The NCAA changed the wording to its targeting rule Friday in direct response to the helmet-to-helmet hit sustained last week by Stanford receiver Francis Owusu.
Owusu suffered a concussion when he collided with UCLA’s Tahaan Goodman and won’t play Friday in Stanford’s showdown at Washington.
Goodman was not called for a targeting penalty because he did not hit Owusu with the top of his helmet but instead with the front.
At the time, it was the right call – the NCAA rule was specific to the portion of the helmet that made first contact.
Shaw expressed frustration on Monday, saying “when initial contact is helmet to helmet it should be a penalty.’’
He worked with the Pac-12 to petition the NCAA to change the rule, according to conference commissioner Larry Scott.
“We’re delighted they made the change so quickly,’’ Scott said. “David deserves a lot of credit for raising the issue and for pressing us to raise the issue.’’
The NCAA removed the wording that limited the penalty to the top of the helmet. Targeting can now be called if first contact is made with any part of the helmet above the facemask.
