Adopt the Schiano Plan--It Would Solve 4 NFL Problems.

The Schiano Plan is simple for football.  If you have not heard of it, let me spell it out for you.  The most dangerous play in football is the kickoff.  It is as much as twice as likely to produce an injury as any other play.  This is why touchbacks were moved to the 25 yard line instead of the 20.  It incentivizes teams to get a touchback and provide a level of safety for players.  It has not worked out that way.

The Schiano plan was devized by former Rutgers coach Greg Schiano after seeing one of his players paralyzed on a kickoff.  It is simple.  Instead of a kickoff, the team will get the ball 4th down and 15 at their own 30 yard line.  The majority of the time, the team will chose to punt.  However, they can fake punt or they can trot their quarterback to the line of scrimmage.  The odds of converting a 4th and 15 on a fake punt or a designed offensive play are minimal, but it is better than an onside kick.  This will solve 4 problems in football.

First, it will reduce injuries.  As the kickoff is the most dangerous play in football, this will have an immediate positive impact on player safety.

Second, it will be more exciting because it will add drama to the play.  The percentage of kickoffs returned for touchdowns in low, less than one quarter of one percent. The percentage of punts returned for touchdowns is about one half on one percent.  Which means that a team is twice a likely to return a punt for a touchdown than they are a kickoff.  About 8% of onside kicks are successful.  Arguably, they are less successful if the opposing team is expecting them.  A fake punt is successful about 1% of the time, but is exciting to watch.  About 12% of 4th and 15 plays result in a conversion.

Third, it adds a level of fairness to sudden-death overtime.  If a team loses the coin toss in overtime, they have a chance to keep the ball anyway.  Image what that would have done for the 2022 Bills vs. Chiefs playoff game.  The Bills, instead of kicking off could have trotted Josh Allen out for a 4th and 15 play to keep the ball out of the hands of Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense.  Perhaps teams will chose to kick when they win the coin toss more often.  

Forth, it takes away an aspect of Gridiron Football that seems unrelated to the rest of the game.

Playing Taps for the PAC-12...or Are We?

Just like that, the PAC-12 appears to be going the way of its predecessor, the PCC.  USC and UCLA are leaving for the Big 10.  It has also been reported that Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah have at least enquired about joining the Big 12.  That could leave California, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, Washington and Washington State scrambling.  However, Stanford and Oregon possibly also be Big 10 bound.

This is just speculation on my part...the PAC-12 appears to be done.  If you are Boise State, would you join a conference anchored by Washington, Washington State, Oregon and California.  Or would you prefer to remain in the MW?  If it is the prior, it will probably no longer be called the PAC-12, because the brand is now tarnished if not toxic.  Also remember there would only be one bowl game remaining in the PAC-12...the Whatever it is called bowl that plays at Levi's stadium.

The war to whittle down the Power 5 to 4 is now over.  The PAC-12 lost.  The PAC-12 sealed its fate when the decided NOT to raid the Big 12 for Oklahoma State, TCU, Baylor and Texas Tech in the wake of Oklahoma and Texas leaving for the SEC.  The Big 12 then shored up its forces by expanding.  Even after the Big 12 expanded, the PAC-12 could have shored up its forces by adding Boise State with 1 to 3 other MW schools, but they refused to see the writing on the wall.  They should not be surprised by today's announcements.

However, this is a worst-case scenario.  It is possible that only USC and UCLA will leave.  The PAC-12 will add Boise State with 1 to 3 or even 5 of their sister MW schools and things will normalize.  But the sharks smell blood in the water.