I understand the movement to emphasize player safety in football. I think it is especially important at the college level. The overwhelming majority of college football players are not going to play pro football, and are going to need to use their brains after they leave college.
That said, I think many of the calls that people took exception to took that too far. I especially take exception to the idea of a "defenseless" player. First of all, nobody wearing 20 pounds of armor is "defenseless". Secondly, officiating along these lines is changing the overall complexion of the game of football. It's taking the toughness out of the game. It's changing decision-making. Didn't you used to have to be a badass to run routes over the middle? Didn't QBs used to get torn a new one for hanging their receivers out to dry. Nowadays if a QB throws a bad ball or makes a bad decision that gets his teammate lit up, he gets a high five and an automatic first down.
That said, I think many of the calls that people took exception to took that too far. I especially take exception to the idea of a "defenseless" player. First of all, nobody wearing 20 pounds of armor is "defenseless". Secondly, officiating along these lines is changing the overall complexion of the game of football. It's taking the toughness out of the game. It's changing decision-making. Didn't you used to have to be a badass to run routes over the middle? Didn't QBs used to get torn a new one for hanging their receivers out to dry. Nowadays if a QB throws a bad ball or makes a bad decision that gets his teammate lit up, he gets a high five and an automatic first down.
Upvote
0
And while we're at it, he's got 6 B10 titles now, and only 9 more over the next 28 years? What a slump!