Big Ten admits they blew Targeting Call
- Thread starter psu1214
- Start date
The language of the Targeting Rule itself plainly states that what Smith did is NOT TARGETING in multiple places of the verbiage of the rule - not only does it say that it is not a Targeting Penalty, but explicitly states that it is not a penalty of any kind (i.e., incidental contact while focusing exclusively on, and legally playing, the ball). The receiver brought their head into Smith more than anything else - Smith was clearly exclusively playing the ball and had no idea the receiver was bringing his head forward. It was an absurd penalty even as the Targeting Rule is plainly written and clearly states (for pete's sake, the opening line defining "targeting" says that "targeting means that a player TAKES AIM at an opponent...." - Smith never remotely "took aim at an opponent" and was clearly completely focused on the ball and "taking aim" at intercepting it!).
Tobacco Road refs would be just as bad towards a northern school. So, I'd rather take the money, all other things being equal.
There is no way in hell that is true. I can, right now, off the top of my head, come up with more than 20 clear cut football games, in the past 23 years, that we have either been outright robbed of the game, or screwed over, CLEARLY during the game. That's not including basketball, which has about half that many examples.
How much coin would posters be willing to lay down, that if the roles were reversed and it was a PSU wide-out trying to catch a pass and an OSU or Mich linebacker hit him there would have been no call at all!
What might have been as bad, was how Franklin went quietly, after about a half minute of mild argument.
And what would you prefer he do? Go ballistic on the official and get thrown out of the game?
If you want to argue that the B1G officials are out to get us, then you must concede they'd love to have an excuse to throw the head coach out of the game. It's not like we have Joe and his gravitas to get away with it.
The shit-fit that Harbaugh would have thrown would have been spectacular.
Yeah, if this call had been made against Michigan, the reaction at the time and in the media afterward would have been way different.
Which itself shows the double standard that exists in the B1G.
Yes. The answer is yes: I would have preferred he go ballistic on the official and get thrown out of the game.
Damn right.
I read the entire post and didn't see an apology. The Big stated it should have been overturned but I didn't see where they apologized for it. Maybe I missed it.
It was definitely a bad call he had his arms out reaching for the ball so he was definitely not focused on hitting the guy in the head .
Retraction, apology, whatever. They issued a release stating the call was wrong. They should have issued an apology too.
Maybe they made one to Barbour or Franklin but said they weren't allowed to tell anybody about it or the death penalty would be back on the table.
"You are lucky to be out here playing"
-Big Ten referee John O'Neill, to PSU quarterback Matt McGloin at Nebraska--
I'll say it again.. The NCAA needs to take all referring away from the conferences and they become NCAA Officials - then hold them accountable for the wrong calls and non-calls.
How about the t-5 second FG kick by tO$U in the same 2014 game (or the ghost "leaping" call on Hull in OT to give tO$U a "half-the-distance to the goal" - i.e., 12.5 yards, to start their 2nd OT possession from the PSU 12.5 yard line) or.......ad naseum, you could go on for days.....
There is no way - NO WAY - that call stands if the uniforms were reversed
I'd bet my life savings on it (all $47
)
There is no way - NO WAY - that call stands if the uniforms were reversed
I'd bet my life savings on it (all $47
I agree with the OP, no "reversal" would have been required because the chances that a flag would have been thrown at the time of the play given the circumstances he describes is a limit equation approaching zero.....
