HOOVER, Ala. — The SEC formally discussed its rule changes for the 2013 season on Wednesday, giving special attention to two major alterations from last year.
For starters, the "targeting" rule, which previously penalized defenders for making above-the-shoulder hits on ballcarriers or those who use the crown of the helmet to deliver a blow, will now include game disqualifications for the offenders.
It's a ruling that, according to Steve Shaw, the SEC's coordinator of football officials, is "probably the most dramatic change of my career."
The "targeting" rule has also been expanded to aid "defenseless players" — namely punters and quarterbacks — for the duration of an entire play. That means QBs will be protected after interceptions, fumbles or down-field blocking attempts ... and punters will be protected when running downfield on post-kick coverage plays.
There are two significant additions to the ruling:
1. A targeting-rule violator who commits the foul in question during the first half of a game will be disqualified for the duration of the afternoon.
2. A targeting-rule violator who commits the foul in question during the second half of a game will be disqualified for that day — and the first half of the following game.
"Playing time is a big motivator for our players," says Shaw, "and we feel (the punitive measures) will have a pretty significant impact."
Regarding instant replay, the officials have the right to use technology to reverse the punitive disqualifications after an illegal, "targeting" hit. However, replay cannot be implemented to reverse the spirit of the on-field penalty.
"This allows us to be right 100 percent of the time," said Shaw. He later added: "The world demands perfection from our officials and replay officials ... we strive to improve every day, every week to improve, so we can match our teams."
The second big rule change involves the act of a quarterback spiking the ball late in games:
During the fourth quarter, if the quarterback spikes the ball with three seconds or more, in an effort to stop the clock for a full "set" play, that would still be allowed.
However, if the QB spikes the ball with two seconds or less, in an effort to create another "set" play, officials would disallow the move, subsequently declaring the regulation period over.
The dramatic change is analogous to the NBA's "0.3 Rule," which prevents teams — when inbounding the ball — from executing a clean-and-release shot at the end of quarters, with 0.3 seconds or less on the clock.
Hence, the only means of scoring in that 0.0 - 0.3 window comes in the form of an alley-oop pass.
In other rulings:
**In the last two minutes of games, there will be a "10-second runoff" applied to injury-based stoppages of play.
**A player can be ejected for racking up multiple "unsportsman-like conduct" in a single game.
**Teammates playing the same position cannot wear the same jersey number.
