Tulane CB Lorenzo Doss Is The First Targeting Ejection

Aug 29, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Tulane Green Wave head coach Curtis Johnson on the field before a game against the Jackson State Tigers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

College football coaches, players, fans and media alike had their questions about the new targeting rule, particularly the caveat that a player flagged would be ejected. The first targeting ejection under the new NCAA guidelines came less than three hours into the 2013 season, as Tulane cornerback Lorenzo Doss was run from the Green Wave’s game against Jackson State.

Doss is a significant loss for Tulane. He already had an interception at the time of his ejection. The good news for the Green Wave is because his targeting penalty came in the first half, he will only miss the remainder of a game Tulane leads by 20 points as of the time of publish.

One of the critical components of the new rule: any ejection in the second half of a game carries over into the following week’s first half. The first time this is enforced, or the first ejection in a more competitive game is likely to set off a media (both social and traditional varieties) firestorm.