Heavy blow to college football sparks debate over controversial slide

State of Michigan Defender Malik Spencer was kicked out for Objective during Friday College Football Season opener in East Lansing. However, Florida Atlantic The player was only released after a later crash.

The frightening scene sparked a debate about the sport’s most controversial rule.

According to the NCAA, targeting is when a player makes violent contact with an opponent that “goes beyond a legal tackle, block or play of the ball.” It’s largely subjective.

Against this background, the rules outline the most important indicators for targeting:

• Kick-off – a player leaves his feet to attack an opponent with an upward and forward thrust of his body, making violent contact in the head or neck area.
• Crouching followed by an upward and forward thrust to attack with violent contact to the head or neck area, even while one or both feet are still on the ground.
• Execute an attack with violent contact to the head or neck area using the helmet, shoulder, forearm, fist, hand or elbow.
• Lowering the head before attack by violent contact with the crown of the helmet.

Spencer’s hit on Owls quarterback Cam Fancher met three of four criteria. He started, led the head/neck area with his helmet, And lowered his head to make contact with the crown of his helmet.

That was a typical goal. He was ejected. Big Ten officials made the right decision.