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Targeting Penalties are ruining college football.

TerragonSix

TerragonSix

Itsa Me, 1Gapio!
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Watching Clemson v. Louisville.

Yes, Muse hit him helmet to helmet, but as he was launching, lamar was starting to come down.

It wasnt intentional, and I'd like someone to explain to me why a player should be ejected for something that is clearly not malicious.

Its like how the kickers were starting to fake being run over if a player got near them. :/

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Worst rule ever invented in the history of college football, just slightly beating out taunting.
 
I agree, it's completely out of hand. If not malicious or if the QB is falling after the defender clearly was going towards their shoulder/body, no targeting.
 
It needs a very serious review. LSU has two defenders ineligible against MSU, too.

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At this point the rule will never be rescinded, but I'd at least love to see a two level system for the penalty instead. Targeting 1 and Targeting 2. Similar to Flagrant 1 and 2 in the NBA.

Targeting 1 should be for a player that inadvertently hits an opponent in the helmet as they are falling to the ground. Like the Muse hit tonight, those are not malicious and are very hard to avoid. The penalty would require the player to sit out a period of 12 minutes or 1 quarter.

Targeting 2 should be a for a player that launches at an opponent while they are in a standing position. This would be for Defensive players hitting QBs mostly. The penalty would require the player to sit out the game.

At least this way you don't completely derail a kid for making a mistake and you still enforce the overall intention of the rule to prevent head injuries.
 
All it needs added is a stipulation for incidental contact. The fact that the targeting rule was instituted with mandatory penalty yardage whether or not it was deemed targeting after the review tells you where the rule makers heads are at.
 
TerragonSix said:
Watching Clemson v. Louisville.

Yes, Muse hit him helmet to helmet, but as he was launching, lamar was starting to come down.

It wasnt intentional, and I'd like someone to explain to me why a player should be ejected for something that is clearly not malicious.

Its like how the kickers were starting to fake being run over if a player got near them. :/

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Click to expand...

Just had this same discussion w my home boy. Totally agree. I'm all for player safety, but they have to reform this targeting rule.
 
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Hurracanes said:
Ruining College Football is a bit of a stretch..
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I think the OP has a point. The targeting and taunting rules have gone a long way towards emasculating this once amazing game. Don't get me wrong I still love college football but it could be so much better.
 
The problem with the rule for me is the ejection piece. Like everything else, this is coaches ******* up and players paying the price.
 
FrancisSaywer said:
Hurracanes said:
Ruining College Football is a bit of a stretch..
Click to expand...

I think the OP has a point. The targeting and taunting rules have gone a long way towards emasculating this once amazing game. Don't get me wrong I still love college football but it could be so much better.
Click to expand...

So you agree, if you still love College Football then it isn't ruined like the OP exaggerated. I don't have a problem with the targeting issues. They have to do something to protect players. How many concussions will or have been avoided because of this rule? Players will adjust and the refs will be more consistent with the rule with time.

I do have an issue with the celebrating and taunting penalties. Let the kids have fun.
 
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Count me in on the targeting is the worst rule ever list.
I could argue it is the worst rule in all of sports. The only other one I can think of is maybe the possession arrow in College Basketball.
 
The USF DT on Friday put his facemask in the Illinois QB's chest and still got tossed. Its nonsense.
 
You are absolutely correct. I actually find myself watching less college football, even NFL. These replays for hitting are ridiculous. I even saw a guy get flagged for tackling and lifting him up and bringing him to the ground. Like the runner could have kept running and he threw him to the ground and 2 flags were thrown. It was the USF game. So i stopped watching.
Real easy way for the NCAA to solve this. Take the helmets off. No one will lead with their head.
 
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I dont mind rules intended to protect the players. I understand that completely.

I'd treat it similar to the 5yd/15yd facemask rule.

Unintentional/Incidental: 5 yard penalty, team given warning that next targeting penalty, intentional or not, will result in ejection.

Intentional: 15 yd penalty, player ejected and suspended the next game. If victim suffers an injury from the helmet to helmet, the NCAA should have the authority to suspend the player multiple games.

I just think that a kid making a diving tackle and accidentally going helmet to helmet shouldnt be automatically ejected and suspended. Even the QB hits allow a defender to hit the QB shortly after he released the ball.

Imagine if they enforced late hits like they do targeting.

Good grief.

Whats to stop an offensive player to lower his helmet intentionally to get a player ejected?

By the way, taunting penalties are ridiculous too. I'll agree with that. Let those young men have fun.
 
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Anything that is left to the subjectiveness of an official is a bad thing....what a player does one week that may be alright he takes to the next game and and does and he gets tossed.

A horrible rule.
 
that a was a terrible, dangerous, dirty hit by the Clemson Saftey. He lowered his head and launched himself using the crown of his helmet. That is targeting. Dude is lucky he didn't paralyze himself. The game is better when players are making big hits not using their heads.
 
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