Clemson football: Targeting rule changed for the better
I loved watching all twelve years of Jamie Skalski’s career for Clemson football and the ferociousness with which he played.
Sometimes that led to inadvertent targeting penalties and the Clemson linebacker’s removal from the game in question and, in some instances half of the next.
It appears the NCAA playing rules oversight panel finally decided to use a modicum of common sense and approved a change involving the targeting rule.
"Previously, anyone ejected for targeting during the second half of a game had to sit out the first half of their team’s next game.For any game that has instant replay, conferences now will have the right to appeal the decision to the NCAA national coordinator of officials.If video suggests the player shouldn’t have been removed because of targeting, the player will be eligible immediately for his team’s next game."
Those of a certain age group likely prefer bigger, bolder changes to the rule and I don’t disagree with that conclusion. However, I’ll take what I can get to rid the sport of bad decisions made in the heat of the moment that could affect a team for up to a game and a half of a 12 game regular season.
How the appeal works and the requirements for overturning the call are a mystery to me right now, but let’s just say this is a step in the right direction.
But wait, there’s more rule changes!
"Schools and conferences will also be able to report scenarios where an opposing team may have been awarded an injury timeout suspiciously.The conference or school involved in the complaint would be able to issue discipline if the national coordinator of officiating deems it necessary.Any injured player will still be required to sit out at least one play."
OK, this is weird. “Report scenarios” sounds a lot like tattle tails. Why can’t officials spot the obvious, either live or upon replay post-game? After all, you are an official charged with making sure the game is played in the spirit of the rules and guess what? Sometimes that requires judgment.
Also, the blocking below the waist rule was clarified so that lineman and stationary backs blocking below the waist inside the tackle box on scrimmage plays will be permitted. A block of this type outside the tackle box will be penalized.
To me, all three sound like steps in the right direction, even if the second one requires reporting on your opponents, which is a bit ridiculous in 2022.
I’d go bolder, but when you’re dealing with the NCAA sometimes you take what you can get.