Date: 10 Nov 2006 17:09:03
From: Kevin D. Timm
Subject: Alvarez praises Bielema for exploiting 'bad rule'
|
Former Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez defended on Monday current coach
Bret Bielema's decision to have players intentionally go offsides prior
to kickoffs so the first half would expire during Saturday's game
against Penn State.
After three kicks, Penn State did not run an offensive play in what was
a manipulation of a new rule that starts the clock rolling as soon as it
is kicked.
"It was a hell of a call!" said Alvarez, the school's athletic director
who hired Bielema. "If Joe Paterno does that everyone says it's genius.
There are rules. Good coaches take advantage of them. Do you not think
Joe Paterno would have done it if he'd known the rule?"
Wisconsin won the game to improve to 9-1. Alvarez said he and Bielema
discussed exploiting this loophole back in the summer, when they visited
with officials.
"It's a bad rule," Alvarez said. "I think what you'll see next year is
the clock stopped in the final two minutes of each half."
|
