Aside from the SEC commissioner’s office, there may not be a more interesting opinion on the controversial Devin White hit that was whistled for targeting than from a former SEC official. Dean Waite, a former SEC official who graduated from the University of Georgia with an undergraduate and law degrees, who now practices law in Mobile, Alabama, has explained his opinion. Waite officiated SEC games from 2007-10. Waite recently told AL.com that he would have handled the review process differently about White being ejected for targeting Mississippi State QB Nick Fitzgerald. “I’m OK with the call on the field live,” Waite said of the White penalty. “It looked enough like it that I’m OK with it being called. I think when they looked at it, however, they should’ve taken the call away.” Waite then explained how the rule is interpreted from the rulebook. “You definitely have a defenseless player,” he said. “He was in the act of throwing or just got finished throwing, so he was a defenseless player. Basically, the rule says you can’t target or make forceable contact with the head or neck area of a defenseless player with the helmet. It even includes the forearm, hand, fist, elbow, shoulder, anything. You just can’t go to the head or neck area.” In Waite’s opinion, there wasn’t enough there to constitute an ejection. “In order to call a foul, you have to have to one element or indicator of targeting,” he said. “Some of those indicators are a launch, lowering the head before making contact. What I saw, on replay, was a guy going in. He did lead with his forearms, but what he did was he hit the guy in the chest with his forearm. I didn’t see any effort to hit in the neck or head area. Now, their helmets did wind up making contact a little bit, but that was a result of the shove.” Though it appeared to Waite that White launched himself. “It does look like his feet came off the ground,” Waite admitted. “But again, I didn’t see any effort to go to the neck or head area. It just isn’t leaving your feet. You have to be launching to attack your opponent in the head or neck area.” What has fueled some of the White targeting call backlash was a no-call earlier in the day on Alabama LB Mack Wilson, which Waite agreed with. “It looks absolutely fine with no call there,” he said. “I didn’t see anything. He didn’t lower his head. I saw a guy keep his helmet up and went squarely in (Jarrett) Guarantano’s chest. Any resulting contact from the helmet was a result of knocking the quarterback’s helmet down. That was right in the chest to me. I’m absolutely fine with no call there, even live.” If it’s not already clear, given the discussion of the last few days, targeting calls are among the toughest for officials to call, Waite said. “These officials do a tremendous job week in and week out,” Waite said. “Targeting is, in my opinion, the toughest call to make from the field and in the replay booth. I think we’re seeing that with some of the inconsistent rulings from week to week. But, they’re all working as hard as they can to get it right. I can assure you of that.”<doc-sep>It's a nationwide epidemic with no signs of slowing down until the rule and its interpretation is altered. No one — especially fans, coaches and players — understand what warrants a targeting penalty in college football. The SEC was heavily criticized for a targeting flag against LSU linebacker Devin White in the second half of Saturday's game vs. Mississippi State. White was ejected for a hit that appeared perfectly within the confines of the game and will miss the first half of the Tigers' next game vs. top-ranked Alabama. White's unintentional contact under the chin of MSU quarterback Nick Fitzgerald resulted in a flag while a near identical play during Alabama's win at Tennessee — Mack Wilson's hit on Jarrett Guarantano — wasn't called. Fans want an explanation in both instances and a clearer understanding of targeting and what it entails:<doc-sep>Two similar plays by defensive players on quarterbacks on Saturday drew different reactions from officials calling those games, and that’s drawn ire from fans across the SEC. One play that was called for targeting was LSU linebacker Devin White being flagged on a hit on Mississippi State QB Nick Fitzgerald in the fourth quarter, which led to his ejection. That means he will miss the first half of the Alabama game next month. That controversial call brought out fan complaints that the hit by Alabama’s Mack Wilson on Tennessee QB Jarrett Guarantano, which caused a collarbone injury, was not whistled for targeting, although it appeared to be a similar hit as White’s. It was a mixed bag of those defending Wilson’s play, and others calling for SEC leadership to explain what’s the difference between the two plays. SEC Network’s Marcus Spears and Mike Golic of ESPN agreed that it was the rule that needs to be addressed to sort things out in the future. With LSU and Alabama each off this week before the Nov. 3 showdown in Tiger Stadium, that gives plenty of time to continue the debate about the calls, the rules and the impact each player will have in the game. Mack’s helmet hits the qb under the chin and in the shoulder pads, which is perfect form for that hit. Mack lifts his head up so he isn’t striking the qb with the crown of his helmet (which by rule would be targeting). Very hard hit but not targeting. pic.twitter.com/KDUhzCDPZo — Joshua Perkins (@JoshuaPerkiins) October 21, 2018 Now back to the Devin White play. Notice how his head is higher up than Mack’s. His face mask is up (not leading with the crown) but his helmet doesn’t hit the shoulder pads like Wilson’s. It appears to hit the face mask of Fitzgerald. pic.twitter.com/6Nl6VuVjQw — Joshua Perkins (@JoshuaPerkiins) October 21, 2018 Yes seriously! Go complain somewhere else. Everyone mad because white ejected for helmet to helmet and saying Mack Wilson was targeting, yet his facemask was burried in Tennesse qb chest… pic.twitter.com/YXG6yKwmYn — Danny (@mrbonesripper) October 21, 2018 SEC Network – Can't believe you guys are not commenting on the Mack Wilson hit on the Tennessee QB knocking him out of the game. Obvious targeting with the helmet with NO CALL, NO FLAG, NO EJECTION! Really? And Devon White gets ejected for hitting with his hands????????????? — BillyBozLA (@billy_boz) October 21, 2018 Hey @Coach_EdOrgeron @LSUfootball @GregSankey When you have your conference call Monday with Steve Shaw ask them what the difference was between Mack Wilson's hit on the Tenn. QB and Devin's was? And why he wasn't ejected for targeting. — Eric Barron (@catahoulatigers) October 21, 2018 Sorry if I missed it Marcus, but have you explained why Mack Wilson (Bama) hit on UT’s QB was not targeting? Clearly a more vicious hit and hit launched into him (putting him out of the game). #SECNation/ESPNEmployee — G W Speeg (@GWSBR) October 21, 2018 I’m so sick of people saying Mack Wilson should have been called for targeting. It was a clean hit it’s not Bama fault the LSU guy was called if it was or wasn’t. They need to learn the rules of targeting and football for that matter!!!! I say let him play no excuses!!!!! — Jennifer❤ (@rolltidechick82) October 22, 2018 Okay, let's go down this road. Call the hit by Mack Wilson as "targeting". It was in the first half and he wouldn't miss the LSU game. White's infraction was in the second half so he does miss the fist half of the Bama game. Now, see how easy that was? — John Wills (@willsgroup_AL) October 22, 2018 The @SEC needs to explain how Devin White was ejected for targeting and Mack Wilson wasn't.https://t.co/d40hv7t2XI — Pigskin Nerd (@PigskinNerd) October 21, 2018 Mike G! Hate the the call and you know it’s a bad rule on punishment but as it was explained to me they are supposed to call it. The rule about sitting out next game is one of the worst in the game and it needs to change https://t.co/qJjjle9u6k — Marcus Spears (@mspears96) October 21, 2018 @MattMoscona Why not ask the league to suspend Mack Wilson for that hit. They can incur targeting calls by review after the fact can’t they? Might not level the field if Mack was suspended too but it sure would help. — Corey White (@Netsilot) October 22, 2018 @notthefakeSVP Devon White was targeting but not Mack Wilson. Yeah, Birmingham is not in Alabama's pocket. They let Saban decide punishment for last weeks punches. Please bring this to light. Drugs,weapons, they choose to do nothing. Love ya, man. — david felder (@dpfelder) October 21, 2018 https://twitter.com/TuttlePatriarch/status/1054077681287991300<doc-sep>
The LSU football team is sitting at 7-1 on the season and ranked inside the top five nationally, but despite five wins over Top 25 teams and a date with No. 1 Alabama looming after the bye week, the focus from fans has seemingly been centered around one thing: Devin White's ejection. On Saturday night, White was ejected after a targeting call following his hit to Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald. The hit came late in the fourth quarter, meaning White would now have to sit out of the first half of the Alabama game in two weeks. The targeting call was reviewed by the Southeastern Conference officials, and the decision was upheld. After the game, the SEC released the following statement on the call. "By rule, no player shall target and make forcible contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent," the statement read. "The QB on the play was defenseless at the time of the contact. By rule, all targeting calls are reviewed. The call was reviewed and confirmed." After the game, LSU head coach Ed Orgeron said he was aware that targeting calls weren't subject to further review after games, but said he was still interested in reaching out to the league office about the call. “I’ve got to look at it. The call was the call. They said they reviewed it and said it was definitely targeting," Orgeron said after the game. "The hit on Devin, I’ve got to look at it. We can’t use our helmets. Targeting is targeting. The rule is, you can’t lead with your head.” “I think so, but I definitely will check,” Orgeron added of his knowledge that there was no appeals process, which the school confirmed, as well. While the news of White's ejection dominated the headlines after the win, Orgeron said he was pleased to get out with the win over another Top 25 team. “We’re glad we won. We just Mississippi State, 19-3,” Orgeron said. “This was a tough week after the big week over Georgia. Emotional win. It was a big win. The crowd was in it tonight.” Orgeron said remaining calm was critical for him during that sequence as he didn't want to get "fired up" and get a penalty. “Can we enjoy this one first?,” Orgeron smiled. “Probably won’t have Devin for the first half. So we’re going to have to make some adjustments for the first half.” The junior linebacker had 10 total tackles, a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry when he was ejected from the contest. LSU enters the bye week at 7-1 overall on the 2018 season. Sophomore linebacker Patrick Queen is White's backup in the middle while true freshman Micah Baskerville has also seen time as the backup to sophomore starter Jacob Phillips in the middle. Regardless, whoever steps in for White will have their hands full against No. 1 Alabama.