Big Ten Suspends OSU’s Coleman

PARK RIDGE, Ill.—The Big Ten Conference office announced today that Ohio State University football student-athlete Kurt Coleman has been suspended for one game as a result of initiating helmet-to-helmet contact and targeting a defenseless opponent in the fourth quarter of Ohio State’s game against Illinois on Sept. 26, 2009.

The NCAA instituted a new football playing rule for the 2009 season mandating a post-game video review by a conference following any flagrant personal fouls, specifically in regards to initiating helmet-to-helmet contact and targeting an opponent. In the 2009-10 NCAA Football Rules and Interpretations, Rule 9-6, Article 2, states “When there is a foul called for initiating contact/targeting an opponent (Rule 9-1-3) that does not result in a player disqualification, there shall automatically be a video review by the conference for possible additional sanctions before the next scheduled game.” Rule 9-1, Article 3.a., states in part that “No player shall initiate contact and target an opponent with the crown (top) of his helmet.” Rule 9-1, Article 3.b., states in part that “No player shall initiate contact and target a defenseless opponent above the shoulders.”

After consultation with NCAA National Coordinator of Officials Dave Parry and Secretary-Rules Editor Rogers Redding and a review of relevant video by Big Ten Coordinator of Officials Bill Carollo, the conference has determined that a one-game suspension is appropriate. The Big Ten Conference supports application of NCAA Rule 9-6 as a way of deterring the targeting of an opponent which poses a risk of injury to defenseless players.

The Big Ten Conference considers this matter concluded and will have no further comment.

Ohio State director of athletics Gene Smith and head football coach Jim Tressel issued a joint reaction to the one-game suspension of Kurt Coleman by the Big Ten Conference:

“Obviously, we will abide by the one-game suspension from the Big Ten Conference, but we feel as if there was poor judgment throughout.

“We concur that Kurt’s hit was late and a result of poor judgment; he was thus penalized and removed from the game by his coaches. We do not agree that it was “pre-meditated” or that he was “targeting a defenseless” player.

“The decision to suspend points to the Conference office’s feeling as if there was poor judgment by the game officials for their decision not to eject at the time.

“In our estimation, the final “poor judgment” is in levying a one-game suspension in this particular case. We will abide by the decision, learn from it, and move forward.”

Ohio State will have no further comment regarding this matter.

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