Former NFL referee responds to Lane Kiffin’s comments on targeting calls
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Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin had plenty to say about Big Ten officiating after officials made 4 targeting calls in the first half alone of Monday night’s game between the Rebels and the Louisville Cardinals. Kiffin, who could not attend the game because he tested positive for COVID-19, said this to ESPN’s Molly McGrath at halftime:
“We just need this Big Ten officiating crew to teach us how to tackle because obviously, we don’t know how,” Kiffin said.
Former NFL referee and NFL rules expert Terry McAulay, took offense to what the coach said, per On3.
“It is not the officials’ job to coach players proper technique,” McAulay said Tuesday morning. “The rules for targeting have been in place for 9 years and most coaches know how to teach. What is a foul for targeting is not going to change.”
McAulay wasn’t finished with Kiffin.
“There should be levels for targeting but asinine comments like this from a major head coach will make it less likely that the college football commissioners will alter their stance and allow levels of targeting,” he said. “In fact, one reason automatic disqualification came into being was that the commissioners felt too many coaches did not understand the need for proper technique to minimize the risk of serious head/neck injury in 2012.”
“Kiffin’s comments may lead them to believe some still don’t get it. And if he’s not going to coach his players properly, then all of his players can all be disqualified for all they care. Kiffin will need to learn quickly how to coach proper technique, because starting with the third targeting disqualification for a player [in a single season], that player will be suspended for his next full game.”
Veteran journalist Stacey Mickles graduated from the University of Alabama and covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.
