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Bret Bielema, Shane Beamer dust-up in bowl game leads to rule change
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A controversy between Bret Bielema and Shane Beamer has resulted in a proposed rule change from the NCAA.
Fans may remember the dust-up between the 2 coaches at the Citrus Bowl this past bowl season. The animosity began when a South Carolina player returned a kickoff despite making “T-signal” with his arms during the kickoff. While legal, Bielema was frustrated with the move by South Carolina and expressed his displeasure during a timeout — which then infuriated Beamer.
“I wasn’t doing it personally to him, I just wanted them to understand that I know what just happened,” Bielema said at the time. “There’s nothing illegal, I just have never seen it done at any level of football college or pro.”
Moving forward, making a “T” signal during a kickoff will result in the play being whistled dead. Here’s a summary of the rule change proposal announced by the NCAA on Friday:
Recommended if any player on a kickoff-return team makes a “T” signal during the kick, the play would be whistled dead.
In addition to this change, the NCAA also proposed a rule change to help combat the rise in feigned injuries that occurred last season.
However, none of the proposed rules will be finalized until they are approved by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel. That group is scheduled to meet on April 16.
Spenser is the news manager at Saturday Road and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.