Targeting Rule is a Failure
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There has been much gnashing of the teeth this week since Dallas Turner knocked LSU QB, Jaden Daniels, out of the SEC West showdown Saturday night in Tuscaloosa. The Tide took control of that game, and the Western Division a few drives earlier, but the so-called “perfect hit” assured there would be no comeback for The Bayou Bengals at Bryant-Denny.
Fans across the conference, media members and the likes of al.com above all have had an opinion about the play. The issue at debate on social media about “the perfect hit” is if targeting should have been called on Turner. A 15-yard “Roughing the Passer” personal foul was called on the play, but Turner avoided the dreaded targeting call which would have ejected him from the contest. Had that penalty been called, Alabama would have been without the controversial outside linebacker/defensive end for the first half of this week’s game against Kentucky in the Bluegrass State on Saturday. Not the end of the world for a deep Alabama team, but obviously Saban and staff want all hands-on deck heading into the rest of November for a possible playoff championship run. Before we get into the targeting rule yet, above al.com columnist, Joe Goodman, has taken the stance that the hit on Daniels was both “punishing” and “perfect”. One must ask, in what world is a hit that results in a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty and the opponent leaving the game with a concussion deemed perfect? I guess if that was the outcome you wanted all along after the play then it was a perfect hit to take someone out. Most people’s idea of sportsmanship and football being played perfectly is all parties making dynamic plays, getting up afterwards healthy and finishing the game without the dangers of injury shaking hands at midfield afterward despite the scoreboard outcome.
You can take a look at what targeting is in the well written explanation in the above link from USA Today. This is one of the most debatable and derisive rules to be injected into college football in our lifetime. There is zero consistency on how the rule is refereed, reviewed and reexamined. At this point, the NCAA should scrap the rule in lieu of calling shots to the head and neck more aggressively resulting in a personal foul. Two individual personal fouls in a game, then the player is ejected, and a review then initiated for possible further consequence the following week by conference league officials. The current makeup of the rule is up for way too much debate and unfortunately normally falls along fan allegiance lines. Not to mention offensive players continue to use their helmets often as battering rams lowering them while running without penalty.
Closing this out, there is no way the SEC or any conference though wants the responsibility of regulating personal fouls with the scenario mentioned above. The officials in Bryant-Denny Saturday night had a difficult time even reviewing the play officially, announcing to the crowd that the play was under review like they normally do, and then announcing to the crowd the results of an official review for targeting. LSU Coach Brian Kelly stated the following post-game while his star QB laid on the Tuscaloosa turf writhing in pain.
“We asked them. They said that the replay booth was reviewing it for targeting. Obviously, I don’t have the ability to see that. But anytime that there is contact to the head or neck area, you’re thinking that there must be some form of targeting. They reviewed it, didn’t feel there was, and we moved on”
Upon further review on Monday, Kelly decided that the play should be reviewed more and submitted the “perfect hit” to SEC officials.
Good luck getting a real explanation from the league here because the rules themselves are so confusing and political. A better explanation would be why the play itself was waved off from official review by the booth-if that is actually what happened. Most likely the SEC did not want to touch this play with a ten-foot pole and the roughing penalty saved them from that controversial judgement. Ignoring the play either way let the SEC dodge “conspiracy theorist” who lately has stated constantly that some teams, cough cough Alabama, get better calls at home than others. What is not up for discussion, for years now the NCAA has operated under the following assumption when targeting is debatable.
When it’s in question, it’s ruled a foul.
Speaking of “Dirty” Dallas Turner before we move on to this week’s games: Is there a more controversial player in the league since Nick Fairley at Auburn in 2010? Let’s just take a look at some of his greatest documented “perfect hits”. What’s out there that has not been caught on camera?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pw1VfGnwVlA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=VICvITBegPk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzsEMZTBcsg
“Just good, clean football”
It will be another interesting week in SEC play this Saturday. Like last weekend, all 14 SEC schools with play on the field but unlike last week, they will all play against other league teams. This happens only a few times a year and when it does, the weekend intensity amps up a few notches.
https://www.secsports.com/schedule/football
Bama –10.5 at Kentucky – After an emotional win vs division rival LSU at home this past Saturday, the Red Elephants will stampede to The Commonwealth of Kentucky for a Saturday morning showdown in Lexington. Dating back to 1917, Alabama dominantly leads this series 38-2-1. One of the sparse losses occurred at Kentucky to former beloved Alabama Head Coach, Bill Curry, 40-34. Pre-season this was a game that pundits had circled as a “letdown” game for the Tide and many even called for an outright loss to the Wildcats. UK has not lived up to expectations in 2023 while Alabama is playing solid football right now. As long as Dallas Turner does not snap or some other anomaly occurs, Bama should roll big Saturday. UAT 42, UK 20.
Vandy +14 at South Carolina – Had the refs not saved the Commodores with an early game kicking interference gift call against Auburn this past Saturday, Vanderbilt would have lost that game putridly against a rebuilding Tiger program. South Carolina escaped barely with a win against Jacksonville State at home in the 2023 “Gamecock Bowl”. These two teams race to the bottom of the SEC will be decided over several Bloody Marys, Bojangles Cajun Filet Biscuits, and extra doses of Ibuprofen and what RFA calls your annual “Hangover Bowl”. Because you would have to be couch locked hungover to watch this one. Auburn folks saw enough of Vandy last week to understand how this one should play out. USC 42, Vandy 20.
Tennessee –1.5 at Missouri – The Volunteers had the week off against UCONN last Saturday in what we dubbed a "bloodbath" game because of being able to name their score. Meanwhile, the Tigers fought to the bitter end against #1 UGA in Athens and must now recover for a second-place division matchup 2:30 on CBS. Missouri has been one of the surprise teams in the league this season while Tennessee has been a touch underwhelming at times. Hard to believe that Mizzou has anything left in the tank after their showdown against Georgia, but it is hard to believe UT can score consistently enough with Joe Milton at QB to win. UM 38, UT 37.
Auburn +3 at Arkansas – Time is running out for a rebuilding Auburn to beat a team on their schedule this season that they should not. The Tigers inched much closer to a bowl berth possibility last week with a win at Vandy. If AU can take care of business in Fayetteville against UA, Auburn could upgrade to a possible New Year’s Day Bowl in Jacksonville. Arkansas sits at 3-6 and dead last currently in the SEC West. No one had the Hogs picked this low preseason, they have already fired the OC and need a win here desperately for any bowl possibility in 2023. If Arkansas loses, does Sam Pittman keep his job as Head Coach? AU Head Coach upset Arky last year as the head coach of the Liberty Flames 21-19. Can he do it again this year? AU 21, UA 19.
Ole Miss +11.5 at Georgia – The Mississippi Swamp Fox Lane Kiffin will march his Johnny Rebs from Oxford to the piedmont plateau in Athens, GA with a showdown against #1 Georgia. General Kirby Smart has been almost unbeatable in over 2.5 years while winning back-to-back National Championships. Audacious is just one of the many words to describe Kiffin and his program. Ole Miss is about as close as they have ever been to a BCS playoff berth. A swashbuckling offense led by an improving defense led by Bama castaway Pete Golding, has the Rebels ready to strike against the barking empire. Although Ole Miss has marched successfully through every city in the south not named Tuscaloosa this season, their campaign comes to an end finally in 2023 at Sanford Stadium. No one, not even the crafty Lane Kiffin, puts Kirby Smart in a corner. UGA 31, OM 27.
Florida +13 at LSU – If Jaden Daniels quits seeing double from the vicious hit he took in Tuscaloosa, LSU should steam roll Florida. The Gators are deep in an unsuccessful rebuilding effort staring squarely into the dark abyss trying to find out, after losing to Arkansas, what they are made of. Head Coach Billy Napier is now sitting on a seat hotter than a Daytona Beach chair in mid-July. With a record of 5-4, the Gators desperately need a win in the last 3 games against LSU, Missouri or Florida State to become bowl eligible. Minus QB Jaden Daniels may be the best option to extend the regular season. LSU should still have too many athletes on the roster at home even if Daniels does not play. But how will the hometown crowd respond once finally knocked out of the championship run by Alabama? With Daniels, LSU 42, UF 22. Without Daniels LSU 23, UF 22.
Miss State +19.5 at Texas A&M – The battle between the two teams of 4-5 and 5-4. Serious question here: Will anyone on Earth watch this game? It seems the league office in Birmingham for the SEC has decided to bury Miss. State football permanently in this unviewable time slot now weekly for a reason. The good news is since no one will be watching, they will not have to watch Jimbo Fisher from Texas A&M go full “Boomer” on the sidelines Saturday night with his reading glasses. Coach, you have an adequate offensive coordinator in your soon to be replacement named Bobby Petrino. So, will you please stop fumbling your glasses incessantly on national TV while staring at the play sheet mouth agape? The over/under in this game dropped in one day from 47.5 to 43.5. In their last three games against SEC foes not named the ‘85 Chicago Bears, Miss State scored a grand total of 23 points. That is 7.6 points per game. TAM 32, MSU 8.
https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll
Michigan –5.5 at Penn State – UM 35, PSU 28
Miami +14.5 at FSU – FSU 35, Miami 24
USC +15.5 at Oregon – OU 50, USC 34
Utah +9.5 at Washington – UW 34, Utah 29
Texas –9.5 at TCU – UT 34, TCU 14
Oklahoma State –3 at UCF – Run, run, run, run away!!!!
Texas Tech +3.5 at Kansas – Play the over
All of the above for entertainment purposes only!