Auburn player was ejected from spring game for illegal hit on his own teammate (Video)
Getting ejected from a spring game seems almost impossible, even if you tried really hard.
But Auburn defensive back Jonathon Mincy learned the hard way. On a receiver screen, Mincy blew through the blockers, then blew up receiver Dimitri Reese with a crushing hit. Then came the penalty flag. He got 15 yards for targeting the receiver above the shoulders, and was ejected. From Auburn's spring game. For an illegal hit on his own teammate, which left his teammate writhing on the ground for several moments.
You won't see that too often.
Look at the video and disagree if it was a malicious hit if you wish, but Rule 9-1-4 is stringent and doesn't just deal with helmet-t0-helmet hits. The rule states: "No player shall target and initiate contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent with the helmet, forearm, fist, elbow or shoulder. When in question, it is a foul." Starting in 2013, the hits can be reviewed by video to determine if a player should be ejected, and those ejections can bleed into the next game if the foul occurs in the second half.
If a player is getting ejected from a spring game for doing it to his own teammate, one can imagine that we'll see plenty of this during games this season as defensive backs adjust.
"The new rule, I don't know if it's appropriate or not, but it's real stiff," defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson told AuburnSports.com. "When the ball goes off a receiver's hand, they're going to allow very little contact. If you have contact and you follow through on it, you're in danger of getting a penalty."
Reese was down on the field for a long time, but eventually walked off the field. Mincy's day was done as well.
- - -
Want to join the conversation? Hit us up on Twitter @YahooDrSaturday and be sure to "Like" Dr. Saturday on Facebook for football conversations and stuff you won't see on the blog.
