C-USA To Experiment With 'NFL Model' for Football Instant Replay

Conference USA Commissioner Britton Banowsky announced today that the conference athletics directors are recommending to the C-USA Board of Directors the implementation of an experimental “NFL Model” instant replay program for the 2005 football regular season. The Board of Directors will consider the recommendation at its June 6-7 meeting in Dallas.

C-USA will follow the instant replay model similar to what the National Football League utilizes in the final two minutes of play for each half. A technical advisor (TA) in the press box will decide on a review, but the referee will still make the final call on the field. Coaches will not be able to make a challenge, which is a difference from the NFL.

Conference USA’s experimental model is distinct from the other Division I-A conferences implementing instant replay, which all rely on the TA to both call for the instant replay and have the final decision upon review.

“This is a progressive step for our conference in doing what the coaches feel is best for the transition of instant replay in the college game,” Banowsky said.

The decision was made during the conference’s annual spring meetings, which were held this week in Destin, Fla. The football coaches and athletics directors also approved the tie-breaker formula for the inaugural C-USA Football Championship game.

The championship game, which will be played on Saturday, December 3, will feature the East and West divisional champions. Home field will be awarded to the team that posts the highest regular season winning percentage against conference opposition. The first tie-breaker is the winner of a head-to-head match-up. If the two teams did not play during the regular season, the team with the highest BCS ranking would receive the nod. In the case of a tie still remaining or multiple teams tying, then divisional play would be examined more closely.

For more information about Conference USA and C-USA football, log onto www.ConferenceUSA.com.

CONFERENCE USA
Conference USA (C-USA) is celebrating its 10th anniversary this season. The league’s membership will realign on July 1, 2005 with the addition of six schools: Marshall, Rice, SMU, Tulsa, UCF and UTEP. These six join current members East Carolina, Houston, Memphis, Southern Miss, Tulane and UAB. Conference USA, a NCAA Division I-A Conference based in Irving, Texas, will have a 12-school membership beginning in 2005 and will sponsor championships in 19 sports. C-USA offers nine sports for men (baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis and indoor and outdoor track and field) and 10 for women (basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and field and volleyball).