40-second play clock coming this fall

Submitted by Pittsburg1 on
“Well, it’s just the nature of the game today, almost everyoneis running the hurry-up style of offense; we’re no different.” -Coach Dickey Meeks
 
 
When the Pirates take the field this season you might, for a split-second, think you’re at a college football game. This fall, schools across the state will be implementing the use of a 40-second play clock instead of the old 25-second play clock. This is an effort made by the University Interscholastic League (UIL) to bring Texas high school football up to date with NCAA standards, which switched to the 40-secondplay clock in 2008.
 
The new play clock will begin counting down from 40 seconds once the previous play has been called dead, taking away the inconsistent time it generally took officials to spot the ball and signal tobegin the old 25-second clock.
 
Overall, this new play clock will have virtually no affect on a vast majority of football programs across the state because those programs already run a high tempo, fast-paced offense.
 
When asked for comments regarding this change, head coach Dickey Meeks responded to the following questions:
 
Question: “Will this new play clock be an issue for the Pirates this fall?”
Coach Meeks: “The only group I see that may have a challenge adjusting to this new play clock is the chain crews, ball boys, and officials. They will really have to be on the move and be ready for things that are happening during the game. As far as the way we play, I don’t see it being an issue for us; we already like to play at a fast-paced tempo so this change really benefits us.”
 
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