Comments on: SEC Suspends USC’s Swearinger For Nasty Hit; Conspiracy Theorists Need To Hush

By: Andy

Andy — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 16:37:12 +0000

Like I said last week, if they are going to be consistent, there will be at least 1-2 suspended every week. We’ll see how long this lasts.

By: BonzaiB

BonzaiB — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 13:36:00 +0000

Its a new policy, and there is going to be some level of discussion, pro’s and con’s, as this stuff starts to get institutionalized. Anyone who talks conspiracy here is just whining. Human’s play the game, officiate it and regulate it. There are going to be disagreements on enforcement, get used to it. The rule was put into place to protect students the NCAA has a responsibility to protect. All calls on this new rule should err on the side of safety, period. Its a new rule, its a good rule, its going to be argued about, and the players are going to have to deal with it. The stricter you are in enforcement out the gate, the faster they learn what not to do, which is the point of the exercise.

By: bpa_kc

bpa_kc — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 12:46:25 +0000

Unless the patch-work Mizzou o-line improves a lot in 1 week’s time… I’m not sure Franklin (or Berk) will have enough time to exploit any holes in the USC secondary. The amount of pressure ASU was able to generate last weekend makes me worry that Mr. Clowney is going to have a field day Saturday. Like last week, I think it will be up to the Mizzou defense to play a stellar game if they want to keep this one close.

By: Gamecock98

Gamecock98 — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 12:42:13 +0000

Obviously I am a Carolina fan but it is the right call by the league as others have stated. I am not the kind of person who stands on the side of the road with the State Trooper arguing a speeding ticket by pointing out others who speed. I hate to lose DJ for a big game but perhaps it will teach a lesson to others. Go Cocks and win anyway.

John, a big fan of MrSEC as I check it first thing in the morning and come back later in hopes of new nuggets of information gold. Have a great day.

By: Ced Lover

Ced Lover — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 03:37:54 +0000

@John at MrSEC @Ced Lover THX. Enjoy the site and thanks for the info from SEC officials. (I don’t buy it, but it’s good to hear their take). it’s definitely a slippery slope for the league

By: Gamecock in ATL

Gamecock in ATL — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 21:21:45 +0000

@John at MrSEC @TremontReb Hilarious …

By: John at MrSEC

John at MrSEC — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 21:20:37 +0000

@TremontReb

Again. Good to know.

Any word on why 12 schools choose to allow the SEC office to play favorites for two rival league schools? Seems to me they’d raise one heckuva ruckus if they thought the SEC office played favorites.

Also, with Alabama being a 51-point favorite against FAU on Saturday, I’d think the league would want to cover up their pro-Bama conspiracy with a suspension of a Bama player — you mentioned an Alabama hit earlier — for a game that doesn’t matter. Is the league office worried the Owls might stun the Tide? If not, why not double-down on the first conspiracy by further conspiring to cover it up?

Here’s the problem: I’m using logic to argue with someone who’s driven by passion. We’ll never see eye-to-eye. So let’s just end it here.

My view: The SEC is protecting players. Your view: The SEC is cheating 12 schools to help two… and the 12 getting cheated don’t mind.

John

By: Gamecock in ATL

Gamecock in ATL — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 21:19:24 +0000

Gotta obey the rules DJ … that’s a big loss for the Mizzou game

By: John at MrSEC

John at MrSEC — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 21:09:18 +0000

@Ced Lover

No need to send people to YouTube. I mentioned the play in the story above. I also got the SEC’s explanation of the difference between the two plays — buy it or not — and I linked back to the video of the play as well.

Here’s the video and the SEC’s explanation again:

http://www.mrsec.com/2012/09/sec-responds-to-questions-about-suspension-of-ums-elston/

Personally, I think if Cunningham had rolled around on the ground, Hal would have been suspended. The SEC would probably argue that, but I think a player looking hurt makes a play look worse.

As for the flagged, not flagged stuff… that’s like a holding call or an interference call. Different officials working different games see things from their own angles at full-speed in different ways. Always have, always will. The trick is equal application of the suspension rule, in my view.

Thanks for reading the site,
John

By: TremontReb

TremontReb — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 20:55:17 +0000

Pretty much, yeah that’s the way it works.
BTW, you used the word conspiracy. Would like to see the rules enforced equally. if you think that happens then you haven’t been around long.

By: Ced Lover

Ced Lover — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 20:33:27 +0000

USC grad, so I bleed GARNET.

However, I have no problem with the suspension. It was a nasty helmet-to-helmet hit. The rules say “DON’T DO IT,” and he did it. But worse (and stupidly), he tweeted a video of the hit…essentially bragging about the play for which he got flagged. Even if the suspension wasn’t going to happen, the league would have had no choice. They’re cracking down on those types of hits, while he’s glorifying that he did it. He’s a senior and a leader of the defense. He should have been smart enough to avoid that type of hit. Or even if it was unavoidable, he should have been smart enough to not draw attention back to the hit two days later. SMH

That said, Andre Hal (#23 for Vanderbilt) did indeed have a similar helmet-to-helmet hit. (Just search “Justice Cunningham 20 yd Reception” on Youtube). So you gotta see how it seems to USC fans. I don’t think it’s a conspiracy, however I do think the problem with the NCAA (and now the SEC) is that the rules are NEVER consistent.
+ Hal (Vandy) flagged, NOT suspended.
+ Elston (Ole Miss) NOT flagged, but suspended.
+ Swearinger (USC) BOTH flagged and suspended.

No one is arguing the rules…we are arguing the application of those rules.

By: Ced Lover

Ced Lover — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 20:32:58 +0000

By: John at MrSEC

John at MrSEC — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 20:07:18 +0000

@TremontReb

Ohhhh. So the SEC’s favoritism only works for two schools. The other 12 are fair game. Good to know.

Surprises me that the other 12 schools — ya know, since the commissioner actually answers to their presidents — don’t complain or replace the commissioner.

John

By: mb6783

mb6783 — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 19:54:28 +0000

As a Carolina Fan, I knew he would be suspended as soon as it happened. And going along with the Ole Miss player, they both deserve it. My only complaint, is that the Vandy hit against Cunningham deserved the same suspension. The only reason the Vandy guy didn’t get suspended is because Cunningham was to big for him to knock down. No concpiracy here, DJ’s hit deserved suspension. Sucks, we really need him against Mizou.

By: aramsayjr

aramsayjr — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 19:08:49 +0000

I will preface this by saying my opinion is biased because i am a Carolina fan.

i do not think this suspension is warranted. In the previous article you stated the suspension of the Mississippi player was given because he used the crown of his helmet. If you look closely at the Swearinger replay, he did not hit the receiver with the crown but rather with the side of his helmet as he attempted to hit the receiver with his right shoulder pad. Look at the way his body turns after the hit, If his intent was to lead straight helmet first, his body would not have turned sideways, it would have followed through directly through the receiver. He put his forced behind his right shoulder which is why his body turns shoulder first even after that area made most of the contact.

While the hit was high, also notice that the ball was being caught high directly in front of the receiver’s head. Swearinger’s initial contact was his right shoulder pad on the ball. How do you suspend a player for going full force into the point of the reception.

It was a bad hit and deserved a penalty, but suspensions should be based on intent. In my opinion, the intent was to hit shoulder first and was to make contact with both the ball and the player.

By: TremontReb

TremontReb — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 18:38:25 +0000

Didn’t read anything stating “Let’s see if they suspend a player from a good team”….. Did state “Let’s see if it happens to Alabama or LSU”…. and yes there was a hit in the Alabama game that the Alabama player led with the crown of his helmet… They probably didn’t have time to review that game.

By: MoKelly1

MoKelly1 — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 18:32:29 +0000

Ouch. There was zero doubt on that hit that it violated the rules. Helmet to helmet.