Well, the rulebook also spells out the penalty for it:
d. Any device or material used to mark the spot of a scrimmage place kick or elevate the ball makes the kick illegal.
PENALTY—For an illegal kick (live-ball foul): Five yards from the previous spot [S31].

I’d put this one on the officials for missing it.

… about special teams coach Bobby Williams. Not only has the kick-off coverage and penalties on punt returns been abyssmal, but now this. He should certainly know the rules.

and Spurrier must have some really good eyes, because I can’t see that tape he’s talking about. Not saying it’s not there, but I didn’t see what he was talking about.

…all the more reason for concern. Saban is all about paying attention to details and I don’t think Willams is doing that. After 7 games, the kickoff coverage and the punt return screwups aren’t getting better. In fact’, just the opposite. I’ve lost count of how many great punt returns by Arenas and now by Julio have been called back by stupid penalties. This comes back to coaching. I was watching the SC game with a friend and we were agonizing over the punt return penalties. After the defense had once again held and a SC punt was coming up I told my friend that Saban should get the punt return team together on the sidelines and inform them that if anyone commits a penalty on this punt they would be benched. Of course, Julio made a great return and there was ablock in the back that negated the return plus a penalty of 10 yards. I am surprised that Saban has tolerated this lack of execution on special tems for as long as he has. If Willams can’t get the job done, he should be replaced.