Run up the score, you're suspended!

[Brian Fein]

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/news/story?id=2457707&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

Discuss!

[EDGECRUSHER]

One old school baseball manager said it best "I'll promise to stop scoring if you do". I mean, if it's 18-0 in the 9th don't steal a base, but with today's offenses and shitty middle relief, unless you are up by 14 with 4 outs left, keep going.

[Denver_Bronco]

Usually these blowouts are a product of one school being way larger then the other school, thus having players who are obviously 10 times better then the smaller school. I am sure they can find schools who are more competitive and who match up better and fill up a schedule.

[Brian Fein]

Here's the problem I see with this.

You're a coach.  You're up by 42.  You say "ok guys, that's enough"

Suddenly, your defense recovers a fumble on the 10 and runs it in.  Now you're up by 49.

Now, I'm the opposing coach, down by 49 - I tell my QB "run the ball into the end zone and take a safety."

Down by 51 - now coaches will trade safeties back and forth for the rest of the game so as not to get suspended.

That's not how football should be.

I'm all in favor of rule alteration for blowout games, but let's just end the game at 50 points lead or knock off time off the clock or run it faster (no clock stoppages).  Suspension is not the answer.

Not only this, but now the 3rd stringers don't get to play as hard because they aren't "allowed" to score.

[CF DolFan]

 The saddest part of this is there shouldn't have to be a rule.  Common sports decency should dictate no one should win by 50 or more in high school football but since many coaches suffer form their own inadequacies they like to do this.  It doesn't take a rocket scientist to stop scoring in football. It also isn't very fun to win a game in this fashion unless you aren't used to winning.  A wise man once said ... act like you've been there before ... even if it is your first time.

[Denver_Bronco]

They should've suspended Tom Coughlin for beating Miami 62-7.


Nah.....

[Phishfan]

I agree that suspensions are a bit crazy. I hope they leave some discretionary leeway for situations like Brian suggested.

[Dave Gray]

I like the quote: "It's not our job to stop us from scoring, it's their job."

I think that running up the score is probably classless, but you can't make rules against it.

[bsfins]

I see both sides of this....I played for a powerhouse,small town football team,that was going for the state champs year in year out.Most of the Time the Varsity team was winning 55 - 7,35 - 0,41 - 0...The final year I played highschool ball (my junior year) We didn't allow more than 13 points in any one game,our lowest scoring out put was the final game of the Semi's we only scored 10. (lost 14 - 10) We slaughtered people.....We were also taught the playbook from 8th grade on,so when you were a freshman,you knew the base playbook,something bigger schools couldn't do.

Where I Graduated from...they just plain sucked at football...They got thier asss handed to them every year.If they won 5 games it was a good year...Playoffs? Playoffs? yeah right....

I think this is a sham law...Ok, I admit,90-0 the game is over..throw in the towel...cut the game short...I feel,fine throw in a mercy rule,not suspend the coach.

In response to Denver's statement...Here in Missouri,We have different classes..and even break down in each class,then division.In Webb City We were 3A the whole town only had 7500 people back then.The high school had maybe 1000 kids total...We didn't play a K.C.,or St. Louis school division 1A school.they adjust the classes year to year,and divisons every few years.

Even here in Springfield,there are 5 high schools...They are in class 5..worse than Webb City...

That's just my take on it...

[Sunstroke]

I just hope they don't start using this policy in our TDMMC baseball league this week...The way my squad's roughing up Pats2006, I could definitely get suspended. 

Seriously though...I don't like this policy at all. How much you can beat someone by in sports shouldn't be governed. If you don't want to get beat that bad...step up and play a little defense.

[pintofguinness14]

This is such a load of crap.  If they want to call the game after the third quarter, fine, but don't tell the players they aren't allowed to score.  Even under the current rules, was there anything to stop the losing coach from forfitting after it became clear the game was lost?  Maybe he should be suspended for not quitting.

I heard the same whining about Spurrier when I was at UF.  The Gators beat Central Michigan by 60 points and everyone and their grandmother called Spurrier "unsportsmanlike".  What noboday said was that he pulled all of the starters at the middle of the 3rd quarter.  He was running the score up with freshmen and sophomores.  Are you supposed to tell those kids they aren't allowed to score?  Or how about the senior bench warmer who sees this as his last opportunity for a little on-field glory? 

Sometimes you lose and sometimes your just get your ass handed to you.  Lesson learned.

[Dphins4me]

  One word summons this up.  Stupid.

If a coach brings his bench in, then that is all you can ask a coach to do.