Walt Anderson, the Big 12 Conference’s supervisor of officials, ruled Tuesday the Atlantic Coast Conference officiating crew was correct in not calling targeting on Texas defensive back DeShon Elliott for his high collision with Torii Hunter Jr. Big 12 replay officials didn’t deem it necessary to call targeting from the booth, although a rule implemented this year allows for that.
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“The play was reviewed and replay did not feel the action warranted an egregious foul, which is the standard to be applied for replay involvement in targeting fouls that are not called on the field,” Anderson said in a statement.
“You might have a targeting foul and have a little question about it, then they’re going to stay out of it,” Rogers Redding, secretary rules editor of the Football Rules Committee, told USA Today Sports. “The change is to allow the replay booth to come down and, so to speak, create the foul from the booth if they deem appropriate. Obviously they didn’t in this case.”
That’s not the way Kelly sees it. Notre Dame sent video of the play to the Atlantic Coast Conference for review, and Kelly told reporters the ACC agreed targeting should have been called.
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“We just don’t understand why it wasn’t reviewed by the Big 12 (replay officials),” Kelly said, via the Chicago Tribune. “I guess they’re going to be reaching out to them to find out why it wasn’t reviewed. Win or lose, player safety should be at the front of this game, and we don’t believe that was the case in this instance.”
Hunter entered a concussion protocol after the game.
“I’m doing better,” Hunter tweeted Monday. “Thanks for all of the prayers everybody. I’ll bounce back.”
