Mack Brown wants to see new targeting rule changed

Published Sep. 23, 2013 2:09 p.m. ET

foxsports

Texas Coach Mack Brown wants to change a new rule implemented this year that ejects defenders flagged for targeting players with the crown of their helmet or delivering blows to the head. If the penalty occurs in the second half, a player is suspended for the first half of the next game, too.

However, every ejection is reviewed by the replay booth, and can be overturned. If it's overturned, the player can continue to play but the 15-yard penalty assessed on the field stands.

"If we're going to make a decision on whether the young man should be ejected or not, we should make the decision on whether it's a penalty or not. Across the country, I have seen teams penalized when it wasn't a penalty and it was obvious it wasn't a penalty and I think we need to get that changed," Brown said Monday.

Texas linebacker Steve Edmond was ejected in the second half of Saturday's win over Kansas State. He has been the only Longhorns player flagged for targeting this season, and replay review confirmed the ejection. He will miss the first half of Texas' game at Iowa State on Oct. 3.

"The rule is very difficult to call in a consistent manner, so I hope that we look at it. No one wants to allow targeting in football, so the rule is a good rule," Brown said. "If we're going to eject a guy, I like the fact that we go upstairs and take our time away from the emotion of the play to decide whether he should be ejected or now, but to me it makes absolutely no sense that if it's not a penalty upstairs, that we allow a 15-yard penalty to be stepped off against the team."

Big 12 coordinator of officials Walt Anderson explained in July that the penalty is upheld so officials' judgment calls would not be undermined. Other judgment calls like pass interference and holding are not reviewable.