Video of the call

I was looking at the rules last night. Here's an excerpt I found interesting (emphasis added; from page FR-119 if you want to take a look):

Initiating Contact/Targeting an Opponent
ARTICLE 3. a. No player shall initiate contact and target an opponent with the crown (top) of his helmet. When in question, it is a foul.

b. No player shall initiate contact and target a defenseless opponent above the shoulders. When in question, it is a foul. (Refer to Points of
Emphasis on FR-9 for a description of “Defenseless Player.”)
Click to expand...

This is the rule for 2008. I agree with everyone that the call was more or less cheap, esp. given the current game situation. I don't think that Cooper targeted T. Taylor with the crown of his helmet, nor do I think that T. Taylor was a defensless player (per my interpretation of the defenseless player rules). Still, I agree with many in this forum in blaming the loss on turnovers and execution difficulties we had throughout the game.

The main focus of my post is the emphasized text. It frustrates me because this essentially gives refs an out, i.e. "I'm not sure if it was a penalty, so when in doubt throw the flag." I think this is exactly what happened with the play in question.
 
I think you're right about the "when in doubt" clause. I also wonder if there are more examples than have been posted on various threads to help the refs think about what should be called. Also there is an explanation in USA Today that clearly states that leading with any part of the helmet counts not just the crown. I would think though, that a guy on his way out of bounds would qualify as defenseless, if that's what the ref thought he saw.

One other point though, is that if Josh is hit in the head or speared after a pitch, we should get that call.
 
point b. in haywire's post completely changes my opinion. damn!

i'm guessing the ref considered tt to be defenselessly falling out of bounds but is ct just supposed to stop? guess so. he should have just pushed him oob.
 
I'd much rather hear bitching about why we couldn't hold onto the ball or tackle Taylor.
 
oh well...the games over so nothing we can do about it now...but if anything like it happens against miss st...boy will i be pissed
 
ncjacket said:
Also there is an explanation in USA Today that clearly states that leading with any part of the helmet counts not just the crown.
Click to expand...

I'm going to ask this again. How exactly is somebody supposed to tackle without "leading with the helmet?"

My head is front of my goddamn shoulders!

The solution here is clearly that everyone should start tackling with their ass.

(Actually I have sneaking fear that they are trying to encourage more arm tackling and diving at the legs so there is more scoring. God I hate the damn NCAA.)
 
Shoulder. That's what you're taught to hit with anyway. Hit with the shoulder and wrap up.
 
I was taught --probably prior to JV ball-- to hit with your shoulder pads. Later on at the high school level I was taught to hit with the shoulders and to put my head on the ball.
 
Re: Video of the call in perspective

Based on history I guarantee you that if we were on offense with the game on the line @ 17-17 & the same thing was to happened to Josh Nesbitt you could bet your bank account that there would have been a no call. This would especially be true if the situation was against the hush puppies. If the situation happened 10 yards away from the sideline it would not have been called(what's the damn difference). It is a shame that Walker went down on helmet to helmet contact just the play before. It may have reminded the stupid refs that they must protect the players. TT was not in a defenseless position because Burnette barely had hold of him. What if Cooper does not knock TT out of bounds & he gets the first down? Let them play refs when the game is on the line. This is why we have to beat the hell out of our opponents so that the refs stupidity does not give the game to our opponents. If we were ahead by 17 points at the time of the bad call it would not have been an issue.
 
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