Big Ten Raises Suspension of Ohio State’s Arvell Reese

The Big Ten lifted the suspension of Ohio State linebacker Arwell Reese after determining he was not suspended. guilty of targeting late at Buckeyes‘ victory with a score of 21-17 over Nebraska on Saturday.

Reese would have to sit out the first half of Saturday’s bout at No. 3 Pennsylvania.

Ohio State filed an appeal of the Big Ten targeting decision, which was referred to the NCAA Football Secretary Rules Editor. After an investigation, it was determined that Reese was not guilty of assault.

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Reese was called for targeting and thrown out on a fourth-down pass to Nebraska wide receiver Jamal Banks. Reese hit Banks shoulder first, but officials ruled that Banks was defenseless so they applied the target.

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Ohio State coach Ryan Day was furious and several fans threw water bottles toward the field.

The targeting rule is one of the most controversial in football as it is open to interpretation. Mike Pereira, a Fox rules analyst and former NFL vice president of officiating, told The Dispatch on Monday that he believed the original targeting and ejection penalty was correct because he believed Banks was “defenseless” who had just caught ball, and Reese hit Banks to the shoulder or neck.

“They’re trying to protect the player who’s most vulnerable, the player who’s focused on something else and doesn’t expect to be coached like that,” Pereira said.

Targeting is the subject of Rule 9, Section 1, Articles 3 and 4. Here’s what it looks like in the rulebook:

ARTICLE 3. No player may target and forcefully hit an opponent with the crown of his helmet. Helmet crown – the top part of the helmet; namely, a circular area defined by a 6-inch radius from the apex (top) of the helmet. This violation requires at least one hit indicator (see note 1 below). When the question arises, it’s a foul. (Rule 9-6) (AR 9-1-3-I)

ARTICLE 4. No player may aim or make violent contact with the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent (see note 2 below) with a helmet, forearm, hand, fist, elbow or shoulder. This violation requires at least one hit indicator (see note 1 below). If there is a question, it is a foul (Rules 2-27-14 and 9-6). (AP 9-1-4-I-VI)

Note 1: “Targeting” means that a player aims at an opponent with the intent of attacking with forceful contact beyond the scope of a proper tackle or a proper block or play of the ball. Some targeting indicators include, but are not limited to:

Launch. The player raises his legs to attack the opponent by pushing his body up and forward to create strong contact in the head or neck area.
Crouching and then pushing up and forward to attack with hard contact to the head or neck area, even with one or both feet still on the ground.
Dribble using a helmet, shoulder, forearm, fist, hand or elbow to attack with strong contact to the head or neck area.
Lowering the head before attacking through forceful contact with the crown of the helmet.

Note 2: Defenseless Player (Rule 2-27-14). In this case, the player is defenseless. Examples of defenseless players include, but are not limited to:

A player in the process of or immediately after a pass. This includes the forward in a passing position with a focus on the outfield.
A receiver attempting to catch a forward pass or in position to receive a backward pass, or one who has completed the catch and failed to defend himself or was clearly not the ball carrier.
The kicker, either at or immediately after hitting the ball, or during a stroke or return.
A kick returner attempting to catch or return a ball, or one who has completed a catch or rebound and has failed to defend himself or has clearly failed to become the ball carrier.
Player on the ground.
The player is clearly out of the game.
The player who received a blind block.
The player with the ball is already in the tackle of an opponent and whose forward progress has been stopped.
Quarterback any time after change of possession
A player with the ball who has clearly given up and is sliding feet first.

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