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SALT LAKE CITY — Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott gave a statement that has a lot of people scratching their heads.
The issue? Targeting.
The targeting penalty has been a common topic of controversy lately among college football fans, especially those in the Pac-12. The penalty is more than just helmet-to-helmet contact, but is “forcible contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent.”
The NCAA has four points that can help the ref indentify targeting:
- Launch: a player leaving his feet to attack an opponent by an upward and forward thrust of the body to make forcible contact in the head or neck area
- A crouch followed by an upward and forward thrust to attack with forcible contact at the head or neck area, even though one or both feet are still on the ground
- Leading with helmet, shoulder, forearm, fist, hand or elbow to attack with forcible contact at the head or neck area
- Lowering the head before attacking by initiating forcible contact with the crown of the helmet
The NCAA rules make it sound simple, but things have not been as simple as it may sound.
On Monday, during Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham's weekly press conference, he said, “We have a clear idea of what’s explained, it just doesn’t seem to be called consistently in that same fashion. That’s what’s frustrating is you have the verbiage on it, but it doesn’t seem to be administered consistently.”
The seemingly inconsistent targeting calls have been frustrating coaches, players and fans throughout the nation.
“It does seem to be called differently from conference to conference when you are watching TV and you see things you think would be no brainers not being called," Whittingham added. "It makes it a little difficult trying to pinpoint the consistency of the call.”
Targeting has been a popular topic of conversation since Utah played the visiting Washington Huskies. The Utes had two players ejected for targeting: Marquise Blair was ejected in the first half and Leki Fotu in the second half.
With just under 2 minutes left to play, Washington State needed a score to avoid a loss. Down 3, facing a third-and-long situation, Cougars quarterback Gardner Minshew threw an incomplete pass. Just after releasing the ball, Minshew was hit hard by USC linebacker Porter Gustin.
The hit seemed to fit into the definition of targeting, but no flag was thrown. No review of the play was visibly done, and the next play USC blocked the Cougars’ field goal to seal the win.
“You can certainly assume that play got a lot of looks, not just from the replay booth at the stadium, but we’ve got our command center back in San Francisco with our head of officiating and a bunch of experienced replay guys, who absolutely would have looked at that play.”
Scott confirmed that after being reviewed, the Gustin hit was determined not to be targeting.
Washington State coach Mike Leach hinted that he thought the call was missed as well.
“I’ll tell you what, I respectfully decline to comment on the grounds that I may be incriminated and get a $10,000 fine.”
Still, it appears no one has a clear definition as to what targeting situations will get called and others not. Utah will travel to Washington State Saturday to take on the Cougars. The game will begin at 4 p.m. MDT.
