[Husker] Big XII Suspends Eric Martin for Mizzou Game

[SteveG]

The Martin hit was intentional.  He intended to block the OSU player from
making the tackle.  That is what the PR special team players do...block
would-be tacklers.  Split-second decisions to block or let a guy go by him
on Punt Returns do not make this young man [19 yrs old] any lesser of an
impact player.  IMHO, Martin had no intention of doing bodily harm.  Unlike
the Big XII office, I personally did not see it as a "flagrant act of
targeting an opponent with the crown of his helmet..."

However, it is a subjective call and the Big XII suspension is within its
boundaries [NCAA Football Rule 9-6-3] to impose sanctions.  

The timing of this suspension could actually have a positive spin on the
team's psyche.  It is not unusual for a team/group/community to rally around
a real or perceived wrong/crisis/disaster.  It's not unique at Nebraska.
It's a social phenomenon that is noticeable in all walks of life.  I'll
expect a more focused team because of the suspension.  When one goes down,
others often step up their effort.  I'll trust the old wise one [TO] and Bo
to figure out how to raise the issue in a motivational manner.

~~~ 
On the other hand, Martin has played in all seven games and has only 10 solo
tackles and 10 assists.  He had no tackles in KSU or Texas games.  He is the
eleventh leading tackler so far this year.  No tackles for loss, no sacks...
My point is, let's not get too worked up about his absence from the field
this week.  EM hit the weight room hard in the off-season, and he will be a
stronger player because of this suspension.  

~~~
IMHO, we'll win [or lose] this Saturday when one Defensive Line decides to
take ownership of the game... Just saying.

Go Big Red!

Steve G







-----Original Message-----
From: husker-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:husker-bounces at tssi.com] On Behalf Of
Mike Nolan
Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2010 7:43 PM
To: David Strong
Cc: Jon Johnston; Husker List
Subject: Re: [Husker] Big XII Suspends Eric Martin for Mizzou Game

> I don't know about all this conspiracy stuff, but it was not a legal hit.
Look at the video starting at 1:34.  That is Eric Martin at the bottom
middle of the screen.  He started sizing this guy up about 10 yards away, he
tracked him, and then he came in high, with his head down, and put his
helmet right into the guy's grill. No shoulder about it.  

I just watched it on a large screen HDTV several times, including a frame by
frame review, and it sure looks to me like Martin lowered his head into the
hit, which is both improper and dangerous, for BOTH players.

Whether the shoulder pad hit first isn't really important (though I don't
think it did), because the top of Martin's helmet definitely hit the other
guy's helmet solidly, and nearly knocked his helmet off.

It probably deserved a penalty flag, which would have nullified the
touchdown and possibly changed the course of the game, but the officials
can't see everything.

Whether or not the suspension is deserved is somewhat more arguable, but
timing is everything in life, and in this case Martin had three timing
factors going against him.

1.  The impact (pun not intended) the play had on the game sinced the
    officials didn't flag it.

2.  The juxtaposition of this play with others, notably in the NFL and
    the Rutgers game.

3.  The fact that Nebraska is leaving the Big XII, which means that it
    isn't going to get the benefit of ANYTHING from the Big XII office.

Another factor is that the announcers are DEFINITELY feeling their oats
these days, with ESPN having played a major role in getting a coach fired
last season.  However, ABC only showed the play twice, once from two
different angles.
--
Mike Nolan

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