Fisher: Marshall penalty is unfair

TALLAHASSEE — Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher has a change he’d like to see implemented in the sport.

FSU senior S Trey Marshall will have to wait until the second half of the team’s highly anticipated opener against Alabama after serving a first-half suspension for a targeting penalty he incurred in the second half against Michigan in the Orange Bowl to end last season.

Fisher strongly believes targeting suspensions should not carry over from season to season.

NCAA targeting rules state a player must be ejected after committing a targeting penalty. If it happens in the first half, the player will miss the second half and can return to action in the following game. If the penalty occurs in the second half, a player is suspended for the first half of the next game.

“I think it’s absolutely ridiculous,” Fisher said. “What if a senior got that penalty? Their team is not punished next year. And it’s a different year, different game, different everything . ... They should not carry over. I think that’s one of the most ridiculous rules we have.”

Marshall will be replaced by several players in FSU’s loaded secondary group that includes safeties A.J. Westbrook, Nate Andrews, Ermon Lane, Hamsah Nasirildeen and Calvin Brewton while cornerbacks Levonta Taylor, Kyle Meyers and Carlos Becker could also be utilized. Next game: No. 3 FSU vs. No. 1 Alabama (Atlanta), Sept. 2, 8 p.m., ABC