July 19, 2012; Hoover, AL, USA; Ole Miss Rebels coach Hugh Freeze answers questions during the 2012 SEC media days press conference at the Wynfrey Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Kelly Lambert-US PRESSWIRE
The Southeastern Conference has handed down some punishment for a play that took place late in the Ole Miss Rebels game against UTEP this past weekend.
Ole Miss freshman defensive back Trae Elston has been suspended one game for a ‘flagrant and dangerous act’which took place when he hit a UTEP wide receiver high. Elston delivered a hard hit which didn’t draw a flag for a personal foul but the SEC is stepping in to take action. Elston will miss the Rebels upcoming game against the Texas Longhorns on September 15th.
SEC commissioner Mike Slive announced the suspension on Tuesday. Here is the reasoning for the one-game suspension:
The action is in violation of Rule 9-1-4 of the NCAA Football Rule Book, which reads, “No player shall target and initiate contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent with the helmet, forearm, elbow or shoulder,” and Rule 9-1-3 which states, “No player shall target and initiate contact against an opponent with the crown (top) of his helmet.”
This action is taken in accordance with Southeastern Conference Constitution, Article 4.4.2 (d) which states that a student-athlete may be suspended if it is determined that the student-athlete has committed a flagrant or unsportsmanlike act.
Here is video of the hit which resulted in the suspension and you can clearly see that Elston led with his head and made a violent helmet-to-helmet hit:
Did Elston deserve to be suspended one-game by the SEC? Let your opinion be heard in the comments section.
