Bo also sent in the Courtney sack and why it wasn't a fumble

[Apathy]

I'm glad to see that this was done because it was CLEARLY a fumble that should've been reviewed.

Link

Head coach Bo Pelini played down the incident. Pelini submitted in the same play to the Big 12, in fact, because a fumble clearly occurred. Officials ruled at the time that Gabbert's forward progress had been stopped in the split-second it took for Osborne to hit Gabbert and dislodge the ball.

 

Here is another good article from Shatle about both the Martin/Osborne hits and why other hits around the league are not looked at.

 

Nebraska linebacker Eric Martin was suspended for one game for what was deemed a targeted hit to the helmet of an Oklahoma State player. There was no penalty on the play.

 

That same day, an Oklahoma player was flagged for a helmet-to-helmet hit against a Missouri player. There was no suspension.

 

Last Saturday, Nebraska safety Courtney Osborne blitzed untouched and nailed Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert. Osborne went in high, which pass rushers are taught to do. His helmet hit Gabbert’s helmet. It looked clean on replays, because Gabbert appeared to duck his head into the hit.

 

Does that matter? There was no penalty. But Martin didn’t get one, either. Will Osborne be suspended now?

 

What about Oklahoma State’s Brodrick Brown, who was penalized for a hit that targeted above the shoulders against Kansas State? Does he get suspended, too?

 

What is the standard here? Do you rule that Martin had intent to injure? The others didn’t? If you suspend only Nebraska players, it looks like a grudge. Or do you suspend players only when ABC analyst Ed Cunningham steps on his soap box?

 

The Big 12 is on an extremely slippery slope here. No matter what it does, there will be questions and a potential public relations mess. You hope that there is a plan in place. You hope that it didn’t suspend Martin just as a reaction to what the NFL is doing.

 

This is not an NFL issue or a college issue. It’s a football issue, and you see the violence at all levels now. Kids watch ESPN and try to emulate their heroes. But that’s where we have a gray area. Some observers say the kids should be protected. Others say it’s part of the game. Everyone has an opinion.

 

The Big 12 appeared to play judge and jury last week in this hot-button issue, but court is still in session. These hits happen every week. If others aren’t suspended like Martin, they’d better have a good explanation. Who is defenseless and who isn’t? If you lead with the shoulder but it slides up to the face mask, is that an accident? Is it case by case? Can the Big 12 honchos tell who has intent and who doesn’t?

 

Here’s a better question: Should a league whose officials can’t even get a call right on a fumble (on that Gabbert sack) be trying to legislate morality by watching a video in Dallas? The Big 12 started something here. It will be interesting to see if it can finish it.

 

» Nebraska has brought some of this on itself. Bo Pelini wants his players to attack and hit aggressively. Send the ball-carrier or blocker into the third row, if necessary. Don’t hold back. They certainly don’t discourage Martin from his wrecking-ball role. That’s not dirty. But sometimes hard hits can be construed as borderline. Don’t look for Pelini to change the way he coaches. But the political correctness going on now in football means that Nebraska may be viewed differently from other teams.

 

» Missouri writers after the game noted that Gabbert was giddy, almost giggling, after some of his answers in the press conference. He was clearly “out of it.’’

[ESPY]

Nebraska has brought some of this on itself. Bo Pelini wants his players to attack and hit aggressively. Send the ball-carrier or blocker into the third row, if necessary. Don’t hold back. They certainly don’t discourage Martin from his wrecking-ball role. That’s not dirty. But sometimes hard hits can be construed as borderline. Don’t look for Pelini to change the way he coaches. But the political correctness going on now in football means that Nebraska may be viewed differently from other teams.

Valid point here. But, show me a college defense that doesn't follow this aggressive approach, and I'll show you a defense that can't compete against the best offenses.

[huskerprogrammer]

After reading the Shatle article it really makes you wonder if the Big 12 really knows what to do after suspending Martin.

 

They really have no choice but to start suspending players or risk being viewed as targeting a team leaving the conference.

[Hingle McCringleberry]

Nebraska has brought some of this on itself. Bo Pelini wants his players to attack and hit aggressively. Send the ball-carrier or blocker into the third row, if necessary. Don't hold back. They certainly don't discourage Martin from his wrecking-ball role. That's not dirty. But sometimes hard hits can be construed as borderline. Don't look for Pelini to change the way he coaches. But the political correctness going on now in football means that Nebraska may be viewed differently from other teams.

Valid point here. But, show me a college defense that doesn't follow this aggressive approach, and I'll show you a defense that can't compete against the best offenses.

 

Bingo. If they want every team to play like the Pac 10, then move to the Pac 10, this is (was) the B12, hard nosed football is what we play here. Beebe is a fool, he should of issued a statement or warning. I like that Bo is calling them on this, in fact I dont mind that Pinkel is doing it. I want all the coaches to send in any call like that. Beebe started this crap, now he should be exposed for the joke he is.

[NebraskaShellback]

Interesting article and it is Shatel style. The same week Martin was suspended, another player was suspended as well. He was a football player, I do believe, from Mississppi. These are the only two I know of for the season that were suspended.

[DJR313]

I can think of at least 2 hits this year that were completely flagrant attempts to injure by leading with the crown of the helmet. One, was in the KU-KSU game, some corner for KU blew up a KSU receiver on a wide receiver screen and was flagged for it. The other was in the KU-aTm game. The KU TE caught a ball and got popped by the aTm safety under the chin and his helmet flew off. If those 2 hits don't draw a suspension, then I have no idea how you can enforce anything. There needs to be a summit in the offseason to get everyone on the same page regarding what is allowed and what is not allowed. Like thousands of video clips of acceptable hits/tackles, along with examples of unacceptable, accompanied by solid rationale why one is acceptable and the other is not. What is going on right now is ridiculous and shows Dan Beebe's lack of leadership or his pettiness in attempting to take a shot at Nebraska on the way out. Either way, the Big 12 looks bad. 4 more games and we bid this Busch League conference adieu.

[knapplc]

I can think of at least 2 hits this year that were completely flagrant attempts to injure by leading with the crown of the helmet. One, was in the KU-KSU game, some corner for KU blew up a KSU receiver on a wide receiver screen and was flagged for it. The other was in the KU-aTm game. The KU TE caught a ball and got popped by the aTm safety under the chin and his helmet flew off. If those 2 hits don't draw a suspension, then I have no idea how you can enforce anything. There needs to be a summit in the offseason to get everyone on the same page regarding what is allowed and what is not allowed. Like thousands of video clips of acceptable hits/tackles, along with examples of unacceptable, accompanied by solid rationale why one is acceptable and the other is not. What is going on right now is ridiculous and shows Dan Beebe's lack of leadership or his pettiness in attempting to take a shot at Nebraska on the way out. Either way, the Big 12 looks bad. 4 more games and we bid this Busch League conference adieu.

 

Agreed, but you're wrong in one respect: We have five games before we're done here: ISU, A&M, KU, CU and the CCG. THEN we can leave.

[DJR313]

I can think of at least 2 hits this year that were completely flagrant attempts to injure by leading with the crown of the helmet. One, was in the KU-KSU game, some corner for KU blew up a KSU receiver on a wide receiver screen and was flagged for it. The other was in the KU-aTm game. The KU TE caught a ball and got popped by the aTm safety under the chin and his helmet flew off. If those 2 hits don't draw a suspension, then I have no idea how you can enforce anything. There needs to be a summit in the offseason to get everyone on the same page regarding what is allowed and what is not allowed. Like thousands of video clips of acceptable hits/tackles, along with examples of unacceptable, accompanied by solid rationale why one is acceptable and the other is not. What is going on right now is ridiculous and shows Dan Beebe's lack of leadership or his pettiness in attempting to take a shot at Nebraska on the way out. Either way, the Big 12 looks bad. 4 more games and we bid this Busch League conference adieu.

 

Agreed, but you're wrong in one respect: We have five games before we're done here: ISU, A&M, KU, CU and the CCG. THEN we can leave.

 

True that.

[suh_fan93]

The Big 12 DAN BEEBE started something here. It will be interesting to see if it BEEBE can finish it.

This is how this should read.

[Enhance]

I can think of at least 2 hits this year that were completely flagrant attempts to injure by leading with the crown of the helmet. One, was in the KU-KSU game, some corner for KU blew up a KSU receiver on a wide receiver screen and was flagged for it. The other was in the KU-aTm game. The KU TE caught a ball and got popped by the aTm safety under the chin and his helmet flew off. If those 2 hits don't draw a suspension, then I have no idea how you can enforce anything. There needs to be a summit in the offseason to get everyone on the same page regarding what is allowed and what is not allowed. Like thousands of video clips of acceptable hits/tackles, along with examples of unacceptable, accompanied by solid rationale why one is acceptable and the other is not. What is going on right now is ridiculous and shows Dan Beebe's lack of leadership or his pettiness in attempting to take a shot at Nebraska on the way out. Either way, the Big 12 looks bad. 4 more games and we bid this Busch League conference adieu.

 

Agreed, but you're wrong in one respect: We have five games before we're done here: ISU, A&M, KU, CU and the CCG. THEN we can leave.

We should dedicate our inevitable BCS win to the Big 10

[Hercules]

I'm glad to see that this was done because it was CLEARLY a fumble that should've been reviewed.

Link

Head coach Bo Pelini played down the incident. Pelini submitted in the same play to the Big 12, in fact, because a fumble clearly occurred. Officials ruled at the time that Gabbert's “forward progress” had been stopped in the split-second it took for Osborne to hit Gabbert and dislodge the ball.

 

It was reviewed.

[It'sNotAFakeID]

But there's no point in a review if they don't get the call right...that's what review is for and they OBVIOUSLY missed the fumble and then cited a stupid reason, forward progress had been stopped. How can forward progress be stopped on a sack?

[NebraskaShellback]

Articles: some of suspended players in other conferences.

 

http://www.realclear...elmet_hits.html

 

http://www.mynorthwe...ended-over-hit/

 

http://newsok.com/ew...cle/feed/206167

 

http://www.dispatch....ts.html?sid=101

 

http://www.al.com/sp...legal_hits.html

[NoLongerN]

Speaking of illegal hits by Courtney, wasn't it he or Osborne (I think Osborne) that put that hit on Denard? He led with his head and went helmet to helmet more so then the Martin hit. I suppose Beebe will suspend Osborne for that hit on our own player. :-)

 

Kinda surprising that Cunningham didn't make a comment on that hit and call for a suspension on our player.

 

SheepdogMark

[NebraskaShellback]

Speaking of illegal hits by Courtney, wasn't it he or Osborne (I think Osborne) that put that hit on Denard? He led with his head and went helmet to helmet more so then the Martin hit. I suppose Beebe will suspend Osborne for that hit on our own player. :-)

 

Kinda surprising that Cunningham didn't make a comment on that hit and call for a suspension on our player.

 

SheepdogMark

 

Cunningham did make a comment on that hit during the game.