NCAA trying to ban messages on eye black under the 'Tebow Ru

[dbackjon]

Tim Tebow may have used up his four years of eligibility, but that doesn't mean he can't still have an impact on college football.

The NCAA's Football Rules Committee is proposing a ban on Tebow's most identifiable feature — the bible verses on his eye black. The new proposal, introduced Thursday, would ban all words, logos, numbers or other symbols on the players' eye black, beginning in the 2010 season.

The rule will not become official until it is approved by the NCAA's Playing Rules Oversight Panel.

The NCAA didn't mention Tebow by name, but the rule was already being unofficially dubbed "The Tebow Rule" by media and fans on Friday morning.

Hundreds of college football players use their eye black to boast of their hometown, home area code or love of a mother or girlfriend. But Tebow, a devout Christian, is the most prominent example of a player using his eye black as a personal billboard, having used it the past two seasons to print a bible verse and promote his faith. After the 2009 BCS Championship Game, 92 million people Googled "John 3:16," the verse Tebow wore during the game. With the new rule, such a phenomenon would never have taken place.

The NFL also has a "no messages on the eye black" rule, meaning if Tebow plays in the league, he no longer will be able to adorn his famous bible verses during games.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/gat ... 32356.html

[dbackjon]

Should have done this a couple of years ago.

[AZGrizFan]

So the NCAA is now the No Fun League?

[dbackjon]

So the NCAA is now the No Fun League?

How is that restricting fun? No ad league.

[clenz]

I agree with this...going back to Reggie Bush. You are a part of a team, not an individual out there. No messages on equipment. However, RIP so-and-so on a players cleats I have no issue with, as long as it is small

[SpiderFan5]

i can see why they are doing this
but he is not trying to promote himself

its not like he wrote his name on them

[AZGrizFan]

So the NCAA is now the No Fun League?

How is that restricting fun? No ad league.

yeah. The world is only about 80% Christian. I'm sure the majority of the world was apalled at his ad for the "bible".

[Shellin]

Eh, I'm pretty indifferent to this rule. I can see why they would want to ban messages on eye black, but can also see the argument that, for the most part, it wasn't really hurting anything/anyone. On the bright side it will prevent idiots like Terrelle Pryor from endorsing Mike Vick and saying "Not everybody is a perfect person in the world. Everyone kills people, murder people, steals from you, steals from me, whatever."

[LastMinuteman]

How is that restricting fun? No ad league.

yeah. The world is only about 80% Christian. I'm sure the majority of the world was apalled at his ad for the "bible".

The world is only about 33% Christian, but that's not really relevant. They're doing this to seize greater control of their product, not for the sake of religious inclusiveness or any other ideal.

[polsongrizz]

How is that restricting fun? No ad league.

yeah. The world is only about 80% Christian. I'm sure the majority of the world was apalled at his ad for the "bible".

So you do understand...

[Sapper]

How does it affect football and who really cares? If you want to put John 3:16 on your face do it.

[AZGrizFan]

How does it affect football and who really cares? If you want to put John 3:16 on your face do it.

Exactly. Much ado about nothing.

[AZGrizFan]

yeah. The world is only about 80% Christian. I'm sure the majority of the world was apalled at his ad for the "bible".

So you do understand...

I understand it's another assinine ruling by the NCAA.

[SDHornet]

Thank goodness this issue has been taken care of, there is definitely nothing better the NCAA could have spent their time on.

[clenz]

What if someone had kill darky or kill whitey or kill the joos on there. Would that be ok?

[SDHornet]

What if someone had kill darky or kill whitey or kill the joos on there. Would that be ok?

I can't imagine any coach allowing that to go down (assuming they knew about it).

[kuntryboimike]

stupidest rule i ever heard of. i think they can put wutever they want AS LONG AS its not inappropriate like something to do with "sex, murder, etc...." but a g/f name, wife name, family member name, BIBLE VERSE, and anything else not inappropriate should be fine. i think sum1 is claiming this has nothing to do with religion but I BET whoever or w/e group of people came up with this sum1 is doing it because of religion.

[Willie]

I had blank eye black patches for every game of my college career and wrote my grandparents initials on each one. I think this is a bunch of bullshit. Might as well tell each player what jock to wear while you're at it.

I can understand the religious part but shit, if someone like me wants to play in memory of a loved one, try to stop them.

[JayJ79]

I didn't have any problem with Tebow's eyeblack messages, or with any other players that I remember seeing.

But I also don't have a problem with the NCAA adopting the rule.
They already have all sorts of regulations about uniforms covering everything from the placement of american flag patches to the allowable dimensions of the corporate logos of the company that made the jerseys. The eyeblack thing is just another one of those. *shrug*

[kuntryboimike]

i dont have a problem with the religion either. if u wanna glorify God by putting His word on ur face for other people to see and get curious "example all those people that looked up john 3:16" then go for it. if ur about representing God go for it. if u wanna play for family GO FOR IT. AND HECK IF U JUST WANNA PUT "GO FLAMES" OR "GO MOUNTAINEERS" OR "GO (NAME OF UR TEAM)" THEN GO FOR IT!!!! its not like ur taking a huge poster and covering the field. there cheeks!!!! under a helmet!!! its harmless!!!! let it go!!!

[SuperJon]

I don't blame Tebow one bit for doing what he felt was right under the current rules. There is nothing that he did wrong.

With that being said, I don't blame college football for wanting to outlaw this at all. It's not anti-religion at all. It's pro-uniformity.

[bluehenbillk]

You guys should read further if you're calling the NCAA the No Fun League. They're changing the taunting rule effective with the 2011 season. If you break free & taunt on your way to the end zone (high-step it like Prime Time) & they throw a flag, they take the points off the board & penalize 15 yds from the spot of the infraction.

[dbackjon]

I don't blame Tebow one bit for doing what he felt was right under the current rules. There is nothing that he did wrong.

With that being said, I don't blame college football for wanting to outlaw this at all. It's not anti-religion at all. It's pro-uniformity.

The voice of reason!

WE all know America is full of copycats. Now that Tebow is gone, who knows what type of messages we'd be seeing. They waited until Tebow was gone so as to not seem like they are picking on him or his religion.

[BullDog85]

For the NCAA it's two things:

1. Anti-Christion: Funny how the concern for this didn't pop up until a Heisman winner has references to Bible versus on his eye black, whereas before they never even cared to notice it.

2. Greed: It's all about the Benjamins. NCAA wants to provide "sanctioned" eye black messages down the road sold to the highest bidder..."Drink Coke" anyone?

[grizzaholic]

I don't blame Tebow one bit for doing what he felt was right under the current rules. There is nothing that he did wrong.

With that being said, I don't blame college football for wanting to outlaw this at all. It's not anti-religion at all. It's pro-uniformity.

The voice of reason!

WE all know America is full of copycats. Now that Tebow is gone, who knows what type of messages we'd be seeing. They waited until Tebow was gone so as to not seem like they are picking on him or his religion.

So if Tebow was putting Pro-Gay messages on his cheek patches and this rule was passed would you be all up in arms over it being anti-gay? Just a question.