Texas A&M football: 4 takeaways from resilient win over South Carolina
By Jeff Shull
Targeting rule not being called correctly…again
It was already ridiculous but now it’s just getting downright inexcusable. NCAA referees are putting more emphasis on the targeting rule, but the Aggies seem to be getting screwed more than anyone else when it comes to these calls. They’ve had several players ejected over the course of this season and each one gets more questionable.
It happened twice in the South Carolina game and they both do not adhere to the whole point of targeting in the first place. Player safety is at the heart of this rule, and neither of the plays that saw Debione Renfro and Donovan Wilson ejected put their opponent’s safety at risk.
Here is the Renfro hit. Here is the Wilson hit. Renfro clearly pulls up and barely even hits the guy. Wilson is actively trying to avoid making a hit and barely hits the guy.
Barely hits the guy. The phrase works in both instances. These rules are in place for a reason and they are good for football, but Texas A&M is getting the shaft most of the time, and because Wilson’s happened in the second half, he has to miss the first half against a Mississippi State team that loves to run the ball.
The punishment absolutely does not fit the crime.