It is time to stop complaining. The Pacific-10 Conference has finally agreed to make some changes that West Coast college football fans have been advocating for in recent years.
The Pac-10 approved the use of instant replay on an experimental basis for the 2005 season. The system used is comparable to the Big Ten Conference, which stresses the importance of accurate calls that keep the game flowing.
“I think the average slow-down is less than three minutes per game, and I think there is less than one call per game overturned,” Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti said. “It will basically be possession issues – endlines, sidelines, first downs. Those type of things.”
A replay official located in the press box will make the replay decision rather than an official on the field, and coaches will not be allowed to challenge calls on the field.
Also in the works is a schedule change beginning with the 2006 season. The Pac-10 will add a ninth conference game, creating its first round-robin schedule since 1977. Each conference team is slated to play three non-league games as well.
“The conference champion will be truly crowned by who you played, not by who you haven’t played,” Bellotti said. “Every conference game is so important, and has a tremendous rivalry and passion, so why would we not want to play a conference game every year when we have that opportunity?”
Despite being in favor of the decision, Bellotti is wary of consistently playing 12 regular season games each year.
“I’m absolutely in favor of playing all the Pac-10 schools,” Bellotti said. “I’m not sure I like the 12-game schedule the way we have it.”
Bellotti has yet to see the schedule, but has heard of the complications it might bring.
“Which is surprising that nobody from the Pac-10 or our school has ever shown me that schedule; I think they are afraid to,” Bellotti added. “Because I’ve heard it is 12 straight, and we play after Thanksgiving.”
In order to get as many of those games on TV, the Pac-10 agreed to a five-year contract extension with ABC Sports. The deal also allows ESPN to air Pac-10 football games for the first time since 1994.
“I am thrilled that we were able to reach this agreement, which will keep the tradition of Pac-10 football on ABC Sports, and will enable ESPN to both televise Pac-10 games and proved multi-media opportunities for fans that follow Pac-10 football,” said George Bodenheimer, president of ESPN, Inc. and ABC Sports . “This new agreement will be mutually beneficial for the Pac-10, ABC Sports and ESPN.”

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