Indiana at Virginia - Saturday 9/9 @ 3:30 ET on ESPNU

[Brass Cannon 25,174]

7 minutes ago, Hoosierfan2017 said:

Football is a dangerous sport. As long as the core tenets of football remain it will be a dangerous sport. They can try and take measures to reduce the violence, but unless they completely change the game it will be dangerous. 

Then with current concerns about health and safety prepare to watch a decline over the next several.  

A win for me I like those other sports better. 

[JSHoosier 21,660]

1 hour ago, Miller'sTheMan said:

That's a clean hit. He got hit in the head, it's unfortunate but there's nothing dirty or malicious about it. The fact that he's ejected and suspended for the first half of the next game as a result is nothing short of a joke.

its a dangerous game, everyone knows it when they play.

Intent has nothing to do with it.  I agree it wasn't malicious but that's not the point.  He led with the crown of his helmet, that is textbook targeting.  The rule was followed the way it was written.

[Miller'sTheMan 1,652]

Just now, JSHoosier said:

Intent has nothing to do with it.  I agree it wasn't malicious but that's not the point.  He led with the crown of his helmet, that is textbook targeting.  The rule was followed the way it was written.

I understand that, as I said, it's a stupid rule. The fact Gooch is suspended for that is flat out stupid.

[Hoosierfan2017 23,427]

19 minutes ago, Brass Cannon said:

Then with current concerns about health and safety prepare to watch a decline over the next several.  

A win for me I like those other sports better. 

Yeah, I expect to see a decline in participation too, especially for kids at the lower levels. I expect the NFL and D1 football to be fine though. As long as the money is there people will take the risks.  

[cthomas 6,551]

I have a grandson who is a freshman at Western Illinois on a football scholarship so this this is personal to me. He plays on the defensive line and a lot of hard hits take place in the trenches. And it's not just the hits in games but the ones they take in practice as well. He had one two years ago that broke his helmet. He's getting a free education but I wish it was some other way. Needless to say I worry about him constantly.

[Brass Cannon 25,174]

30 minutes ago, Hoosierfan2017 said:

Yeah, I expect to see a decline in participation too, especially for kids at the lower levels. I expect the NFL and D1 football to be fine though. As long as the money is there people will take the risks.  

Yeah but if the better athletes go to other sports the product goes down in quality. 

[mdn82 25,782]

Intent has nothing to do with it.  I agree it wasn't malicious but that's not the point.  He led with the crown of his helmet, that is textbook targeting.  The rule was followed the way it was written.

I understand the intent of the rule and the verbiage but what is he supposed to lead with? A drop kick? His @$$? When you lower your shoulders you are still leading with your head. The reason for the rule was to dissuade "spearing" which I agree with. What that kid was attempting to hit while trying to strip him. If he doesn't do what he did he either doesn't get the strip (which is the point of defense) or he risks missing a tackle. He wasn't spearing him. As someone who has played he was trying to get the strip. If he goes blindside he still leads with his helmet in the upper middle of his back to get high enough with his arms to strip him. If he jumps to the side he has a high likelihood of ole'ing him. I completely disagree with the interpretation of the rules even if this happened to someone on PU. If this is the direction we are headed they need to put two flags on people because it is physically impossible to square anyone up and tackle them without your helmet coming into play. I am definitely not saying spear either. IMO spearing someone is one of the dirtiest things you can do on a football field.


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[mdn82 25,782]

Yeah but if the better athletes go to other sports the product goes down in quality. 

Already headed that way imo.


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[Brass Cannon 25,174]

1 minute ago, mdn82 said:

Already headed that way imo.


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Agreed. 

[cthomas 6,551]

Even soccer has come under scrutiny for the practice of "heading" the ball. The bottom line is that the brain is a very fragile organ. It is enclosed by bone after all. Any activity that includes repeated blows to the head is dangerous. Some people accept that risk and engage in those activities and as long as they know the risks, well, it's their life. But what I see happening is parents steering their kids away from those activities.

[Brass Cannon 25,174]

10 minutes ago, cthomas said:

Even soccer has come under scrutiny for the practice of "heading" the ball. The bottom line is that the brain is a very fragile organ. It is enclosed by bone after all. Any activity that includes repeated blows to the head is dangerous. Some people accept that risk and engage in those activities and as long as they know the risks, well, it's their life. But what I see happening is parents steering their kids away from those activities.

I actually would support kids leagues where it's not allowed. Perhaps even banning it in high school 

[DChoosier 9,222]

2 hours ago, mdn82 said:

I understand the intent of the rule and the verbiage but what is he supposed to lead with? A drop kick? His @$$? When you lower your shoulders you are still leading with your head. The reason for the rule was to dissuade "spearing" which I agree with. What that kid was attempting to hit while trying to strip him. If he doesn't do what he did he either doesn't get the strip (which is the point of defense) or he risks missing a tackle. He wasn't spearing him. As someone who has played he was trying to get the strip. If he goes blindside he still leads with his helmet in the upper middle of his back to get high enough with his arms to strip him. If he jumps to the side he has a high likelihood of ole'ing him. I completely disagree with the interpretation of the rules even if this happened to someone on PU. If this is the direction we are headed they need to put two flags on people because it is physically impossible to square anyone up and tackle them without your helmet coming into play. I am definitely not saying spear either. IMO spearing someone is one of the dirtiest things you can do on a football field.


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I sort of agreed with you when I saw it "live" but in the replay it was clear he led with his helmet and you could see the UVA players head snap back when there was helmet to helmet contact.  He could have easily initiated contact onto the players lower shoulders, back, arms, waist or legs and I doubt there would have been a call even if he led with his head. These days the "head to head" hits are going to be called nearly every time.

[JSHoosier 21,660]

53 minutes ago, DChoosier said:

I sort of agreed with you when I saw it "live" but in the replay it was clear he led with his helmet and you could see the UVA players head snap back when there was helmet to helmet contact.  He could have easily initiated contact onto the players lower shoulders, back, arms, waist or legs and I doubt there would have been a call even if he led with his head. These days the "head to head" hits are going to be called nearly every time.

Targeting doesn't even have to be head to head, it's shoulders and above.  His mistake was he lowered his head and led with the top (crown) of his helmet; that replay showed it pretty plainly, right before contact he lowered his head.  If he kept his head up the call wouldn't have been made.

[Hoosierfan2017 23,427]

3 hours ago, Brass Cannon said:

Yeah but if the better athletes go to other sports the product goes down in quality. 

True. I wouldn't really mind though. I like football and all but its not my favorite. I don't watch much these days besides IU and the occasional NFL game. 

[mdn82 25,782]

Targeting doesn't even have to be head to head, it's shoulders and above.  His mistake was he lowered his head and led with the top (crown) of his helmet; that replay showed it pretty plainly, right before contact he lowered his head.  If he kept his head up the call wouldn't have been made.

If he kept his head up it's facemask to facemask and he risks injuring his neck since he is in the center of the QBs body. There is literally no good play he could have made from the front side of the QB if he wanted to cause a fumble. Best thing he could have done was to avoid trying to cause a fumble and taken the sure sack. That is what I am gathering from you guys.


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[Walking Boot of Doom 18,170]

"Football is a dangerous sport"

Which is why rules exist. If something that only provides entertainment is destroying lives, then maybe the importance of that entertainment should be reconsidered. The rule is good for everyone who enjoys football and wants to see it continue.

"I think the rule changes or “evolving” are what’s causing the decline of ratings."

The rules need to evolve with the athletes. They are a helluva lot more powerful than they were back when the game was played with a leather cap.

I get it. I hate how slow the game moves with all the penalties. I think football needs to get rid of extensive snap counts and attempts to draw teams offside. It wastes so much time.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 87,790]

B1G special teams player of the week.

[Naturalhoosier 15,467]

Certainly made up for that fair-catch call on the 2" line!  lol  WTG J-SHUN!!!!

[mdn82 25,782]

"Football is a dangerous sport"
Which is why rules exist. If something that only provides entertainment is destroying lives, then maybe the importance of that entertainment should be reconsidered. The rule is good for everyone who enjoys football and wants to see it continue.
"I think the rule changes or “evolving” are what’s causing the decline of ratings."
The rules need to evolve with the athletes. They are a helluva lot more powerful than they were back when the game was played with a leather cap.
I get it. I hate how slow the game moves with all the penalties. I think football needs to get rid of extensive snap counts and attempts to draw teams offside. It wastes so much time.

Time to change that name again


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[ThompsonHoosier 3,416]