FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[bashbrother]

Interesting debate.... 

I still have a big problem personally with a player being ejected from a game, if there is ANY chance of there being a mistake..  "I would rather see the guilty set free.. Rather than 1 innocent punished for something that did not happen"...  Throw the flag. Give them the 15 yards and review after the game.

It's just the only way to do it.  Losing a star linebacker, safety or cornerback for a half in a conference championship or playoff game ... Can and would possibly have a hand in the outcome at the D3 level.

Flag football is coming.    Brutal

[wabndy]

Asking officials to make a snap judgment on whether there was intentional or reckless targeting, without the benefit of replay, does seem like a big stretch, especially with such a draconian penalty.  I don't have a problem with the 15 yard penalty - you have to take in-game action and yes, sometimes offiicals get it wrong.  The NFL, and to lesser extend NCAA D1, has the budget and resources to have an instant replay to get the call right on the spot.  For D3, I think assessing a 15 yd penalty, issuing a warning to the offending player (with auto ejection in a second observed offense in the same game), and post-game tape review would probably be more fair.  On the other hand, if Witt was rightly flagged for this same offense earlier in the game, I really can't fault the officials for being extra vigilant in calling it again if they think they saw it.

I think it will be interesting when playoff time comes to see if we do see an uptick in this call.  You will be getting teams who not only traditionally don't play each other, but at best might be have played one common opponent at the start of the season.  Throw in officials from different areas of the country officiating unfamiliar teams, and then throw in the fact that the suspension consequences are oh-so-much more severe, it could be interesting.

[smedindy]

I'm all for making it safer, and making sure that helmets aren't used as weapons. Rather someone miss a game of football than having their brain (or another player's brain) be rendered jello in the future. Usually, the player headhunting also has concussions and issues with them later on.

Without replay, though, it's tough to make the borderline call

The only caveat is that I think when it's blatant, then you toss them out, and I mean blatant. Otherwise, if it's not televised with replay changes, let's review the tape and the ref's report first.

[MIAA in Exile]

Will the conference also review tape of hits that were helmet to helmet but weren't called?  Can schools appeal hits that were missed by officials but were clearly illegal hits ala the NFL? How soon before the league is reviewing multiple tapes per week?

My concern with the targeting and helmet to helmet rules concerns whether it is applied to both sides of the ball.  Think about peal back blocking on punt/kickoff returns, reverses and other examples were defensive players are in a vulnerable position.  Are they protected from targeting?  We all love those "de-cleating" hits, but if the same rules were applied to defenders, they should draw 15 yard penalties too.

Head safety is too important I think to only protect those carrying/catching the ball.

[bashbrother]

All of us are for increased player safety...... It is good for the game.

Just don't rob a player of participation....unfairly.  Review the video after the game.... (easy enough) if they are guilty....  punish.  If they have two events in the same game.... then their benefit of the doubt is removed and the player is ejected.

The rule was designed to be implemented fairly at the Div. 1 & NFL levels.   An example of "one size not fitting all"   Hopefully we will see a modification made in the off-season. 

It is actually unfair to the referees any other way... their job's are tough enough.   Respect the job they have to do week in and week out..... not easy getting it right.

[wally_wabash]

Love a good HD stream.  Well done, Yeomen! 

Keys to the game...win first down, don't turn the ball over, and be FOCUSED.  Let's go Wabash!

[DadofBashWarrior..]

I don't think of myself as revengeful...but somehow I still have steam from last year...unlike Geny that frankly it seemed we just lost last year Oberlin beat us...would like to see 100 points today...very unlike something Wabash would do...but somehow that is what is in me today...been enjoying all the posting here I raed it everyday

[old wabash]

good picture, having trouble with stream. anyone else having problems? going to radio! or live stats!!

[Caveman # 95]

Yes, having trouble with the stream....herky-jerky...very frustrating...

[cave2bens]

Mine is working really well - accessed it through this link (d3football) via the ranked teams' scoreboard. Oops - spoke too soon as shifted back and having buffering issues...

[DadofBashWarrior..]

Yes, having trouble with the stream....herky-jerky...very frustrating...

Working very well for me...

[BashDad]

Wabash electing to play with an eighth grade quarterback today.

[old wabash]

can't even find good audio stream...not a good day for us fans!!

[Caveman # 95]

The audio feed from the Wabash website is OK...

[bashbrother]

Putko has certainly regressed... He needs to quit dancing when he runs with the ball... Run the ball... Pick up the yard and score the touchdown... There is only 1 Superman...you are not him.