From the Columbus Dispatch today: Pettrey to have surgery, out for season {Ohio State kicker Aaron Pettrey tore the medial collateral ligament in his right (kicking) knee last weekend and will miss the rest of the regular season, his mother, Lillian, said today.} This injury is going to be a big factor in our final three conference games. Tressel has always counted heavily on his place kickers in close games. Don
I heard he was hurt being blocked on a kickoff...I hope it was a legitimate block and he was trying to be involved in the play...not one of those "go after the kicker" shots...I'm assuming that it was legitimate.
Cheap as in CHEAP......away from the play, the kid threw at his knees.....blocking below the waist is illegal on kickoffs, throwing at a kickers knees away from the play is punkest of punk moves.....
If the rules committee really wants to crack down on something, and stop inventing new penalties or enforcements that no one understands.. They could start by enforcing this one. I've rarely seen it called and when it is, the foul is so flagrant and brutal that it was just unavoidable. There's be a fight if they didn't call it. As a QB/K, I could relay countless stories (even at the HS level) of guys shooting for your knees or looking to cheap shot you. Since I was a 2way skill position guy, I was ordered by every coach I played for to play deep safety and stay out of the play unless it looked like the kid could break it. Oddly enough, I broke that rule a few times for guys I didn't like personally. (and was rightfully punished by the coach).. However, I always took fewer shots going downfield in pursuit than I ever did sitting back playing deep safety after a kick. One upside, since I was a QB/K that was the size of a safety or LB, I didn't really mind them coming after me. I think you'll find most officials will let you get away with retaliation after someone does that. One case in point... I kicked off once.. kid returns from the 1, play rolls to his right (my left) I see we've got him boxed and begin to head back for my tee while the return man does his futile dance for freedom.. (this means my back is now to the play btw).. guy rolls up and shoots at my right knee (this was now the 2nd time the same kid did the same thing).. I collapse and roll over on top of him, left hand pulls the chinnie and facemask up and right hand delivers 3 haymakers to the throat. I got up, got the tee and headed to the sideline. The official warned me on the sideline later not to do that again but he saw the whole thing which led to him not penalizing me.. I always wondered... If you saw the whole thing, why not throw the flag to start with? I seem to remember that kid was really hurt, had to go to the hospital later with breathing issues. I still don't feel bad about it. Rules and rules and when you start letting one go uncalled, they all go out the window. You may not like it, but that's how it's done. Sadly, many kickers aren't very big guys. I'd like to see someone try to toss our freshman punter with the 400lb bench press.
ha! I'm pretty sure I wrapped that up for 4 years just by skipping the local public school and playing for the local Catholic power. Our local public school was bad... Did JOCO ever share the story with you about the year my sister made the banner for the local football team to run thru?