10-03-2021, 09:50 AM
The high/low against Tremayne was gruesome but not a penalty. The rules are different for offensive linemen blocking than they are for defensive players trying to tackle, and as long as none of them were targeting (they weren’t) or committing another penalty like tripping, it’s legal.
The hit by Thibodeaux against McKee was clearly targeting. We are lucky that the reason he got hurt was the legal hit yo the ribs, rather than the illegal one to the head. But whether a player is injured or not has nothing to do with whether targeting is called or not. In Thibodeaux’ case, it was targeting because he hit the McKee in the head or neck with the crown of his helmet and, critically, because Thibodeaux “launched” by jumping into McKee. You could argue that the launch was to try to bat the ball down, but it doesn’t matter; with the three elements present, it is targeting, full stop.
He was a hell of a player last night,and it was a tough break for him to be disqualified, but the NCAA should continue to impose somewhat draconian penalties until players learn to tackle more safely.
BC
The hit by Thibodeaux against McKee was clearly targeting. We are lucky that the reason he got hurt was the legal hit yo the ribs, rather than the illegal one to the head. But whether a player is injured or not has nothing to do with whether targeting is called or not. In Thibodeaux’ case, it was targeting because he hit the McKee in the head or neck with the crown of his helmet and, critically, because Thibodeaux “launched” by jumping into McKee. You could argue that the launch was to try to bat the ball down, but it doesn’t matter; with the three elements present, it is targeting, full stop.
He was a hell of a player last night,and it was a tough break for him to be disqualified, but the NCAA should continue to impose somewhat draconian penalties until players learn to tackle more safely.
BC