Yes, this was targeting:
Was this targeting? #CFBPlayoff #Clemson #OhioState #clemsonvsosu pic.twitter.com/IFy6RY9Pdp
— 4.8 40 Sports (@foureight40) December 29, 2019
People are throwing out some solutions for the targeting rule, so I might as well throw my hat into the ring as a rule maker.
A lot of people – I would venture to say most – don’t understand “targeting.” The problem, in my opinion, is the word “targeting.” It seems to imply that there has to be something intentional about it. If you go out for target practice, you’re intentionally trying to shoot at a precise spot (a hay bale, a bullseye, etc.). If a missile hits its target, yes, it was intentional.
“Targeting” in football doesn’t have anything to do with intent. You either do it or you don’t. You can’t:
- Lower your head to make contact with the crown of the helmet.
- Create forcible contact to the head/neck area.
So change the terminology. Call #1 “spearing” and call #2 “targeting” or “head-hunting” or “flibbergibbing” or whatever you want. But I’ve discovered that a lack of education on a topic causes a lot of outrage. The “powers that be” of NCAA football need to show up on a national, widely watched broadcast and explain “targeting” or “spearing” or whatever the call ends up being. They need to show examples. And those examples can be provided on Youtube, Twitter, websites, etc. anytime there’s a question about “targeting.”
I’m glad LSU and Clemson are the two representatives in the national championship game. I’ll be rooting for LSU.
Meast ‼️ @tress_justin @CoachBenHerbert @TankWright pic.twitter.com/2jSwcHOQXl
— Josh Uche (@_Uche35) December 28, 2019
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Of course it was targeting. As much as I wanted ohio to lose though, my problem is that they say it’s for the ‘safety’ of the players. TL went down hard, but was right back in. How could he have been evaluated? I am glad he came back, but that one-play rest didn’t do jack for his health & well-being
On Uche, MICHIGAN needs to work on their material. A couple years ago it was the terrible airbrush work, now we have JU zoomed in on the ‘after’ pic. Amateur hour
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I can see your point, but the powers that be want to enforce this new rule and make the repercussions well beyond “no harm, no foul” and impose arbitrary ejection of the offender. Unintentional leading with the crown of the helmet in my opinion is no more egregious than a serious facemask penalty. Roughing is like adding another law and penalty to existing laws for unnecessary roughness but that is what society does now.
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I can’t think of anyone who has been seriously injured by a facemask penalty.
I have seen people paralyzed by leading with the crown of the helmet.
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He left the game, but for what reason? Was it because of his head? Did he get a stinger? Did he get the wind knocked out of him? I don’t think anyone knows, at least not in the public sphere.
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Spearing is descriptive enough to denote the use of the helmet first. However, I think of spearing as an intentional act or at least it was when I was in high school. Hell, times were different. We were taught to spear and wrap a receiver or running back, but to the body not to the head.
Headhunting is also descriptive and makes sense to me and is less confusing and PC than targeting. In any case concussions are real and the potential for an injury to the player doing the targeting is real enough as well.
I agree with both your definition of targeting and that the play was in fact targeting, or unnecessary roughness… the officiating needs to be consistent and was properly applied here.
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I think this play has been getting way tooo much press. Yeah it was targeting and i too agree with Thunders assessment & description – on with the game.
OSU had plenty of opportunity to BURY Clemson early and they failed to take advantage of their opportunities. No ref caused Droppins to drop a sure TD and YES! Defense still matters as Clemson held OSU to field goals while they scored TD’s – end of story…………
……….and yeah ! I’m with LSU here and I hope they kik clemsons ass.
Love LazyAnna, Love Holly Beach, Love: http://beachonbourbon.com
Geaux LSU, Geaux Coach Orgeron, Geaux LSU Tigre!……..intjohn
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Agree. Too many FGs cost Online St the game. I would also question punting from the Clemson 39 on 4th and 2. Fields Dobbins all the WRs, how does Day not go for it? Can almost ice the game with a first down instead of playing not to lose. Way too much time to give Clemson to score. Even if you miss on 4th the amount of yardage Clemson would need is basically 1-2 plays and they have plenty of time and 2 timeouts. I think Day was angry after the game knowing there is a good chance his house is burned in the coming days. That fan base turns quickly.
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