Louisville linebacker James Burgess was ejected from the first play of the Music City Bowl after this hit on Texas A&M receiver Damion Ratley that was ruled targeting.
This Louisville hit looks clean. Here’s why it was called targeting
There’s an explanation when looking at the entire targeting rule.
The replay review booth ruled that the call on the field would stand. It was not confirmed, because there was not a good camera angle, but there was also not enough to overturn the call.
Similar to a hit by a Nebraska safety in the Foster Farms Bowl, the announcers did not think the hit was targeting because there was no obvious helmet-to-helmet contact. Coaches were also perplexed.
Bad call by officials. Let kids play
— Vance Bedford (@CoachBedfordUT) December 31, 2015 However, there are two parts to this rule:
Targeting and Initiating Contact With the Crown of the Helmet (Rule 9-1-3)
No player shall target and initiate contact against an opponent with the crown (top) of his helmet. When in question, it is a foul.
Targeting and Initiating Contact to Head or Neck Area of a Defenseless Player (Rule 9-1-4)
No player shall target and initiate contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent with the helmet, forearm, fist, elbow or shoulder. When in question, it is a foul.
Because of the camera angle, there was no indisputable evidence that Burgess hit Ratley in the head or neck area, so the call was not confirmed. However, given that Ratley’s head snapped back in a dangerous way, that call could not be overturned.
The other question is whether Ratley was a defenseless opponent. The officials likely ruled that he was defenseless because he was being stood up by another defender and could not avoid the hit.
While the camera angle did hinder the review, the targeting call appears to have been made within the rules, and the review decision seems to have followed the correct procedure, as well.
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