Sun Sentinel Broward Edition

Targeting calls spike this season

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College football's Bowl Subdivisio­n has seen a 73 percent increase in the number of targeting penalties enforced through the first three weeks of the season compared with the same point in 2016.

National coordinato­r of officials Rogers Redding said Wednesday that 55 targeting penalties have been enforced in 214 games (0.26 per game). Last year at this time, 35 targeting penalties had been enforced in 230 games (0.15).

Targeting is called if a player uses the crown of his helmet to strike an opponent above the shoulders or strikes the head or neck area of a defenseles­s opponent with a helmet, forearm, hand, elbow or shoulder.

Big Ten coordinato­r of officials Bill Carollo said the early numbers are alarming.

“I fired off an email to a few people to say we need to do something about this,” he said. “Let's not wait until the end of the season. Not let's wait to do a study. I don't have all the answers, but it needs to get to the level of commission­ers, athletic directors and partnering with coaches.”

The rule didn't change from last year. Targeting penalties that are upheld by video review result in a 15-yard penalty and the ejection of the player called for the targeting.

Redding said the increase in number of calls could be attributed to on-field and replay officials becoming more comfortabl­e making the call.

Associated Press

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