FB: Empire 8

[mattvsmith]

If there is an ejection it must be reserved only for the most egregious cases, like the fight in PA last week where one of the kids ripped another kid's helmet off and then bashed him in the head with it TWICE. I can see ejecting for something like that, but I'm still trying to get a hold of the play that boned SJF. Dies anyone have a YouTube link?

[fisheralum91]

Rev,
Don't have a link, but it was a bang bang play that could have been ...maybe....pass interference.
HE was going for a pick and contact was made.
Nowhere was there helmet to helmet contact.
Was a blown call.

[Cardinal Pride]

If there is an ejection it must be reserved only for the most egregious cases, like the fight in PA last week where one of the kids ripped another kid's helmet off and then bashed him in the head with it TWICE. I can see ejecting for something like that, but I'm still trying to get a hold of the play that boned SJF. Dies anyone have a YouTube link?

I may be biased but I thought the play was just a physical football play that broke up a pass.  The pass was over the middle and low 15 yds down field.  The WR came back for the ball and the defender and ball arrived at the same time, the hit was physical but with the pads (no helmet contact at all)    The flag was thrown by the field judge,  the Side and Back Judges had better views of the play and threw no flags.  The play was appealed and ruled there was not enough evidence to overturn the call. The player must sit for the first half of the W&J game.

[Bombers798891]

General question:

How do you guys feel about the targeting/ejection rule? Fisher had one which may hurt them and I have seen quite a few FBS schools with players penalized as well. I have watched a lot of footballa the last two weekends and have seen quite a few players pulling up short so they are not penalized. I think the idea is well enough but I am very afraid that the penalty is mostly discretionary and could ultimately undermine the game. It might be a stretch comparison but it almost reminds me of the umpires in the MLB. They toss players and coaches for the littlest thing and it is ruining the game. Im not saying the NCAA refs will just start tossing kids but a 15 yard penalty should be sufficient. Make it like hockey and have a 10 minute misconduct. But to eject and then suspend depending on when the hit occurred puts a lot of power in the hands of the ref.

Also, the whole "half" game suspension is incredibly ambiguous. What if a player receives a targeting penalty on the last play of the first half? He sits the rest of the game, ultimately serving a 2 quarter suspension. Well what if that same hit happens the first eligible play of the second half? The same penalty is given but since it occurs in the second half, said player sits the remainder of the game AND the first half of the following game, equal to 4 quarters of football for the same exact penalty. Seems a little ambiguous to me.

I get it is a safety concern but the NCAA just threw this one together to be progressive it seems, at least that is what I think. And I do not agree that refs should be able to toss players based on a split second occurrence and how the refs may view the hit. Leave it up to a panel like the NFL and make a determination based on that.

I apologize in advance for any spelling errors. My iphone sucks.

Unfortunately, I don't know that there's a perfect way to do it. At the upper levels, you've got replay to help you look it over. But at this level, what's a ref going to do? There's no replay at the game. I do think refs need to confer with each other to see if someone else got a better view.

But ultimately, the rule needs to be in place. You've got to protect players' heads. Yes, it changes the game. But the game has already changed because players are bigger, stronger, and faster than they were. Not adjusting safety rules as a result of that would be negligent, IMO. Yes, it's a judgement call. Every ejection for any reason is a judgment call, in any sport.

[D3MAFAN]

General question:

How do you guys feel about the targeting/ejection rule? Fisher had one which may hurt them and I have seen quite a few FBS schools with players penalized as well. I have watched a lot of footballa the last two weekends and have seen quite a few players pulling up short so they are not penalized. I think the idea is well enough but I am very afraid that the penalty is mostly discretionary and could ultimately undermine the game. It might be a stretch comparison but it almost reminds me of the umpires in the MLB. They toss players and coaches for the littlest thing and it is ruining the game. Im not saying the NCAA refs will just start tossing kids but a 15 yard penalty should be sufficient. Make it like hockey and have a 10 minute misconduct. But to eject and then suspend depending on when the hit occurred puts a lot of power in the hands of the ref.

Also, the whole "half" game suspension is incredibly ambiguous. What if a player receives a targeting penalty on the last play of the first half? He sits the rest of the game, ultimately serving a 2 quarter suspension. Well what if that same hit happens the first eligible play of the second half? The same penalty is given but since it occurs in the second half, said player sits the remainder of the game AND the first half of the following game, equal to 4 quarters of football for the same exact penalty. Seems a little ambiguous to me.

I get it is a safety concern but the NCAA just threw this one together to be progressive it seems, at least that is what I think. And I do not agree that refs should be able to toss players based on a split second occurrence and how the refs may view the hit. Leave it up to a panel like the NFL and make a determination based on that.

I apologize in advance for any spelling errors. My iphone sucks.

Unfortunately, I don't know that there's a perfect way to do it. At the upper levels, you've got replay to help you look it over. But at this level, what's a ref going to do? There's no replay at the game. I do think refs need to confer with each other to see if someone else got a better view.

But ultimately, the rule needs to be in place. You've got to protect players' heads. Yes, it changes the game. But the game has already changed because players are bigger, stronger, and faster than they were. Not adjusting safety rules as a result of that would be negligent, IMO. Yes, it's a judgement call. Every ejection for any reason is a judgment call, in any sport.

I agree. Since there is no video footage during the game, I believe that this can be harmful to Division III football. The refs definitely need to confer with each other and see which ref had the better view and what they saw and then see if it match that of the other ref that actually threw the flag. I think at the DIII level, refs are going to throw the flag everytime there is a remote chance that it was helmet to helmet, which can be very detrimental to teams.

[fisheralum91]

Too bad about the appeal being denied.
That really sucks.
Lets hope Fisher weathers the storm and plays a solid game on both sides of the ball to minimize this penalty!

[d3fan142511]

missed the Fisher game in my picks.

Fisher 24
W & J 21

[Bombers798891]

I agree. Since there is no video footage during the game, I believe that this can be harmful to Division III football. The refs definitely need to confer with each other and see which ref had the better view and what they saw and then see if it match that of the other ref that actually threw the flag. I think at the DIII level, refs are going to throw the flag everytime there is a remote chance that it was helmet to helmet, which can be very detrimental to teams.

Sometimes the game has to be hurt so players can be safer. Not totally safe, because we all know that can never happen. But safer. Attempting to eliminate head contact is a good thing.

[Knightstalker]

I agree. Since there is no video footage during the game, I believe that this can be harmful to Division III football. The refs definitely need to confer with each other and see which ref had the better view and what they saw and then see if it match that of the other ref that actually threw the flag. I think at the DIII level, refs are going to throw the flag everytime there is a remote chance that it was helmet to helmet, which can be very detrimental to teams.

Sometimes the game has to be hurt so players can be safer. Not totally safe, because we all know that can never happen. But safer. Attempting to eliminate head contact is a good thing.

If you want to eliminate head to head contact, take away the the armored cages and eyeshields that so many players wear and go back to single and double bar face masks with maybe a bullnose added for the linemen.

[Bombers798891]

I also think it's important to remember that these ejections are not likely to be very common. You've got what, 240 D-III football teams? That means you have something like ~1,200 games a year. How many times are players going to be tossed for this?

[Bombers798891]

I agree. Since there is no video footage during the game, I believe that this can be harmful to Division III football. The refs definitely need to confer with each other and see which ref had the better view and what they saw and then see if it match that of the other ref that actually threw the flag. I think at the DIII level, refs are going to throw the flag everytime there is a remote chance that it was helmet to helmet, which can be very detrimental to teams.

Sometimes the game has to be hurt so players can be safer. Not totally safe, because we all know that can never happen. But safer. Attempting to eliminate head contact is a good thing.

If you want to eliminate head to head contact, take away the the armored cages and eyeshields that so many players wear and go back to single and double bar face masks with maybe a bullnose added for the linemen.

Sure. That could help too. I'm not saying this rule is going to completely accomplish the goal on its own, but I think it's a step in that direction.

[Cardinal Pride]

I also think it's important to remember that these ejections are not likely to be very common. You've got what, 240 D-III football teams? That means you have something like ~1,200 games a year. How many times are players going to be tossed for this?

First game of the season and we have one, 240 teams, would equal a possible 120 games?  1:120 in week one alone if this is the only case.  Not exactly lottery numbers here.   That would equal 120 players getting tossed in a season.  Obviously we will have to wait and see how this actually plays out.

[Bombers798891]

I also think it's important to remember that these ejections are not likely to be very common. You've got what, 240 D-III football teams? That means you have something like ~1,200 games a year. How many times are players going to be tossed for this?

First game of the season and we have one, 240 teams, would equal a possible 120 games?  1:120 in week one alone if this is the only case.  Not exactly lottery numbers here.   That would equal 120 players getting tossed in a season.  Obviously we will have to wait and see how this actually plays out.

But let's also remember there are 100 or so plays in a game. 120 X 100 = 12,000 plays, one of which resulted in an ejection (that we know of, I suppose there could be more). Not a common occurrence so far

[AUPepBand]

McLane Center was full last night for the Saxon Volleyball Team's home match with St. John Fisher. A thunderstorm with severe lightning had forced the cancellation of football practice, so the football team showed up as part of "Saxons backing Saxons."

It being the 12th anniversary of 9/11, the PA announced asked that the crowd stand and observe a moment of silence. The big crowd was then asked to remain standing for the playing of the National Anthem. Upon attempting to mic a playback device, it became apparent that it was not going to work. After a quiet awkward pause, a group of football players began singing the National Anthem and everyone joined in. While Pep does not advise this team to enter any choral competition, the spontaneous performance was capped with a chant, "U-S-A, U-S-A, U-S-A!!!"

On Saxon Warriors!

[Bombers798891]

McLane Center was full last night for the Saxon Volleyball Team's home match with St. John Fisher. A thunderstorm with severe lightning had forced the cancellation of football practice, so the football team showed up as part of "Saxons backing Saxons."

It being the 12th anniversary of 9/11, the PA announced asked that the crowd stand and observe a moment of silence. The big crowd was then asked to remain standing for the playing of the National Anthem. Upon attempting to mic a playback device, it became apparent that it was not going to work. After a quiet awkward pause, a group of football players began singing the National Anthem and everyone joined in. While Pep does not advise this team to enter any choral competition, the spontaneous performance was capped with a chant, "U-S-A, U-S-A, U-S-A!!!"

On Saxon Warriors!

Two things Pep:

1. Could you PM me re: the details of "Saxons backing Saxons"? Sounds like something my company may be interested in a story on.

2. Thoughts on this? http://www.bcheights.com/news/band-audio-system-clash-at-wake-game-1.3059957