Star linebacker Whit Weeks was ejected from LSU’s matchup versus Florida for targeting on the first defensive drive of the contest.
Weeks plays a pivotal role in leading LSU’s defense to being one of the best in college football, and serves as a captain and playmaker for the Tigers’ defense. Although LSU’s defense still performed well without Weeks, it’s unfortunate that he didn’t get his chance to shine because of a controversial call.
But was it targeting?
Replay reviews showed that there was contact to the crown of Florida wide receiver Vernell Brown III’s helmet in the collision with Weeks, but not until after Brown lowered his helmet while trying to fight for more yards. This makes me believe that because of how early it was in the game and the initiation of contact by Brown, targeting was not the correct call.
Determining targeting calls has become routine for referees in college football now, and usually for collisions like this, there is less penalty for the defender if the ball carrier welcomes the contact to the head. Weeks also clearly leans in low to the tackle, the fundamental way of tackling taught to intentionally avoid hitting the ball carrier’s head area.
The targeting call enraged fans, making many go toward social media and calling for justice for Weeks. To remove such a key player so early into a primetime game is an extreme burden to put on a team and can change the whole dynamic of the game.
This call also seems shaky with the NCAA rules in place.
The NCAA targeting rule states that if a player is already committed to a legal tackle and does not initially attack the head or neck area, it’s not targeting if a head collision occurs.
Weeks attempted a low tackle aimed toward Brown’s body with no real intention to injure his head, so what motion in the tackle caused the targeting? The only thing Weeks may be at fault for is leading into the tackle with his helmet, but he also tries to wrap Brown up in his challenge.
Overall, more and more softer targeting calls have led to players being ejected from games across college football, both hurting the teams they play for and their personal reputations.
Some plays just don’t need to be intervened with, and this one with Weeks was one of them. Such a meaningless play for the Gators turned into a huge problem for the Tigers. Luckily, Weeks’ absence was covered up by the five interceptions from the Tiger defense, and the call shouldn’t mean much for the upcoming matchup versus Southeastern Louisiana.
Calls like this, though, unfortunately show the issue in how much referees can intervene with the course of an intense game.
