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The ‘old-school rule’ South Carolina special teams no longer follow | The State

There’s one in every crowd. Usually, more than one. The person watching the game from the stands or a living room who watches a player field a punt inside the 10-yard line and groans, “Everyone knows you never catch a punt inside the 10.”

Well, actually.

“Heels on the 10, don’t back up is the old-school rule,” South Carolina special teams coordinator Coleman Hutzler said.

That rule has changed, at least some, because of the prevalence of punters who now use a rugby-style kick and are adept at making the ball bounce backward or settle when it lands.