Edwards grasps ejection

MADISON – Alone in the Wisconsin locker room late Saturday afternoon, linebacker T.J. Edwards calmly watched the third quarter of the Badgers’ game against visiting Purdue.

Then came the fourth quarter and Edwards, who had been ejected with 18 seconds left in the first half for targeting, got a bit cranky.

“It was hard to try to feel like a fan because I wanted to be out there so bad,” Edwards said Monday after practice. “I was throwing water bottles.

“I definitely do not want to be in that position again.”

Edwards finished with four tackles, including one for loss, in UW’s 17-9

victory.

On his final one, Purdue faced a fourth down and 6 from the UW 42 with 22 seconds left in the half and the Badgers holding a 17-3 lead.

Quarterback Elijah Sindelar took the snap from the shotgun and looked for a receiver.

Ryan Connelly and Edwards were in zone coverage, at the UW 36. Tight end Cole Herdman lined up just outside the left tackle and ran a square-in. He caught the ball at the 36, with Connelly trailing and Edwards closing from the front.

Herdman, 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, lowered his head and took about one step before he was hit high by Edwards.

Edwards did not use the crown of his helmet as a weapon and had both arms extended so he could wrap up the Purdue player.

However, his facemask hit the top of Herdman’s helmet, which resulted in the penalty.

“There was nothing dirty about it,” UW coach Paul Chryst said. “We’ve seen it, where guys are lunging or launching themselves or not seeing what they’re hitting.

“Those are the ones that scare everybody.”

BTN rules analyst Dean Blandino, working in Los Angeles, tried to explain what factors the replay official was evaluating.

“The issue is whether there is forcible contact to the head or neck area,” Blandino said during the telecast. “But also you have to have an indicator for targeting.

“This is close. It looks like the defender is trying to wrap up. He is trying to make a conventional tackle. There is contact to the head and neck area and the decision ultimately is going to come down to: ‘Is there an indicator? Did he drop his head? Did he lead with a shoulder versus just trying to make a conventional tackle?’

“If it is me looking at this, I don’t see the indicator. I would change this. But I wouldn’t be shocked if they stayed with the call on the field because it is a safety issue.”

After the review, the referee announced the call had been confirmed and Edwards was ejected.

Edwards calmly shared a few words with several teammates and then jogged to the UW locker room.

He discussed the play without a hint of bitterness Monday and said he understood the call.

“I figured a flag was going to be thrown just because it was a bang-bang play,” he said. “They’re trying to keep the game safer. So I respect that.”

Edwards insisted, however, he was using proper technique while trying to make the tackle. He said he could have hit Herdman lower but replays showed Edwards didn’t have enough time to adjust after Herdman lowered his head.

“My face mask was up,” Edwards said. “I didn’t launch. My arms were ready to (wrap up). I think it was just the way the runner was going down and contact was upper-body. I get it. It’s tough to agree with but you have to.”

Connelly was asked what he thought of the call. His response captured the frustration defenders sometimes feel.

“The thing about those plays in general – I believe T.J. wrapped up and threw his arms around him,” Connelly said. “So, obviously, his intent was not to hurt the guy or go helmet to helmet.

“It is one thing if he is leaving his feet, leading with the head. He is running through him.

“There’s nothing you can do, either. The guy is going down. It is a little frustrating.”