Not so fast, Saban

The chairman of the NCAA Football Rules Committee said Tuesday a proposal to prohibit snapping the ball until at least 10 seconds run off the 40-second play clock should not go forward if there is no hard evidence showing up-tempo offenses endanger defensive players. Air Force coach Troy Calhoun (pictured), the committee chairman, said he has yet to see a medical study linking the rapid pace of an offense to potential health issues for defensive players. The Playing Rules Oversight Commission, which meets March 6, is the body that would approve the proposal for it to go into effect next season. Calhoun said evidence would need to be presented before the comment period ends March 3. Asked about the perception that Alabama coach Nick Saban, who has won three of the last five national championships, might have had undue influence, Calhoun said “that’s a separate conversation” and moved on to another topic. – AP