NCAA Football Committee OKs Ban on 'Eye Black' Notes

By Eric Young, Christian Post Reporter Friday, February 12, 2010

The NCAA Football Rules Committee agreed Wednesday to bar players from displaying words, numbers, logos and other symbols in the anti-glare "eye black" they underline their eyes with.

Though not mentioned in the decision, former college football star and outspoken Christian Tim Tebow has been credited by numerous media and bloggers as having had an influence on the move – dubbed by some already as "The Tebow Rule."

Though hundreds of college players use their eye black to express themselves, Tebow's use of the glare reducer had drawn notably attention over the past two years as it touted verses in the Bibles. It became especially prominent the college football season before last as he marched his team toward their second BCS championship in three years.

In the 2009 BCS championship game, Tebow donned the most popular Bible verse in America – John 3:16 – which went on to be googled by some 94 million people over two days. Other verses, the Florida Gators QB has sported include Mark 8:36, John 16:33, Ephesians 2:8-10, and James 1:24.

The recent decision by the NCAA Football Rules Committee came as it held its annual meeting this past week in Indianapolis. Other actions the committee took included the endorsement of a proposal to penalize unsportsmanlike conduct as a live-ball foul beginning in the 2011 season.

The issue regarding "eye black" was among several "equipment issues" that the committee decided to clarify.