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This is the first paragraph of the 2016 - 17 NCAA Rules Manual

InthemixVol

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Aug 6, 2007
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in the section titled "Points of Emphasis."

The NCAA Football Rules Committee has extraordinary pride in the Football Code, which was introduced in 1916 and has been updated several times. These guidelines form a harmony of agreement among coaches, players, game officials and administrators that places each contest in an environment of fairness and sportsmanship. It is noted that the Code emphasizes the following unethical practices: “Using the helmet as a weapon. The helmet is for protection of the player...” and “players and coaches should emphasize the elimination of targeting and initiating contact against a defenseless opponent and/or with the crown of the helmet.” Every participant in the collegiate football scene shares a responsibility for ethical conduct that enhances the future of this American tradition.

These are the applicable definitions:

Targeting and Making Forcible Contact With the Crown of the Helmet

ARTICLE 3. No player shall target and make forcible contact against an opponent with the crown (top) of his helmet. This foul requires that there be at least one indicator of targeting (See Note 1 below). When in question, it is a foul. (Rule 9-6) (A.R. 9-1-3-I)

Targeting and Making Forcible Contact to Head or Neck Area of a Defenseless Player

ARTICLE 4. No player shall target and make forcible contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent (See Note 2 below) with the helmet, forearm, hand, fist, elbow or shoulder. This foul requires that there be at least one indicator of targeting (See Note 1 below). When in question, it is a foul (Rules 2-27-14 and 9-6). (A.R. 9-1-4-I-VI)

Note 1: “Targeting” means that a player takes aim at an opponent for purposes of attacking with forcible contact that goes beyond making a legal tackle or a legal block or playing the ball. Some indicators of targeting include but are not limited to:

  • Launch—a player leaving his feet to attack an opponent by an upward and forward thrust of the body to make forcible contact in the head or neck area

  • A crouch followed by an upward and forward thrust to attack with forcible contact at the head or neck area, even though one or both feet are still on the ground

  • Leading with helmet, shoulder, forearm, fist, hand or elbow to attack with forcible contact at the head or neck area

  • Lowering the head before attacking by initiating forcible contact with the crown of the helmet

    Note 2: Defenseless player (Rule 2-27-14):• A player in the act of or just after throwing a pass.
    • A receiver attempting to catch a forward pass or in position to

    receive a backward pass, or one who has completed a catch and has not had time to protect himself or has not clearly become a ball carrier.

    • A kicker in the act of or just after kicking a ball, or during the kick or the return.

    • A kick returner attempting to catch or recover a kick, or one who has completed a catch or recovery and has not had time to protect himself or has not clearly become a ball carrier..

    • A player on the ground.
    • A player obviously out of the play.
    • A player who receives a blind-side block.
    • A ball carrier already in the grasp of an opponent and whose

    forward progress has been stopped.• A quarterback any time after a change of possession
• A ball carrier who has obviously given himself up and is sliding feet-first.


Anyone with an 8th grade education can understand that "defenseless player" DOES NOT APPLY and IS NOT A PREREQUISITE to Article 3 - forcible contact with the crown of the helmet.

The morons in the SEC office don't know the rules. Nor did Gary and Verne. Just ridiculous!
 
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