Limited Substitution Rule

Discussion in 'On The Field' started by Idahorn2, Feb 16, 2008.

  1. Idahorn2

    Idahorn2 250+ Posts

    Back in olden days (pre '68 or thereabouts), freshmen could not play varsity football and no more than one or two players could be substituted after any one play, including before or after a punt. Nobis was famous for playing at Guard as well as Linebacker.

    This being the offseason, maybe there is a little room for us to speculate inanely about where recent and current players would have played if placed on the other side of the ball from their normal position.

    Vince, for one, would have made a great Safety. He had some hellacious tackles after interceptions, particularly in the Meatchicken Rose Bow and the '05 ousux game. One of his predecssors, Duke Carlisle, played Safety in '63.

    Linemen are kinda obvious, but there are five slots on offense, six if you count the tight end, and only four on defense.
     
  2. Huckleberry

    Huckleberry 1,000+ Posts

    Vince would have always been substituted when our offense was done.

    Way too important to the offense's success to play a single snap on defense or special teams.
     
  3. Idahorn2

    Idahorn2 250+ Posts

    OK, but who on the '05 team would have played both the Safety slots? Huff (who would also have been a WR) and Sweed or Quan and Griffin?

    It is a matter of distilling 22 geat athletes down to the most trainable and versatile 11 or so. How do you balance it out?

    I think it is safe to say that recruiting would be different if this rule were still in effect today.

    Who would be the linebackers? Kelson: he could also have been a RB. David Thomas would have had a good chance in the Middle. Selvin at OLB? Ramonce at CB. Either great or terrible, not sure. Aaron Ross at WR?

    I find this an interesting, even if silly, exercise.
     
  4. HornsInTheHouse

    HornsInTheHouse 500+ Posts

    I'm pretty Sure Vince Young actually played safety in high school. I remember the Westlake-Madison game in the semifinals where they put him in at safety in that shootout that Westlake won.
     
  5. 36Crossbuck

    36Crossbuck 100+ Posts

    Although I think Vince could have been a pretty good defensive player, I'd get him out of there.
     
  6. Texas Rugby

    Texas Rugby 100+ Posts

    I really wish college football would go back to limited substitution. Football is the only game where players do not have to play both offense and defense.

    The evolution of the game’s rules have gradually shifted decision-making from players to coaches to the point where now we actually have coaches communicating with the QB in the huddle. Limited subbing could eliminate that. It would certainly discourage players from bulking up way past 300 pounds as is so common now, but it would also likely mean that the game would be less complex schematically. It would also allow smaller schools like SMU, Rice and the like to compete more evenly with the big guys: you need less players and the costs are lowered.

    A compromise between limited and unlimited substitutions might be a good idea. Maybe allowing one substitute per play (except in case of injury). You would still have some specialists emerge, but there would be a lot of value in smart, versatile players that could play offense or defense.

    In Rugby lots of decision making is left to the players and the players have a much more general skillset. I would like to see the players do more thinking. But limited subbing would change the game of football dramatically.
     
  7. 36Crossbuck

    36Crossbuck 100+ Posts

    That's interesting Rugby. But "civil rights" groups would never allow it. Blacks are over-represented in major college football, so by simple mathematics any reduction in the size of college rosters would affect blacks more than whites. The cuts in coaching staffs that would come would result in fewer opportunities for black coaches. Seeing that they would charge racism word and cut down any attempt to bring back the two-way system.
     
  8. Statalyzer

    Statalyzer 10,000+ Posts


     
  9. Idahorn2

    Idahorn2 250+ Posts

    You're not getting it, Stat. Anyone capable of playing Safety (or LB) as well as Kelson, who also lined up credibly as RB, would have been worth his weight in gold.

    It would be a different game. That is the fun of this speculation.

    Fairly sure Kelson will play a lot more on Sundays the next four years than he did on Saturdays for Texas. Sure hope so.
     
  10. Statalyzer

    Statalyzer 10,000+ Posts

    I'm not sure you got my point, which seems to be similar to yours - that he didn't get nearly the PT he deserved at Texas.
     
  11. Idahorn2

    Idahorn2 250+ Posts

    I fully agree with you on his playing time in Austin. The purpose of THIS EXERCISE is to speculate what current and recent players would have done in a limited substitution context. I think Kelson would have excelled.

    By way of contrast, I doubt if Ramonce would have made a good CB because, while he may have had some of the personality, and speed, of some great ones like neon Deon, he may not have had the focusness. Not sure about their hands, but any of the the three Griffins might have been better WRs. Huff, I'm convinced, could have done anything he set his mind to.
     
  12. Shark4

    Shark4 2,500+ Posts


     
  13. TexLaw04

    TexLaw04 500+ Posts

    Does anyone know if pro football had similar rules during this time? I often hear of great college players going both ways, but rarely do I hear about pro players doing so.
     
  14. RomaVicta

    RomaVicta 5,000+ Posts

    We wouldn't have 300 pound linemen playing in college football.

    It would be heaven for those "tweener" inside linebackers and small defensive ends.

    Henry Melton might be a two way All American at tackle going both ways.
     
  15. Little Earl

    Little Earl 100+ Posts

    With all the discussions on Title IX a few years back, I remember some talk of reducing football scholarships well below the current 85. If something like that were to happen, it would really push more programs to play a few players both ways. Schools would have to make the tough decision of playing more true freshman and risking injury or playing more upper classmen both ways and risking injury. Either way, it would dramatically change the way the game is played.
     
  16. Statalyzer

    Statalyzer 10,000+ Posts


     
  17. Shark4

    Shark4 2,500+ Posts


     
  18. 1963_Frosh

    1963_Frosh 250+ Posts

    Huckleberry, that is sheer nonsense. In 1963, DKR would have used VY at safety just as he did Duke Carlisle for the last series against Baylor (a game I attended.) VY would have hopefully made the same last second interception against Don Trull to preserve a classic 7-0 victory and a NC.
     

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