Jadeveon Clowney, the junior defensive lineman at South Carolina, and projected top pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, made a hit on Michigan running back Vincent Smith last season that was so hard he caused a rule change.
When Clowney crashed into Smith, making helmet-to-helmet contact so ferocious that Smith's helmet popped off his head, the sports universe took notice. NCAA officials did too; that hit is now illegal. A new rule says defenders may not lead with the crown of their helmet when attempting a tackle, regardless of whethter the ball carrier is a defenseless receiver or a hard charging running back. Violations of this rule result in a 15-yard penalty and a possible ejection. Should an ejection occur in the second half of a game, the offending player must sit out the first half of the next game.
The new rule has sparked a debate about this change which places faith in officials' judgment calls. ACC coordinator of officials Doug Rhoads said he would have ejected Clowney for his hit on Smith. Naturally, South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier disagreed.
"Our head of officials, Steve Shaw, told us it was a clean hit because he hit him in the chest and sort of ricocheted up and knocked his helmet off," Spurrier said. "I think what they're trying to prevent, and I agree, is when a player launches himself helmet to helmet into a guy. But that wasn't the case with Jadeveon's hit."
Arkansas coach Bret Bielma was even stronger in his rebuke of Rhoads' comments, saying "I'm part of the rules committee, and they showed that hit, and everybody agreed it was a clean hit. So if that guy [Rhoads] is officiating one of our games, hopefully he's going to be reprimanded before then."
In other Clowney news, South Carolina was investigating his relationship with rapper Jay Z, newly minted sports agency mogul. University assistant director of athletics for media relations said in a statement:
"Based on the facts that USC has gathered, Jadeveon Clowney has not had any impermissible conversations nor has he received any impermissible benefits."
Spurrier says he and other university officials have made sure Clowney knows the rules.
"All of our conversations [with Clowney] are wait until you have played your last game at South Carolina," Spurrier said. "When the bowl game is over this coming season, he's free to accept any amount of money anybody wants to give him. But until then, he has to be a student-athlete like all the other guys or he's not going to be eligible. He's done a good job of knowing that."
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