In the last minute of regulation. ASU receiver caught a pass just over mid field with less than a minute in regulation and closing in on a winning field goal attempt. He got nailed while still defenseless with a helmet right to the face. Should have been 15 yards for targeting but they reviewed it and said no targeting. The defender planted the crown of his helmet right in the receiver's face and just about knocked him out. If that wasn't a classic target I don't know what is. Should have had the ball inside the 35 with time left.
JMO...ASU got screwed....
- Thread starter wbrpanther
- Start date
forehead and upper facemask far more than crown, not crown at all imo with the television angle although there was a slight lowering of his helmet before impact
maybe personal foul hitting defenseless so 15 that way but not targeting although I thought the replay booth still might call it as they've gotten many wrong that I've seen over the year both college and pro reviews
maybe personal foul hitting defenseless so 15 that way but not targeting although I thought the replay booth still might call it as they've gotten many wrong that I've seen over the year both college and pro reviews
I agree with this and I think most of the rest of the world does as well. What was very disappinting was the announcers and their "rules specialist" stammering to avoid calling it a textbook targeting and make it sound like it was a close call, which it certainly was not.
There was a play earlier in the game that Texas fans are using to justify the no-call on the play you're talking about where the refs looked at an ASU hit to the head/neck on a Texas WR for targeting, and found none--but the ASU player's helmet never made contact with the Texas player--so different animals.
The rule is such a joke. Need to get rid of it completely or at least make it less subjective.
it was a hit to the directly to the head of a defenseless player. I would love to hear how that wasn't targeting other than you wanted UT in the semis.
ok, maybe changing my mind with these 2 google results:
1. However, if a player is defenseless, you can't initiate contact above the shoulders, even if you don't lead with the crown. Players are also prohibited from targeting and making forcible contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless player with the helmet, forearm, hand, fist, elbow or shoulder.Dec 20, 2024
2. In college football, the targeting rule prohibits players from making forcible contact with a defenseless opponent, including a defenseless receiver:
1. However, if a player is defenseless, you can't initiate contact above the shoulders, even if you don't lead with the crown. Players are also prohibited from targeting and making forcible contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless player with the helmet, forearm, hand, fist, elbow or shoulder.Dec 20, 2024
College football's targeting and related ejection rules in 2024 ...
2. In college football, the targeting rule prohibits players from making forcible contact with a defenseless opponent, including a defenseless receiver:
- Definition of a defenseless receiver
A player who is attempting to catch a pass and hasn't had time to become a runner
- Prohibited contact
Forcibly hitting a defenseless player in the head or neck area with the helmet, facemask, forearm, or shoulder
It wasn't the crown of the helmet, but I don't think it always needs to be as long as the contact is to the head/neck. I've not seen any talking heads say it wasn't targeting; even the officiating guru during the broadcast said it was.
What pisses me off is people saying this isn't the reason they lost the game. Lots of nuance in that. I mean, sure - we don't know that they would have made the field goal. And sure - they still had a chance to stop Texas on 4th and 15 or whatever it was. But if they get this call correct, there is also a decent chance ASU does win. So, that is the definition of getting screwed.
What pisses me off is people saying this isn't the reason they lost the game. Lots of nuance in that. I mean, sure - we don't know that they would have made the field goal. And sure - they still had a chance to stop Texas on 4th and 15 or whatever it was. But if they get this call correct, there is also a decent chance ASU does win. So, that is the definition of getting screwed.
Tough one. While I think that technically it was targeting by the rule, I don't think it met the spirit of the targeting rule. I think it was one of those situations where the contact just happened that way vs the defender trying to lay the wood.
I would agree, but the difference is that targeting is subject to an extensive review process with multiple angles and what appears to be an unlimited amount of time to review them. The refs have a few seconds to make a call on PI and holding
I saw that play/replay and the review not calling it targeting and concluded I have absolutely zero idea what targeting is or isn’t.
And I think the refs and replay booth personnel aren’t too sure sbout what is or isn’t either. At a minimum, there is very little consistency from game to game or across ref crews and booth personnel.
This was clear targeting. Of course it can be explained away with all sorts of nonsense, but it was clearly targeting.
They managed to get the four biggest fan bases in the tournament into the CFB semis. I'm sure that's just a coincidence.
Not a coincidence at all, Dan. In this day and age of NIL and player salaries, et al, making sure that the venues are packed to the gills is paramount. TX, ND, PSU, and OSU are all in the Top 10 of fan followers. While this year's playoffs didn't have a single one of the four top seeded teams make it to the NC game, there won't be any empty seats in the stadiums; nor will there be many empty seats at sports bars, and the TV ad revenues will be crazy. "Show me the $$!"
There were plenty of empties at both the Penn State - Boise game and the Texas - Arizona State game. There were also plenty of them at the Notre Dame - Georgia game, but there just might be an explanation for that.
I didn't see the Texas-ASU game, but there were entire sections open in the corners at the Boise game and the tickets were pretty cheap on the secondary market from what I read.
