The Hit

[SouthLink02 8]

mc, I understand what your saying but its very easy to say that when it isn't your player.

[mcgufcm 4,107]

agreed. hope reggie's okay for ga tech. your defense really impressed me yesterday. i think you guys will beat all comers for the rest of the year.

[AU4Ever 0]

When a player runs, he normally runs forward because it's hard to make tackles running backwards or sideways. So he's running forward toward the receiver. The receiver catches the ball and sees the DB coming toward him, running forward, I might add, with his head in front of his body. The receiver knows the hit is coming, and braces for impact. Just as Brown braced, he was coming down with the catch. So he's moving as the DB is running toward him. Their heads collided. It wasn't intentional or malicious. It was just the trajectory of the two players moving and meeting at that time and place. I've watched Rosegreen ever since he's been at AU, and that is the only time I've ever seen a head on collision like that one. He didn't just start being a head hunter in this game. He never has been one and if he makes it to the pros will not be one there either. Unless he's on a team that secretly rewards such hits. It was a vicious hit. I hated to see it happen. I want no player to get hurt, and when it happen I immediately thought it was much worse than it was. Brown didn't move, so I almost knew he had been knocked out, which probably was the case. But Rosegreen did not do it on purpose, IMO.

[lsuj2006 0]

As for the non call, they were both pushing. The Bama WR was fixin to push off on Webster, but slipped. Thus, Webster was the culprit for the pushing. Pennington said something like: "Where we're from, that's a PI aevery day."

When your trying to run down the clock and you bust one off the right tackle for a 47 yard touchdown, it counts as 6 points where I come from.

[AUesquire 1]

Only those who were at the game will truly understand this. The IMMEDIATE reaction of the players and then the fans after the collision tells the whole story. I have been going to AU games since before many of you were born and I've never seen anything like it.

This was a hard hit and it just turned out to be helmet to helmet. It was the reaction of both players that caused it to be that way. Yes, I do say this because it's my team but I take strong exception to anyone who calls the hit classless. I was surrounded by UGA fans at the game and NOT ONE said a word about it. It was good hard football and an unfortunate situation for Brown to get hurt. The only concern for every player, INCLUDING ROSEGREEN, and fan at the stadium was for his safety.

Let me tell you one other trivial thing that points out the leadership and class of this team. After the game, when the players were running around the field celebrating with the fans, McClover, who tends to be a little animated at times, started doing jumping jacks at midfield. He was obviously dissin' Pollack. Jay Ratliff immediately turned to him and started waving his hand, saying NO. The young buck, McClover, was out of line. The senior leader, Ratliff, straightened him out.

WDE

[rolltoomer 0]

I recall a guy who coached at uat in the late 50's to the early 80's who used to speak PROUDLY of how his boys but the "bonnet into the bread basket".

If any uat'ers need an interpretation, I'll be glad to translate.

[Argo 8]

Only those who were at the game will truly understand this.  The IMMEDIATE reaction of the players and then the fans after the collision tells the whole story.  I have been going to AU games since before many of you were born and I've never seen anything like it. 

This was a hard hit and it just turned out to be helmet to helmet.  It was the reaction of both players that caused it to be that way.  Yes, I do say this because it's my team but I take strong exception to anyone who calls the hit classless.  I was surrounded by UGA fans at the game and NOT ONE said a word about it.  It was good hard football and an unfortunate situation for Brown to get hurt.  The only concern for every player, INCLUDING ROSEGREEN, and fan at the stadium was for his safety.

Let me tell you one other trivial thing that points out the leadership and class of this team.  After the game, when the players were running around the field celebrating with the fans, McClover, who tends to be a little animated at times, started doing jumping jacks at midfield.  He was obviously dissin' Pollack.  Jay Ratliff immediately turned to him and started waving his hand, saying NO.  The young buck, McClover, was out of line.  The senior leader, Ratliff, straightened him out.

WDE

121661[/snapback]

With all due respect, no one said the hit was classless.

[Argo 8]

so keep the illegal, cheap shot, 50 thousand dollar fine horse!@#$ to a minimum.

121579[/snapback]

No easy answer on helmet-to-helmet hits

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By Len Pasquarelli

ESPN.com

Banished from Sunday's home contest with the New York Jets because of a one-game suspension levied against him by the NFL's "hit police," San Diego strong safety Rodney Harrison has been working with the scout team for the first time since his early days at Western Illinois University.

Harrison's pride is even a bit more bruised than his wallet, and that's saying something since the mandated day off will cost him a game check worth $111,764. "Embarrassing" was the word Harrison chose to describe his personal chagrin.

Other defenders in the league have opted for considerably stronger language to address the recent rash of fines and suspensions emanating from the office of NFL finemeister Gene Washington. Pittsburgh strong safety Lee Flowers even suggested, in a moment of indiscretion sure to draw notice on Park Avenue, that someone in the NFL office is fattening his coffers with the fine money.

There is no denying that the suspensions of Harrison and Denver safety Kenoy Kennedy, and fines this week totaling $125,000 against safeties Brian Dawkins of Philadelphia and Dallas' Darren Woodson, have directed focus on the issue of helmet-to-helmet hits and excessive ardor in tackling. But even at the NFL's annual fall meetings in New York earlier this week, club officials offered mixed views about whether the game has suddenly become increasingly violent.

“ I don't know how to tackle with these rules anymore, especially in the middle of the field. I have been taught since I was in third grade, 'Lead with your eyes, go across the body.' You can't change the way people play. You can't. They seem to think that I can make a decision in a split-second. The guy is in the air. He's coming down. And I'm supposed to launch with my chest? â€Â

   Darren Woodson, Cowboys safety

"I don't know that you can undo 20 or 25 years of teaching the game a certain way," said Detroit Lions president and general manager Matt Millen, a former NFL linebacker. "For years, we've taught guys to lead with their heads. If you're a defensive player at any level, you have dreams of coaches screaming, 'Stick your head in there!' And now we're telling people that they can't do that. And we're asking them to make split decisions, to change direction in mid-air, like a high-wire act. I'm all for safety, but some stuff just can't be done."

It is not as if the rules for excessive contact or illegal use of the helmet are new to the league, commissioner Paul Tagliabue points out. They were enacted in 1995 and have not been altered since. But there is now more emphasis on protecting so-called "defenseless" players, and on assuring that high-priced quarterbacks remain perpendicular, not prone.

The rules and their interpretation have been particularly harsh on safeties this season. Fines or suspensions against four starting safeties -- Harrison, Kennedy, Dawkins and Woodson -- have cost those players nearly $300,000 in lost salary. But of the quartet, only Dawkins was a first-time offender (it is believed), and the other three safeties had sanctions increased because of repeat offenses.

Harrison, for instance, has now been sanctioned three times over an 18-game stretch. Never noted as a cheap-shot player, Woodson has been penalized in two straight games. Kennedy has drawn three fines this season.

Tampa Bay president Rich McKay, co-chairman of the league's powerful competition committee, said Thursday at the NFL meetings that fines have been a deterrent against recidivism in the past. But that doesn't seem to be the case in 2002, a season McKay said he hopes is "an anomaly."

"I don't know that the numbers (of excessive-force) penalties are up," said McKay, "because I haven't seen the statistics yet. But because we've had two suspensions, and two pretty substantial fines this week, the perception is that things are getting worse. And this year, it seems, we've had repeat offenders. In the past, when guys got fined, they seemed to back off. That seemed to have an effect."

But therein lies part of the problem. Players don't believe they should have to back off and argue that, in some cases, the physical laws of motion make it impossible to avoid helmet-first contact. Players insist that, in most cases, they are not intentionally attempting to initiate helmet-to-helmet collisions. But the game's pace is so quick anymore, the athletes so advanced, that it is impossible in some instances to avoid such hits.

Dallas Cowboys safety Darren Woodson, who will appeal the ruling, on the $75,000 fine levied against him earlier this week: "I know one thing. I think the league is terrible in the way they handle these things. First of all, there is no arbitrator. It is the league's word against yours. This is America. Is this the way things like this should be done?"

"I don't know how to tackle with these rules anymore, especially in the middle of the field," said Woodson, fined $75,000 for last Sunday's helmet-first hit on Seattle wide receiver Darrell Jackson. "I have been taught since I was in third grade, 'Lead with your eyes, go across the body.' You can't change the way people play. You can't. They seem to think that I can make a decision in a split-second. The guy is in the air. He's coming down. And I'm supposed to launch with my chest? If I pull up, miss the tackle and he runs 60 yards for the touchdown, then what? We've got to live with the things that go on, too. They don't see it that way."

Actually, it would have cost Woodson less money had he been suspended for a game. One game check for him is $44,117. The $75,000 fine represents 10 percent of his 2002 base salary.

Dawkins, who was fined $50,000 on Thursday for a Monday night hit that will sideline New York Giants wide receiver Ike Hilliard for the rest of the season, echoed Woodson's sentiments. Flowers opined that the league should simply "hire a bunch of robots" to play defense. And Oakland free safety Rod Woodson noted that the helmet-to-helmet hit "is the penalty the league wants called this year."

Certainly the NFL made such hits a so-called "point of emphasis" for 2002. But no one in the league office wanted, or could have predicted, so much attention would be directed at the issue. The irony is that in a league that has done so much to stress a "safety first" approach, safeties feel that they are being singled out for much of the punitive action.

"You look," Flowers said, "at who is drawing the fines. Look at who are the guys being suspended. It's almost as if they're going after (safeties). It's a position that is under the microscope right now."

League officials denied that contention at their meetings this week. What they did not deny is that the game will continue to be officiated the same way the rest of the year, that the rules against using the helmet as a weapon will not be changed, and that more sanctions are coming unless the players and coaches heed the 1995 resolution. A letter to head coaches was dispatched on Thursday, reminding them that they must teach proper techniques.

The onus, in essence, is on the coaching staffs. The binoculars, though, are trained on the defenders. And if the instances of helmet-to-helmet contact continue, so will the stiff punitive measures.

The only thing being kept to a minimum on this issue was your research.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/columns/pasquarelli_len/1453891.html

[autigeremt 6,661]

This rivalry brings out the best in us all. I LOVE IT! The State of Alabama becomes the mecca of college football every year because of this one game.

WHY?

The passion, the heat, the tradition, the fact that both of these schools have football programs that reek of FOOTBALL at it's finest.

May the best team( ) win.

As for the hit. It was HUGE, it was HARD, and it was legit! Unfortunate, yes! But legit for sure. It just happened to end up the way it did.

I was just as speechless in that stadium as the rest of you on TV were. Thank the Lord that it was just a concussion.

[mcgufcm 4,107]

key phrase that you apparently failed to read: "But of the quartet, only Dawkins was a first-time offender (it is believed), and the other three safeties had sanctions increased because of repeat offenses." junior would have been a first-time offender which i pointed out.

want to know how they regularly punish first-time offenders?

http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/TEN/5822228

"The NFL fined Tennessee cornerback Samari Rolle $7,500 for a helmet-to-helmet hit that left Jacksonville quarterback Mark Brunell with a concussion.

Rolle, who is in his fifth season, was not happy with the fine -- his first for a play on the field."

http://wokv.com/common/ap/2004/10/01/D85ETC0G0.html

"Rookie safety Gibril Wilson and cornerback Terry Cousin were each fined $7,500 for helmet-to-helmet hits, and linebacker Barrett Green was docked $5,000 for hitting quarterback Jeff Garcia in the back with the crown of his helmet."

http://www.indystar.com/articles/6/194040-8226-196.html

"Smith indicated the fine was for a helmet-to-helmet hit against Campbell, and for making the contact out of bounds."

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?p...-10-2004_pg2_25

"The National Football League fined two American football defenders $7,500 each here Friday for helmet-to-helmet hits in games last week."

and for even less punishment on a more extreme consequence:

http://www.cbc.ca/story/sports/national/20...nnon041018.html

"Gannon, who suffered a fractured vertebrae in his neck in Week 3, saw four different neck and spine specialists over the past weeks and was advised not to suit up again for the rest of the year."

the league didn't fine derrick brooks for that hit, and it may cost gannon the rest of his career.

perhaps you should use that degree bama gave you, actually do some research, and know what you're talking about beyond the one article you read on espn.com before you call someone out.

[WaReAgLe83 0]

Talk about a post going waaaayy too long...

[tombigbeetiger 223]

i thought the dude was dead.....glad he is okay,but damn,what a wallup'

[AUTaxMan 0]

SportsNation Trev Alberts: (1:06 PM ET ) I have looked at it numerous times.. the key phrase here is ''launched himself'' .. his feet were on the ground when he made impact. I've been in that situation. It's a fast game. Everyone is running as fast as they can. You don't have time midstride to think about where to place your head. In no way do I think it was illegal, viscious or anything else.

[WarTim 3,457]

If JR had a past history of doin' "illegal stuff" or "playin' dirty", there may be a need to argue. He was, simply, playing the game of football. It is a collision sport. If players to not want to get hit, they should refuse to go on the field when their coach tells them to do so, or, they could join the chess club.

JR has a history of being a great leader, great person, pretty darn good football player. If anyone wants to make more of it than a play that could have hurt a guy, but thankfully did not, they are way out of line.

p.s. Note to uat fans: Our players are gonna' attempt to legally "HIT" your players too. You might want to warn them about that.

[JacksonJ 0]

First off let me say I don't have a problem with the personal foul that was called on JR in the game. But there is one thing I noticed from watching the replay. The ball had not even hit the ground from the receiver missing it when JR hit Gibson. He got the penalty mainly from it being right in front of the UGA bench and coaches who immediately starting throwing fits. The receiver was in bounds and JR should have pulled up but it was close to a no call.

As for the hit on Brown, JR doesnt need to lead with his head as much. If you look at the tape, you can see it happening very quickly and can see JR trying to use his hands and not just spear Brown like so many people are saying.

[chinook 0]

Talk about a post going waaaayy too long...

121713[/snapback]

i second that! also, how did the vs interference call get in the loop. take that out and everything bammer said and this thread would be 1 possibly 2 pages.

[AustinTiger 0]

We are talking about Football here.

So all this NFL talk is irrelevant.

[sportwareagle 0]

Lots of things to address here:

Most importantly, Reggie Brown is okay. He walked off the field under his pwn power, was x-rayed at the hopsital, and nothing is abnormal.

Secondly, dang what a hit!!!!! Junior did exactly what he was supposed to do and if he would've had tip-toed up to the WR he would have been cussed out....just like any other player on any other football team would have.

Third, both the fans and the players were nothing but classy when the incident occurred.

However, at least give it a few weeks before you add it to your sig, that's a little classless.

Fourth, as was already mentioned, this is college football not the NFL so it doesn't matter what they do there.

Last and least important, there is already a thread about the Bama PI so let's not discuss it here.

WAR DAMN EAGLE AND BEAT BAMA!!!!!

[MaterSandwich 0]

All these posts about the hit was on purpose, there is no way with the speed of the game to start out attempting a tackle and try to aim a head shot well in advance. It happens so quickly with the speed of the surroundings that you can't try to target a head shot. If you have played, you understand what I'm saying. If you have never played, you haven't a clue....

[AUgolfer 0]

I recorded the game, and from what I could see, Rosegreen was bracing to deliver a big hit. The receiver was coming down, and they collided. I don't think it was intentional, because CBS showed Rosegreen on the sideline while Reggie Brown was still down on the field, and Rosegreen looked concerned, he wasn't just celebrating a turnover, he looked concerned.

The fans and the team set a great example to all those people watching the game by the way they acted. It's Great to be an Auburn Tiger !!

[TrueTiger 0]

Yeah... all the players wanted to pray for him..

[Proud Tiger 4,261]

121239[/snapback]

By the way, classy sig. Message sent, indeed.

121243[/snapback]

Yeah how soon we forget. It reminds me of Rory Turner after his hit on Brent Fullwood saying "I waxed the dude."

[Proud Tiger 4,261]

Oh yeah...i just looked it up.

Same crew that worked the UT-UF game.

121269[/snapback]

Wrong again BG. Dang you are getting dowright unreliable again. It was the same crew with one notable exception.......the official who had responsibility for making the subject call.

[autiger162005 0]

Why are you bammers complaining about a big hit. Junior knocked the piss out of him and football is a contact sport. End of story.