Watching the Michigan/Florida game. 2 plays in and the MLB for Michigan clearly hits the Gator player out of bounds... they review the play and tack on 15yds, but waive off the targeting call.
Bullshit. His intent was clearly to injure the kid or cause necessary pain ("making a statement" or some such nonsense).
If you want to limit football head injuries... Implement and ENFORCE three things.
1. If the defensive player does not extend his arms in a "tackling position", in other words, he uses only his head and/or shoulders attempting to bring the ball carrier down, it's an automatic 15yds and possible ejection depending on the situation. Enough of these "shoulder hits", especially when replay shows the ball carrier is clearly headed out of bounds of his own will. (Note: Back in the days when the forward pass was a "radical" play, tripping a ball carrier was legal. Times change... so should rules)
2. If the defensive player initiates contact with a ball carrier with his head in a position which, in the opinion of the official he would NOT have done had he not been wearing a facemask and/or plastic faceguard, it's a PF and automatic ejection. In the Michigan/Florida game, there's no way that MLB hits the Florida kid in the head with his own head if he wasn't wearing a facemask... unless he has no regard for his own nose and teeth.
3. Eliminate the clear plastic faceguard. If a player (offense or defense) makes ANY contact with the opposing player's face over the facemask (especially to the eyes) with his hands, it's a PF and automatic ejection. Why would a player wear one unless he knew the refs aren't enforcing the "hands to the face" penalty?
Just some thoughts, but #1 alone would clean up a big part of the problem.
Bullshit. His intent was clearly to injure the kid or cause necessary pain ("making a statement" or some such nonsense).
If you want to limit football head injuries... Implement and ENFORCE three things.
1. If the defensive player does not extend his arms in a "tackling position", in other words, he uses only his head and/or shoulders attempting to bring the ball carrier down, it's an automatic 15yds and possible ejection depending on the situation. Enough of these "shoulder hits", especially when replay shows the ball carrier is clearly headed out of bounds of his own will. (Note: Back in the days when the forward pass was a "radical" play, tripping a ball carrier was legal. Times change... so should rules)
2. If the defensive player initiates contact with a ball carrier with his head in a position which, in the opinion of the official he would NOT have done had he not been wearing a facemask and/or plastic faceguard, it's a PF and automatic ejection. In the Michigan/Florida game, there's no way that MLB hits the Florida kid in the head with his own head if he wasn't wearing a facemask... unless he has no regard for his own nose and teeth.
3. Eliminate the clear plastic faceguard. If a player (offense or defense) makes ANY contact with the opposing player's face over the facemask (especially to the eyes) with his hands, it's a PF and automatic ejection. Why would a player wear one unless he knew the refs aren't enforcing the "hands to the face" penalty?
Just some thoughts, but #1 alone would clean up a big part of the problem.
