🏈 Picture: The questioned call on Mack Wilson and helmet to helmet allegations.

[TerryP]

 

[TUSKtimes]

If they start policing these type of hits on kickoffs as they do on defense, going to be a lot of hombre's missing some ball games. The truth, Mack Wilson hits like a young Reuben, OH MY!!

 

[sean]

i'm sure there were more than a few aTm fans saying he should have been called for targeting. Mack didn't lead with his helmet, according to that photo. the aTm player's shoulder is in the pocket between Mack's helmet and shoulder pad. Mack's head was up until he made contact with the returner. the force of the hit forced his head/helmet in a downward motion and caused the returner's head to snap backward as his facemask took most of the force of the hit.

according to the actual rule:

Note 2: Defenseless player (Rule 2-27-14):

A player in the act of or just after throwing a pass.
A receiver attempting to catch a forward pass or in position to receive a backward pass, or one who has completed a catch and has not had time to protect himself or has not clearly become a ball carrier.
A kicker in the act of or just after kicking a ball, or during the kick or the return.
A kick returner attempting to catch or recover a kick, or one who has completed a catch or recovery and has not had time to protect himself or has not clearly become a ball carrier.
A player on the ground.
A player obviously out of the play.
A player who receives a blind-side block.
A ball carrier already in the grasp of an opponent and whose forward progress has been stopped.
A quarterback any time after a change of possession.
A ball carrier who has obviously given himself up and is sliding feet-first.

the bold part would pertain to the play from the above photo. but, the aTm player was neither attempting to catch the kick as he'd already caught the ball and started to run. he had time to protect himself as he'd already run a few yards up-field when he got hit. lastly, he was clearly the ball carrier.

so in my opinion, which matter neither during the game nor at the sec office, is this was not targeting of a defenseless player.

there has been talk of them taking away the return to stop these types of hard hits. and there have been many people asking how would they handle kickoffs if they made this a rule. in my opinion, the only to deal with it would be to take away the kickoff altogether and just have the teams start on their own 20/25 yard line after the other team scores.

but of course then you have to deal with punts as the return can be just as dangerous as on a kickoff return. so do you take the punt away (unfeasible as far as i can see)?

 

[rocknthefreeworld]

Only answer for punts would be to make it dead where it hits the ground first or is caught by either team in the air.

 

[PhillyGirl]

Wasn't just A&M fans calling for his head .. Damn near the entire sports world was. The Internet blew up.

 

[rick4bama]

It's Photoshop that what the Aggie's fans would say, and yes that what Vern and Gray would say too!

 

[94 Grad]

I'm not going to try and explain the refs call as I have no idea why the rules they way they did... but that picture you posted is a few frames after the helmet contact.

Here is a still from the TV at the point of impact. Mack's helmet is smacking the facegard of Noil's helmet.

In all honesty, I would have expected targeting with crown of helmet.

Having said that... the aTm catch on the sideline before half was also a bad replay call... his toe was clearly out on the CBS blowup... and that had a bigger impact in the score than the Mack hit.

 

[TerryP]

In all honesty, I would have expected targeting with crown of helmet.

There are a number of sites found through google searches about the fundamentals of tackling.

On any of them, you'll see references to eyes on the numbers. Check.

"Heads up tackling" is being taught nationwide as the safest method of tacking. One aspect of their technique and this is a quote:

“Back in the early 80s and late 70s, a lot of the tackling techniques put the players facemask on the numbers of the front of the jersey. Now, players should move their facemask and helmet to the side when tackling a player. This should reduce injury or impact or force to the head.”
​

One couldn't ask for a better technique from a player.

Let's not ignore the post earlier by @sk33tr ... the call was "he wasn't a defenseless player." That kind of hit happens on just about every running play.

Those bitching are bitching because it's Alabama. It has nothing to do with the hit.

 

[94 Grad]

There are a number of sites found through google searches about the fundamentals of tackling.

On any of them, you'll see references to eyes on the numbers. Check.

"Heads up tackling" is being taught nationwide as the safest method of tacking. One aspect of their technique and this is a quote:

“Back in the early 80s and late 70s, a lot of the tackling techniques put the players facemask on the numbers of the front of the jersey. Now, players should move their facemask and helmet to the side when tackling a player. This should reduce injury or impact or force to the head.”
​

One couldn't ask for a better technique from a player.

Let's not ignore the post earlier by @sk33tr ... the call was "he wasn't a defenseless player." That kind of hit happens on just about every running play.

Those bitching are bitching because it's Alabama. It has nothing to do with the hit.

As I said, I have no idea why they called it the way they did... they get paid to make those calls, I don't.

However, regardless of proper technique, it was a crown of his helmet to the face mask of the player and that is not in doubt. If it was a missed call, I don't think it had any real impact on the game score. There were other missed calls that did impact the score and they went aTm's way... in all reality, the score should have been 40+ to maybe 7.

 

[OldPlayer]

The runner was not a defenseless player. That's the difference. There are many helmet-to-helmet tackles during a game. If it was a punt returner catching the ball (eyes on the punt), or a receiver catching the ball (eyes on the pass), or a player engaged with another player (D. Harris making a tackle), and this kind of hit occurred, then it would be targeting.

 

[TerryP]

However, regardless of proper technique, it was a crown of his helmet to the face mask of the player and that is not in doubt.

I told an LSU fan it was questionable while he was calling it spearing.

Perhaps I didn't explain my thoughts well.

He's being taught the safest way to tackle.
He performed his job, and the fundamentals of tackling, exactly the way it is taught (endorsed might be a better word.)

If he did what's being taught, how can it be a penalty? It's no different than a running back getting hit by a linebacker when he's coming through the hole when it comes to what happened. There's a HUGE difference in speed, impact, and more importantly the number of eyes on the play (a large number having no idea how to tackle.)

In a sense it's a lot like the thread @Destiny's Child started about Kiffin. Perception.

(That's not to mention how many opinions were formed based on what the announcers were saying. As it ends up, with the ruling, they weren't looking at the play the same way the officials were. It reminds me of the reaction we saw when Aaron Murray was clocked—again, not a defenseless player.)

 

[BamaFan334]

That's a perfect tackle. The part that pisses me off is they have basically put 5'7 players and 6'8 players on an equal height plane, saying you're not allowed to get on their level and make contact with their helmet. If that's the case, why even wear helmets, because any helmet to helmet contact is being called and scrutinized. It's nearly impossible for these much bigger guys to get lower than these smaller guys. That's not football in my eyes. If you don't want to get hurt or risk getting hurt, stay your ass at home or go play soccer or another low contact sport. Mack Wilson hit a player that was more than capable of defending himself, its just a part of the game now with these speedy guys with great cutback ability looking for the next hole and missing the missile coming right at him.

 

[ColAngus]

Only answer for punts would be to make it dead where it hits the ground first or is caught by either team in the air.

What would be the point of the returning team trying to field a punt then?

 

[OldPlayer]

What would be the point of the returning team trying to field a punt then?

If the punt is muffed, it's a live ball. Anybody can recover it.

 

[rocknthefreeworld]

That would not be a reason to catch it. Maybe dead at the point of catch, touch by kicking team, or where it stops/goes out of bounds then.

 

[rammerjammer]

Best part of the photo @TerryP posted is Corso in the background.

 

[It Takes Eleven]

Best part of the photo @TerryP posted is Corso in the background.

I saw that, too.

 

[OldPlayer]

Did anyone see the report that Noil lost a tooth on the hit?

WATCH: Mack Wilson hits Speedy Noil so hard he appears to have lost a tooth - Sportsnaut.com

 

[TUSKtimes]

Did anyone see the report that Noil lost a tooth on the hit?

WATCH: Mack Wilson hits Speedy Noil so hard he appears to have lost a tooth - Sportsnaut.com

The aggies said it was the only thing he's contributed on the field since he got there.

 

[bradenob]

That's a perfect tackle. The part that pisses me off is they have basically put 5'7 players and 6'8 players on an equal height plane, saying you're not allowed to get on their level and make contact with their helmet. If that's the case, why even wear helmets, because any helmet to helmet contact is being called and scrutinized. It's nearly impossible for these much bigger guys to get lower than these smaller guys. That's not football in my eyes. If you don't want to get hurt or risk getting hurt, stay your ass at home or go play soccer or another low contact sport. Mack Wilson hit a player that was more than capable of defending himself, its just a part of the game now with these speedy guys with great cutback ability looking for the next hole and missing the missile coming right at him.

EXACTLY. Hey, if the guy wants to take it out of the end zone and make a return, there ARE risks! Not defenseless!