NCAA Football Rules Committee Wants Targeting Ejections

College football is one step closer to approving an automatic ejection for the targeting of a defenseless player above the shoulders. The NCAA Rules Committee this week unanimously passed a proposal to increase targeting to 15-yard unnecessary roughness & auto-disqualification status. The Playing Rules Oversight Panel has final say and will meet on March 6 to vote on proposals such as that of targeting.

Rules chair and Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun explained that as student-athlete safety remains a primary concern, "taking measures to remove targeting, or above the shoulder hits on defenseless players, will improve our great sport."

Similar to the present penalty for fighting, a player charged with targeting a defenseless player (either offensive or defensive) in the first half of a game will be ejected for the remainder of the contest. A player charged with targeting during the second half, including overtime, will be ejected and suspended for the first half of the next game. Defenseless players are those in a defenseless posture, such as (but not limited to) those receivers attempting to catch a pass, airborne kick/punt returners, kickers or punters during a return who are not involved in a play and players on the ground at the end of a play.

The committee agreed to make the ejection reviewable via video instant replay, which would allow a replay official to rescind an ejection just as replay may currently be used to overturn a number of on-field rulings (e.g., catch vs. fumble, etc.). Accordingly, the standard of indisputable video evidence shall be required in order to reverse the ruling on the field (Rule 12-1-2).

The committee additionally recommended:

» Blocks below the waist, initiated from the front, are legal. Those initiated from the side/back are illegal.
» 10-sec runoff with less than 1:00 in half during any injury, absent valid reason to stop clock (e.g., a TD).
» Make 3-sec mandatory as minimum time on game clock in order to spike ball to stop clock.
» Authorize and require players who change numbers during game to inform referee who shall announce it.
» Limit duplicate numbers used by same team to players who play different, not same, positions.
» Require teams to have jersey or pants contrast in color to playing field (e.g., Boise's blue field).
» Allow officiating crews to use electronic communication devices (follows SEC experiment).
» Allow Big-12 to hire an eighth official who will position in the backfield opposite R (like the NFL's U).
» Allow instant replay to adjust the clock at the end of every quarter in addition to the end of each half.

News: Rules committee recommends ejection for targeting defenseless players (NCAA.com)

NFL Ejections: John Parry (2, 3)

Referee John Parry's crew ejected Chargers linebacker Takeo Spikes and Raiders running back Mike Goodson for fighting in the second quarter of the Raiders-Chargers game. With 12:57 remaining in the second period, Spikes and Goodson entered into a dead-ball altercation following an incomplete pass attempt, Raiders quarterback Terrelle Prior intended for wide receiver Rod Streater, and were ejected pursuant to NFL Rule 12-2-8 regarding flagrant personal foul: unnecessary roughness penalties. At the time of the ejections, the Chargers were leading, 10-0. The Chargers ultimately won the contest, 24-21.

These are John Parry's second and third ejections of 2012.

Wrap: Oakland Raiders vs. San Diego Chargers, 12/30/12
Video: During a larger skirmish, Spikes & Goodson are charged with fighting and ejected from the contest

[Referee: John Parry, Umpire: Dan Ferrel, Head Linesman: Derick Bowers, Line Judge: Allen Baynes, Side Judge: Ronald Robert, Field Judge: Scott Edwards, Back Judge: Perry Paganelli]

NFL Ejections: John Parry's Crew (1)

Referee John Parry's crew ejected New Orleans Saints Broderick Bunkley for a personal foul (unneccessary roughness) in the 4th quarter of the 49ers-Saints game. With 1:13 remaining in the 4th quarter, 49ers kicker David Akers' field goal attempt was blocked and recovered by Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins. After the play, Bunkley appeared to kick 49ers offensive tackle Alex Boone in the head, resulting in his immediate disqualification from the remainder of the game. At the time of the ejection, the 49ers were leading, 31-21. The 49ers ultimately won the contest, 31-21.

Wrap: San Francisco 49ers vs. New Orleans Saints, 11/25/12
Video: Bunkley kicks his opponent, is summarily ejected for this flagrant act

NFL Ejections: Alberto Riveron's crew (1, 2, 3)

Referee Alberto Riveron's crew ejected Bengals offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth for instigating a fight/throwing a punch and Raiders defensive tackle Tommy Kelly and defensive end Lamarr Houston for leaving the sideline/bench area during the 4th quarter of the Raiders-Bengals game. With 7:16 remaining in the 4th quarter, Bengals offensive tackle Andre Smith was called for a false start; however, as the ball had been snapped and both teams were engaged in play at the time of the whistle, Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton—operating from the shotgun position—was tackled, an action which Whitworth took offense to, drawing a flag for unnecessary roughness and resulting in a fight. At the time of the ejections, the Bengals were leading, 27-10. The Bengals ultimately won the contest, 34-10.

Immediately prior to the false start, a pass from Dalton to wide receiver Mohamed Sanu was completed and a fumble was forced by Raiders cornerback Joselio Hanson. However, an inadvertent whistle prematurely killed the play while the ball was loose in bounds and prior to the Raiders' ensuing recovery and return for a touchdown. Pursuant to NFL Rule 7-2-n, "when an official sounds his whistle erroneously ... the ball becomes dead immediately." Accordingly, Riveron offered the team last in possession (Bengals) the opportunity to replay the down or to put the ball in play where it had been declared dead via the inadvertent whistle, either option negating the apparent Oakland score. Cincinnati elected to replay the down, subsequently resulting in the aforementioned false start sequence.

Wrap: Oakland Raiders at Cincinnati Bengals, 11/25/12
Video: As officials whistle a false start penalty, Andy Dalton is tackled and a bedlam of a brawl ensues

College Football Ejections: Jack Wood's crew

Referee Jack Wood's crew (Pac-12 Conference) ejected Southern California (USC) Trojans defensive tackle Leonard Williams for personal foul: unnecessary roughness during the second quarter of the Buffaloes-Trojans game. During a 4th-and-1 successful conversion by Colorado's Christian Powell, Williams was penalized and ejected after he appeared to punch an opponent's face mask while on the ground. At the time of the ejection, the Trojans were leading, 33-6. The Trojans ultimately won the contest, 50-6.

Officials: Jack Wood (Referee), Tim Schroeder (Umpire), Mark Duddy (Head Linesman), Jeff Robinson (Line Judge), Steve Steichen (Back Judge), John Morton (Field Judge), Shane Anderson (Side Judge).

Wrap: Colorado Buffaloes vs. Southern California (USC) Trojans, 10/20/12
Video: USC's Williams ejected after appearing to throw a punch at Colorado player (N/A)

College Football Ejection: Dan Capron's Crew

Referee Dan Capron's crew (Big Ten Conference) ejected Illinois Fighting Illini safety Earnest Thomas III for helmet-to-helmet contact during a Penn State touchdown in the second quarter of the Illini-Nittany Lions game. With 3:11 remaining, Matt Lehman received a 21-yard pass attempt from QB Matt McGloin for a touchdown as Thomas delivered the illegal hit, resulting in a personal foul/unnecessary roughness penalty, enforced on the ensuing kickoff. Replays indicate Thomas delivered the illegal helmet-to-helmet contact after Lehman had already scored the touchdown and was several feet into the end zone, the call was correct. The flag appeared to have been thrown by back judge Jack Lyman. At the time of the ejection, the Nittany Lions were leading, 21-0.

*When not officiating, Capron is an attorney and name partner at the law firm Capron & Avgerinos, P.C., located in Illinois. He received his JD from Indiana's Bloomington School of Law and his BA in history from the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign).

Wrap: Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Illinois Fighting Illini, 9/29/12
Video: McGloin holds on for TD as Thomas launches an illegal hit to the head, is ejected (ESPN)