Instructions: When you have a question for Don, email it directly to me (please make sure you state that it is a question for Don) and I will post it to my page. During the week, Don will be checking out my page and when he sees that he has a question, he will email me his answer and I will post it to my page. It's as simple as that.
If you want Don to speak at your function, email him at Don Shanks and he will get back with you.
01/09/98 Question from Pat - With the season just over it may be difficult to answer my question, but here goes. With the questionable ending to the Rose Bowl and what seems to be multiple, multiple missed calls during the season, do you feel that the quality of officiating in the SEC for 1997 has declined?
01/10/98 Answer from Don Shanks - Good question! But, a loaded question. It's one that is debated every year and will continue to be debated as long as we play the game. I told Gene when I agreed to do the column, that I would cover rules and penalties of the game.
I have no problem talking with any of you about what goes on in the SEC. It's been a part of my life since my playing days in the SEC in the 1960's and has continued when I started officiating in the 1970's. But, it's not something that is discussed on the internet. So, give me a call.
Don's email address is listed above. Contact him and I'm sure he would be willing to give you his telephone number - Gene.
01/04/98 Answer by Don Shanks - Rule 1/4-Article 2c. No two players of the same team shall participate in the same down wearing identical numbers. Penalty- Live-ball foul. Five yards from the previous spot.
2e. Numbers shall not be changed during the game to deceive opponents. Penalty-Live-ball foul, 15 yards from the previous spot. Flagrant offenders shall be disqualified.
FOOTBALL CODE: One of the first things the NCAA rules book covers is COACHING ETHICS! If you believe in the "American way of life", then we have to believe that coaches would not deliberately teach players to violate the rules.