Jim Blackwood, supervisor of football officials for the WAC, said announcing the names of players who commit penalties is overdue. "The league supervisors have been trying to get that rule passed for years because it lets coaches and fans know right up front."

Blackwood said, "Football has been the only sport that didn't allow it. Basketball (does) and in the hockey they put the player in the penalty box."

UH defensive back Abraham Elimimian said, "It doesn't bother me, it is just one of those things. Fans want to know who did it. It might make teams more disciplined."

Elimimian said he hopes that in the cases of teams that have duplicate jersey numbers, "they announce the right player."

Blackwood said the only times a number won't be announced is if the official is unsure of the number and calls out the position of the offending player instead. "There's nothing worse than announcing a hold on number 76 and then, when you look at the replay, there's no 76, but a 78," Blackwood said.

Meanwhile, the Big Ten is the only conference authorized by the NCAA this year to undertake instant replay and Blackwood said it is unlikely the WAC will "even look at it in the near future."

Blackwood said: "Do I see it becoming a mandatory item in the future? The answer is: no. I'm a replay official in the NFL and there's just not that many qualified people around. Nor, are there that many schools that have the necessary equipment to have what I would call a successful replay situation."

Only Big Ten Conference games and Big Ten non-conference home games where the visitor also agrees to the instant replay system will used used this season. Blackwood said non-conference games involving Big Ten teams on the road, such as UH's Nov. 27 game with Northwestern or the Warriors' Dec. 4 game with Michigan Stadium, would not be eligible for instant replay.

In other rules news:

• Head coaches may now call timeouts. Previously, only players on the field could signal one. Assistant coaches will not be allowed to, however.

• Roughing the passer cannot be called if a defender is blocked into the quarterback.

• A 5-yard penalty for offsides on a kickoff against the kicking team may be added to the end of the return.

• Pass interference will not be called when the offense lines up in punt formation and throws a long pass.

•s It will be a 15-yard penalty if a player in the defensive backfield runs to the line of scrimmage and, in an attempt to block an extra point, leaps and falls on an opponent.