College Football Open Thread: NCAA Suggests Ejections for Targeting

Rules Committee Targets Targeting

Kyle Kensing, 11:11 a.m. PT

Football Rules Committee recommends ejection for targeting defenseless players – NCAA.org

The NCAA is making an effort to improve player safety, recommending ejections for targeting defenseless players.

The naysayers sure to decry the motion as the end of football as we know it between sips of Dr. Pepper 10, take heed. This is hardly a revolutionary decision, as exhibited in this play from the Arkansas-Vanderbilt game in 2011:

Now, the change will pertain to every-down plays and not simply special teams, which is a matter for genuine concern. Clear guidelines need to be established, as a completely arbitrary ruling can have too profound an impact on a game.

Morning Links

Big Ten Fighting NCAA Deregulation Sparks “Urbanator” Return – Sports Illustrated

SI college football columnist and beat reporter extraordinaire Andy Staples takes a satirical look at Urban Meyer’s machine-like recruiting at Ohio State, and how it may be at odds with the Big Ten Conference’s mission.

Urban Meyer’s Signing Day Comments: What Do They Mean? – Scarlet & Game

Another look at Meyer’s stellar 2013 signing class and from where it was built, as well as the long-term ramifications it has both on Ohio State and the Big Ten.

Big East Moving on NBC Sports Deal – Sports Illustrated

So after months of arduous negotiating and the loss of multiple members — some that never even played a down of football in the conference — the Big East is approaching a broadcasting deal with fledgling NBC Sports Network. A rumored six-year, $20 million annually is on the table, well shy of the nine years and $130 million floated when the conference was at a standstill with ESPN.

The Worldwide Leader often dedicated airtime during broadcasts to diminish the quality of Big East play and question its future. How much that had to do with the negotiations is left to conjecture.

Nick Saban Suspends Four Arrested Alabama Players Indefinitely – Bama Hammer

A follow-up to the huge story BamaHammer.com broke on Tuesday, Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban indefinitely suspended Michael Bowman, Ronald Carswell, Duron Carter, Robby Green and Darrington Sentimore.

Saban said in his statement:

"“The young men charged are indefinitely suspended as we continue to gather information and talk to the appropriate people. The University and football program have strict guidelines regarding issues of this magnitude,” Saban said. “This behavior is unacceptable for any student-athlete at the University of Alabama and not representative of our football program.”"

Ole Miss Prospect Review: Nickolas Brassell – Ole Hotty Toddy

Ole Hotty Toddy is examining the standout signing class Hugh Freeze is bringing to the Ole Miss Rebels. What makes the addition of Brassell is that he isn’t a Freeze commit. Well, he is…but he also isn’t. Read on, I promise it makes sense.