At 3-1, with consecutive resounding road wins over rivals, there is little to complain about if you are a Notre Dame fan. The passing game showed signs of progress on Saturday, which is something I suggested previously was critical if the Irish expect to keep winning. While it’s still a work in progress, for now, I’m checking the box that the passing game is on the uptick.
Considering that Saturday is a very winnable game against Miami of Ohio (though the Irish could be on upset alert if they look ahead), I should be pretty happy.
But despite all of this, I came away from the game Saturday night slightly annoyed. This was not a result of Notre Dame’s play, but rather the two things I hate most right now in college football: targeting and instant replay. The big hit on Torii Hunter Jr. in Texas last year was awful. No Penalty, no targeting call, no review, nothing. Hunter as most will recall, sustained a concussion which played a large role in his decision to give up football to pursue a career in Major League Baseball.
Fast forward to Saturday night, and we have Chris Frey’s hit on Brandon Wimbush. He had already left his feet as Wimbush went down, and then Frey tucked his head to clearly spear Wimbush in the back and helmet.
WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK @MSU_Football ?? pic.twitter.com/m0j24X5Bjf
— Boba Bettis (@CBusIrish) September 24, 2017
In my opinion, it was one of the dirtiest hits I’ve seen in recent memory. Not to mention he could have seriously hurt Wimbush or broken his own neck in the process. If referees are not going to enforce the rule, then they should get rid of it.
While I’m at it, they can get rid of instant replay too. It takes forever, and there are simply too many plays that are reviewed. I know there are some who argue, “It is about getting the call correct,” but my issue is that, even with replay, they still fail to get the call right. If the NCAA insists on keeping replay, they should adopt the NFL model or something similar.
Nevertheless as the calendar moves toward October, complaining about football issues rather than the play of the Irish is a welcome change from last season.
Jimmy Grant
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It was unquestionably a dirty hit, but what bothers me almost as much as that is the lack of retaliation, as in – “throw me out of the game if you have to but NOBODY does that to my teammate.”
Do you thin the B1G will have the balls to call MSU and say listen this play was dirty and who knows why it wasn’t called or the booth didn’t look at it as they should have, We are suspending so and so for one game. One of the worst non-calls ever. Not really sure which was worse, The hit Hunter Jr took against Texas or this one.
To answer your question – No.
That’s not the point – it should have been settled on the field, as in “send a message”.
I agree however, I doubt they will suspend. Interesting question. What role does coaching have here? As a coach, should you sit him or penalize? Aren’t we all worried about player safety today?
It looks better than last year so far, as in win on the road and a much improved defense among other things, but we have yet to beat a team which is higher ranked, as in a team which is favored over us, and so October 21 – when USC comes to town – looms.
Not that that doesn’t mean we should beat Miami of Ohio and North Carolina.
This team is a work in progress.