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Fans, media tear into SEC officials after star Mizzou LB Nick Bolton was ejected on controversial targeting call
By Adam Spencer
Published:
The Missouri Tigers are trailing Arkansas 27-20 at halftime of the Battle Line Rivalry game. And, not only does Arkansas get the ball to start the second half, the Tigers will be without their best player.
Star LB Nick Bolton was ejected late in the second quarter on a controversial targeting call.
As you can see below, Bolton seemed to lead with his shoulder while hitting a receiver going across the middle, only making incidental helmet-to-helmet contact:
https://twitter.com/FTBBurner11/status/1335290618013052930
The broadcast crew and many analysts on Twitter were stunned when Bolton was kicked out of the game.
Needless to say, Mizzou fans were irate that the call was confirmed and Bolton was ejected, on his Senior Day, no less. And, Mizzou fans had plenty of support from media members and across the college football landscape:
If that hit is illegal, and confirmed after a review, then we might as well take away the shoulder pads and helmets and hand out flags. How are you supposed to hit?
— Ben Frederickson (@Ben_Fred) December 5, 2020
.@SEC DO SOMETHING!!! How many games have to be RUINED by your horrible officials!?
— The Mizzodcast (@mizzodcast) December 5, 2020
https://twitter.com/SDS/status/1335291363949240321
That is way worse than the helmet to helmet call against Catalon. Let’s see how @SECOfficiating handles it…
— Trey Biddy (@TreyBiddy) December 5, 2020
The targeting rule in college football has to change The fact that the referees confirmed a terrible targeting call on #nickbolton is a travesty Remove a player for the rest of the game on a hit that a coach cannot even tell him to do it differently is just flat out sad ?
— Roman Harper (@Harp41) December 5, 2020
. @SECOfficiating absolute garbage by you. Pathetic. pic.twitter.com/2dUwmjbVBA
— tedmønds (taylor's version) (@good_tweets_ted) December 5, 2020
https://twitter.com/eriknaquin14/status/1335293669549760515
Complete embarrassment to the game of football! No way this is targeting. That is a shoulder to chest hit and a complete screw job by @SECOfficiating. Not to mention a catch two steps and a fumble that they blew on the same play. https://t.co/9EJB3oY30I
— Dusty Craft (@CoachCraftSTJ) December 5, 2020
Here’s the hit. This should be on every highlight tape for how to react to a guy crossing the middle and using your shoulder to engage below the head. Instead he’s ejected. Disgraceful. pic.twitter.com/R39Px67PA9
— T.J. Moe (@TJMoe28) December 5, 2020
I mean I thought it was a shoulder to shoulder hit but ya know Catalan was tossed for less so I think we can all agree @SECOfficiating is just bad. hate it for the Missouri player that he got the short end of the stick but as hog fans we can empathize with how mizzou fans feel rn
— Montana Knight (@montanamknight) December 5, 2020
I look forward to the BS YouTube video @SECOfficiating puts out next week trying to explain that call. That’s mind-boggling to *uphold after review.*
— TOM MARTIN (@TwoCirclesTom) December 5, 2020
Arkansas fans can certainly relate. Their star DB, Jalen Catalon, will take the field in the second half after a questionable ejection for targeting during the second half against LSU a couple of weeks ago.
Can the Tigers overcome the loss of their defensive leader? We’ll find out in the second half.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 14 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
