Today's Tidbit: Follow The Damn Rules
I've been enjoying a fun Saturday of college football.
Nevertheless, I remember the days when football followed its rules—at least, I remember it that way. So, the continued sight of short pants above the knee bothers me. I was triggered to write about this by Tom Lockney's recent comment on an article I wrote three years ago about The Long History of Football's Short Pants.
Tom's opinion has value, at least on matters of rules and precision. He professed law at the University of North Dakota, and his father's ingenuity led to 83% of the stripes on today's football field. He understands the need to follow rules and the value of precise wording.
Tom asked:
I first read this in 2021. I noticed short pants that season, and more since. Never a penalty? Have the rules changed? Or are the officials just giving up?
The 2024 rule book is quite clear on the pants' length issue. Here’s what the rule says:
The rule points us to Exhibit 5, which shows the following:
The rule exists, and everyone knows about it since it stares you in the face, yet players violate it every game, and no one says or does anything about it.
I'm not a "keep your kids off my lawn guy," but the rules of the game should be followed. I have no problem if functionality and style preferences change; it is to be expected. If players want to forego knee pads, that's fine. I just want them to change the damn rule. Until then, enforce it.
That is all. And stay off my damn lawn.
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Anyone who has ever worn football pants knows that those knee pads don't prevent much. Maybe a bruise or two. I think there is an aesthetic look to football pants that we have come to know. I have also seen the rise of them in the college game and think it looks awful.
I remember a few years ago when the craze among NFL defenders was to not wear the pads in the pants at all. Czar Roger I helped institute a rule requiring the knee and thigh pads for all. The size and shape seem to be purely for looks.
Pad size is a great topic for Football Archaeology. I know shoulder pads have been written about before.
Now on to hip pads...
Been complaining about this. In fact my beloved and struggling Red Wolves uniform reveal video pants were above the knee.
I am 100% on the side of make the rules reflect how games are officiated. If a rule is not enforced or worse sporadically enforced it needs to be changed.