For the last few years, offensive linemen have donated their bodies to the team. From early spring to the beginning of winter, they’ve been beaten by God knows what – not for the fame, but for the team.

They’ve sprained ankles and bruised ribs for what seems like months on end, not to mention 11 games a year lining up against some 300-pounder who wants to bowl them over and rip their quarterback’s head off.

At least if penalized, they’ll finally get noticed.

What is becoming a ritual, the NCAA changes its rules every year in hopes of seeing better football, at least in its eyes. Look no further than the BCS, which hasn’t been the same since its inception seven years ago.

The officials identifying penalized players is a new rule change for 2004. Although it makes no difference in who wins, the biggest problem is who the rule affects the most: the offensive line.

This rule has never been used in college football, and that’s how it should have stayed.

Perhaps the most important part of a successful offense, the big uglies up front, don’t receive the credit they deserve. Huskies fans have grown used to good linemen.

No longer does NIU have to worry about blitz packages hindering its offensive production – a luxury most coaches would love to have. Sometimes the media don’t quite remember that the Huskies offensive line is so good.

Without the strong push off of the line, a running back must fight for every single yard. Quarterbacks would not have the time to be effective passers, either.

Yet when two defenders rush the line and the right guard, with a pair of broken fingers, blocks both of them, the fans don’t hear about that. Why does the running back get all of the attention for breaking a 60-yard run?

Not that the skill players don’t deserve as much attention. It seems OK to let good trench play go unnoticed in the media. The second an offensive linemen makes a mistake, however, the officials let us know who was involved.

This soap box might be uncalled for, but here’s a little stat to consider: Of all of the penalties NIU has had this season, 72 percent have come from the offensive line.

That means that nearly three out of every four penalties, an offensive lineman has the blame announced on his shoulders.

This new rule change was unnecessary – merely an attempt by the NCAA to be more like the NFL, an attempt that can cost the NCAA both its tradition and integrity.

There’s no need to change a rule that does not alter the game’s outcome. NIU coach Joe Novak sums up exactly these sentiments: “Leave it to the pros,” he said.