2016 Utah vs. BYU - Targeting Ejections

University of Utah vs. BYU
September 10, 2016

(3:52 - 3rd) Williams, Troy pass incomplete to Simpkins,Demari (NACUA, Kai), PENALTY BYU targeting (NACUA, Kai) 15 yards to the BYU43, 1ST DOWN UTAH,
(3:52 - 3rd) BYU Penalty, unsportsmanlike conduct (15 Yards) to the BYU 28 for a 1ST down
(3:52 - 3rd) Troy Williams pass intercepted Francis Bernard return for no gain to the BYU 28 BYU Penalty, targeting (Austin McChesney) to the BYU 3

[tonyc]

Just make the game two hand touch. Good lord. Barely any head contact at all. Mostly to the chest/shoulder area. On the first one the receiver has the ball when contacted and he ducks into the hit. That both guys got ejected is unreal. BYU was as classy as it gets over those calls.

[aaronsmith]

This is a great example of why we need to do away with conference officials and go with NCAA nation-wide officiating crews as well as do an overhaul over the differing rules and regulations so that they are uniform nationally. This is hurting the integrity of the game. You need two teams to battle each other, not the other team and it's conference officiating crew.

[RPPIII]

1st one wasn't targeting. He led with his shoulder but the WR went lower then the Safety thought he was going to be

[TheUtahMan]

I was at this game, and I remember thinking these hits were targeting at the time. Having watched this 6 years later, both hits were clearly not targeting. Coming from a Utes fan.

[CMike]

What was Nacua supposed to do on the first one?

[mareksimmons]

The guy who made the interception on the second one transferred to Utah

[MrKnockout]

did anyone see the hit in the Stanford game that wasn't ruled targeting but was like the most obvious call of all time?

[TheGdogg]

refs shouldnt be allowed to touch anybody since they dont like being touched smh

[elilopez]

Ohio state fan here and watching how terrible of a call and officiating was done during this play. Ruling it an incomplete pass was the first red flag!!! First bad call because he clearing had possession of it during the slomo replay. The hit was justifiable for the reason of him gripping the football to try and not fumble it. The target of contact was the football only slightly allowing his helmet to hit against the face mask. Blunt force was directed to his chest, thus creating a fumble. This was a really good moment changing play. Hit was tough, hard, but it was good Refs screwed BYU out of this game, I believe how they called the game clearly must of pissed off BYU having to battle both Utah and the refs. This was horrible officiating to watch as a fan of college football, Bias officiating.

[johnmagill]

I am not a fan of either team. But those players should not, again, SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN EJECTED. Was incidental contact. Looks like the REF's were in favor of Utah.

[bryantaylor]

Referees should face fines and suspensions for gross errors in judgment.

[gypsykingg]

Neither play is targeting. Neither player launched with their helmet to the head or neck area. The first one, the BYU defender lowered his head and body before the Utah receiver. If anything, the receiver lowered his head into the BYU player. It's clear, these refs were out for BYU. There were many more questionable calls during this game.

[harrytruman]

unless you're a giraffe,  there will be some helmet to helmet contact on most tackles. neither of the players hit the receivers with the crown of their helmet anyway. bad calls.

[poemoe]

It might sound ridiculous but there should be a rule for those moments where the wr lowers the fucking head. It's simply stupid that the defensive gets a flag.

[BAM_Deadstroke]

I don't like either if these teams, but both of these were horrible. Both were shoulder pad to the chest/shoulder area, and neither lead with the crown of the helmet.

[jaredstowell]

4:01 this is what I like about Sitake, he loves his players so much he gets fired up when one of them gets ejected for a clean play.

[kden]

The first "targeting" is just as much the receivers fault as the defender. Safety's job is to break up a pass by hitting the ball out if he can't get there on time, so if you curl over into the blow you will get rocked "high".

[georgejungismyhero]

That first call is infuriating. There is nothing the defender could have done differently/better. That was a clean hit and a great play. The WR lowering his head while bracing for contact caused the helmet to helmet contact and it was still minimal. BYU got fucked.

[zigwil]

Being 2021, say what you will but the rule changes to protect players have led to less head trauma. This game was four and a half years ago. Players and coaches have made changes to the approach of hitting. The hunger to watch football at all levels hasn't waned due to it. The coffers of the NCAA and NFL are doing just fine.

[ScallywagBeowulf]

These refs are really judgmental to the Utah Side