Helmet to Helmet Injustice; From Winston Venable to Javes Lewis

As mentioned and promised yesterday, I have a bone to pick with anybody and everybody who is a fan of the two state universities in Oregon. That's right, the Ducks and the Beavers. We all know by now that Boise State's Winston Venable was suspended half a game for a helmet to helmet hit on Oregon State's James Rodgers. The WAC commissioner Karl Marx Benson said this about it; "One of the conclusions that both (experts) made on it, it was not the ball carrier. He was in a somewhat defenseless position." I will not go into how asinine this claim is because I have already done that (check it out here) and there is no use beating a dead horse with a stick. However, after viewing message boards, blogs, and articles about the hit, it is obvious that there has been nothing but hate, backlash, disdain, and idiocy coming from Oregon and Oregon State fans. They all claim that Boise State is a dirty program and that Coach Pete allows/wants his players to take cheap shots at other teams, especially if the other players are Ducks or Beavers. As ridiculous as that sounds, that's all I've read so far.

I have already said multiple times that there is no way that Winston Venable's hit was a cheap shot, nor was he purposely trying to injure Rodgers. In fact, he was very much making a play on the quarterback and Rodgers was trying to block both Venable and Jamar Taylor at the same time. The result was unfortunate, but that is football. Now, he sure shouldn't be leading with his head like that, which is a bad habit of his. In no way was it intentional or can it be defined as "targeting." In fact, that exact play happens constantly throughout every single football game that is played, both NFL and collegiate. Like I said, it's part of the game. But that doesn't stop fans of other teams from claiming Venable is a dirty player. Here is the hit in question. Take a look at it yourself.



A BYU blog called "Vanquish the Foe" suggested that Venable purposely changed his course of direction in order to go after Rodgers. Trust me, I have already lit into the tools who wrote that garbage.

The reason I bring this up again is this: Saturday night in Eugene, Oregon, the Stanford Cardinal came up to challenge the Oregon Ducks in an ABC prime time game(just like BSU vs. OSU was last week). In the third quarter, Stanford QB Andrew Luck completed a short pass to star wide receiver Chris Owusu. Owusu proceeded up field, as the first down marker was only 3 or 4 yards away. While he was being tackled by an Oregon player, Javes Lewis came in, full speed, helmet down, and contacted Owusu right in the side/top of his helmet. The receiver was out and laid on the ground for a good three minutes without moving before he was able to get up and go to the sideline. Check it out here, fast forward to just before minute mark 1:07 and again at 1:34 (for a closer look).



Look at this play and hit in question and see the similarities with the Winston Venable play. There are things in common. Both athletes were trying to make a play on the ball carrier, there were other people involved trying to make plays as well, Venable and Lewis both led with their heads, and there were injuries sustained by those who were hit. Very similar indeed, but with different reactions from the media and fans.

What is a defenseless player and what is targeting one? According to the 2009-10 NCAA Football Rule Book, this is the definition of leading with your helmet and targeting a defenseless player:

"No player shall initiate contact and target an opponent with
the crown (top) of his helmet. When in question, it is a foul."

and

"No player shall initiate contact and target a defenseless opponent
above the shoulders. When in question, it is a foul."

After viewing and pondering on both videos and hits, let me ask a question; Which one is a defenseless player? Is it the one attempting to block an oncoming defender, or is it the one who is already being tackled and close to being on the ground? The question is indeed rhetorical. Owusu is clearly a defenseless player. If he is already being tackled and going to the ground, why does Lewis have to run in and get one last shot in? In my opinion and it what seems to be obvious, Owusu was being targeted by Javes Lewis, who initiated contact with the crown of his helmet. The result was an injured player, just like James Rodgers (again, who was setting a block, and was not defenseless) was after the Venable hit.

Where is the outrage? Where are all the claims that Oregon is a dirty team filled with players who take cheap shots? Where are all the Oregon State and Oregon fans (why don't we throw BYU in as well) calling out their own teams? Why aren't the blogs and message boards blowing up with angry fans demanding justice in the form of a suspension for Lewis? I don't have an answer. I am baffled. It seems that the more the Broncos win, the more hate comes their way. My point is that the type of play for which Winston Venable got suspended occurs in every game. It happened in the Oregon/Stanford game, and Owusu was by far more defenseless than James Rodgers was. What is different is the way it is viewed, according to the perception or success of the team in question. It sure isn't fair, but then again top college football is played and judged in an unfair system. I hate complainers, but something needs to change. The BCS might take years to reform or fall, but we can at least be fair and consistent in the officiating and treatment of teams. Then again, as crazed as football fans get, neither change looks promising or imminent. Like your momma said, life isn't fair.