley; Gus Southern, Declo; Wasey
Erickson, Raft River.
182: Jose Ortiz, Glenns Ferry; Ethan Gunnell, Hansen;
Remington Sagers, Oakley.
195: Rogelio Gomez, Raft River; Colton Horn,
Shoshone; Anthony Benavidez, Oakley.
220: Drexton Thrall, Declo; Brigham Gentry, Declo.
285: Bryson Robison, Declo; Braxton Doman, Declo;
Jack Riggs, Glenns Ferry; Lorenzo Ramirez, Valley.