Red mats with numbers

[rucn65]

Does anyone know what the purpose of the red mats with numbers 1 thru 10 on each side of fifty yard line are for?

 

[mikershoein]

I was wondering the same thing

 

[RUskoolie]

For STs starters. Each person stands on the mat so they know everyone is accounted for before going out for punt, KO, etc.

A lot of schools have done that for a while

 

[mikershoein]

makes sense

 

[Scarlet Haze]

It is so the players that are not on the field can play Twister........

Actually it is for special teams. In college, sometimes the special teams coach wants those kids that are going out on a punt or kickoff to stand on their spot. This excludes the kicker (since he knows he is going in) and prevents a team from not having the right number of people on the field and thus having to waste a timeout.

 

[DHajekRC84]

damn, I was hoping I could answer that "Red Mats for $500" question Alex.

now if we could just put an 11th one there and a 12th one 42 yards down the sidelines so the kicker knew how far he should kick it...