A few subtle rule changes are coming to college football this fall. They'll be looking closer at the hurdles to block field goals and the horse-collar tackle.

Perhaps the biggest is the appropriation of basketball's technical foul. No longer will coaches be allowed to leave the sideline to argue with officials without earning a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty. The rule existed previously, though enforcement was lax.

Considering such tensions run hottest when games could go either way, this rule has the potential to change outcomes.

"I hope that this is not a circumstance and situation that affects a game in the fall, because it is pretty restrictive, but it is what it is," Alabama coach Nick Saban said. "It's the same for everybody. We're going to do the best we can to manage it. We have a tremendous amount of respect for the officials, and they try to do a great job of managing us as coaches on the sidelines, which can be very challenging at times, especially with the emotion that goes into the game and the passion and intensity that we all have."

Saban has been known to discuss a call or two.

Intensity certainly isn't lacking on Alabama's sideline on Saturday afternoons.

So, could this emphasized rule be an issue for Saban?

"It might be a little bit," Tide center Bradley Bozeman said, "but he'll be fine."

Strength and conditioning coach Scott Cochran has been on get-back duty for years. Photos have captured grabbing the back of former defensive coordinator Kirby Smart's belt to yank him back to the white paint.

Kirby Smart works the sideline as Scott Cochran keeps him off the field at the Alabama vs. Oklahoma Sugar Bowl on Jan. 2, 2014.

Alabama receiver Calvin Ridley said he understands when coaches run hot during a game.

"They have a reason for it," he said.

Saban should be fine, though.

"I think he can control himself," Ridley said. "I think there are some guys on the sideline who can hold him back."

Alabama coaches were flagged 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct in a 2012 game against Florida Atlantic. They were too far onto the playing surface but not to argue but to organize the defensive alignment on the Owls lone touchdown drive.

When explaining the rule to coaches, SEC director of officiating Steve Shaw played film displaying examples of lost control. It included a few who went all the way to the hash marks to state a case. They, Saban said, should get flagged.

"And if those coaches were penalized, and we didn't have sort of that kind of tolerance for that kind of behavior," Saban said, "maybe we wouldn't need a rule like this that is really sort of a sledgehammer."