The end of the first half between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Minnesota Golden Gophers had a flashpoint when Iowa’s Karson Shara was ejected for targeting.
The Gophers were returning a point with the score at 10-3 in Iowa’s favor when Shara hit Gophers returner Quentin Redding with what officials deemed to be the crown of his helmet.
Following a review, this was deemed to be targeting, with the Gophers earning a 15-yard penalty.
Iowa was called for targeting on this play pic.twitter.com/htK3I4NSyO
— Heavens! (@HeavensFX) October 21, 2023
The replay did appear to show Shara using the crown of his helmet, but it nonetheless sparked a number of complaints from Hawkeyes fans, some of whom claimed the referees had failed to punish a similar tackle on Iowa QB Deacon Hill earlier in the game.
Worst crew ever @B1Gfootball
Gophers hitcrown of helmet on #10 Deacon Hill,no penalty
No helmet to helmet & Iowa player is called for targeting
3 missed PI's Minnesota
Iowa called PI on no contact, Gopher slip & fall
Missed Hill in endzone
Absolutely atrocious officials!— Matt Hills (@hillsy191) October 21, 2023
Good lord these officials are so soft.
Second week in a row now that a good play, with a hard hit, is being called targeting. Ball carrier was not defenseless. Defender did not lead with the crown of the helmet.Hard hits = targeting. Got it. #Hawkeyes #Gophers #B1G #CFB
— 𝙇𝙀𝙉𝘽𝙊𝙉𝙂 (@lenbonglol) October 21, 2023
How is that targeting like I hate Iowa how in in the world is that a flag and a ejectable offense?
— Sidelines – Minnesota 〽️ (@SSN_Gophers) October 21, 2023
Goofer fans saying Iowa getting carried by the refs but
Deacon was hit in the neck when a gopher speared him with his helmet no call
Deacon scored twice before your moron hit the ball out of hands
Iowa player hit with a penalty for hitting a goofer in the shoulder.— Jason (@stlrnhwk) October 21, 2023
If that’s the call might as well just eliminate kick offs altogether
— Matt Edwards (@EddyMCE) October 21, 2023
But there were others who felt the call was a fair one.
Look, I don’t like the rule, but targeting does not mean helmet to helmet contact. Seeing tons of “he hit the shoulder pad” takes. But that’s not the rule. It’s strictly leading with crown of helmet. pic.twitter.com/a6lFiTmrk2
— Ken (@kenw_ia) October 21, 2023
Y’all saying that was a bad call for targeting, if you look at the physical reaction of the other player his neck snaps HARD to the side AFTER the crown of the IA player hits him in the neck/head, not when his shoulder was hit. It was a legit call. #Hawkeyes #Gophers
— Mandia (@IowaMeAlaska) October 21, 2023
That is THEE definition of Targeting.
— GopherHole.com (@GopherHole) October 21, 2023
