Romney Fuga out with Cheap Shot
by Staffieri on Sep 28, 2010 11:52 AM PDT
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PrintThe more I think about the block that was laid on Romney Fuga of the BYU Cougars by Nevada Wolf Pack O'Lineman, John Bender, a senior, the more enraged I get. I know it has been 3 days since the game, but I can't shake this one. The fact that the officials wouldn't acknowledge that they saw the plays blows my mind even more.
This block has ended Romney's season, and could have a major impact on his playing career as he now has to undergo full knee reconstructive surgery after tearing not only his MCL, but LCL as well. There has been some debate about this block so before I go any further I want to let you watch the clip...
Dirty block on Romney Fuga (via KSL5Sports)
Now you may say that it was legal, as it is possible that Bender hit the outside of Romney's leg instead of falling on the back of his legs. The funny thing about that is that it would have been less serious had it been straight from behind. Regardless of where he hit Romney, this is a weak cheap shot. At least when the Air Force Falcons cut block they do it clean, and in front of the tackler. Chopping at someone's knees from the side should not be tolerated. Those who find nothing wrong with the play obviously have never played football and subjected their body to its rigors. There are plenty of clean ways to get injured, so why allow players to hurt people in a low class way like this?
That being said thing about football is that if that hit were on a QB, it would be a penalty for sure, and if it took place in the NFL there would be a hefty fine. I have yet to figure out why other players don't get protected the way QB's do (which I think is too much).
But back to BYU v Nevada. Penalty or not, I can't get over the fact that the officials all said they didn't see it. I could buy it maybe if they said, "Coach, I saw the play, I didn't think it was a penalty." But the fact that they all flat our denied it? They need to be reviewed.
I have little to no respect for players who aren't man enough to line a guy up and HIT him. Chopping out someone's legs is for low life's. If Bender believes in Karma, you'll probably see him with double knee braces on the rest of the year.
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Not to be mean or anything
But back in 2002 you guys did the same thing to us by ending our Star running back Chance Kretchmer season because of a late hit out of bounds on his first carry.
Future Public Enemy of OBNUG.
Don't remember
I know it is impossible for this article not to come across as an attack on the Nevada football program. It is not about who is the “dirtier” team. More so about a player making a terrible decision and there not being either, any rules in place to stop it, or watchful officials to enforce it.
Just as enraging as it is to see a close friend go down to a cheap shot is the fact that it is played off as no big deal.
I hope you don’t think that I have lost respect for the Nevada Wolf Pack. I have not. I just think that Bender took a weak blow at a defenseless player.
So what would be an appropriate punishment?
I think it was clearly a clip ("It was a clip. There’s no question about it" -Chris Ault) and therefore clearly a badly missed call. However missed calls for plays that could potentially cause injuries happen at least a couple times in every game. The only difference here is that Fuga got seriously injured. I don’t know what Bender was thinking on that play, but I doubt it was “go for the ACL!” Bender made a decision in the middle of a play that while not legal or safe did not appear to be specifically designed to hurt Fuga. It’s terrible for BYU and Fuga how it came out, but I don’t think Bender should be suspended for future games.
He certainly could act like less of a jerk about it though, but if manners were mandatory a lot more suspensions would have to be handed out.
by Mendenhall4Pres on Sep 29, 2010 9:59 AM PDT up reply actions
Not sure
I do remember when we played against, I believe it was USC or Notre Dame in 2004 that there was an onside kick and in the 4th quarter and an opposing player cheap shotted Todd Watkins. After reviewing the film, that player was suspended for the next game.
I am more angry about the lack of professionalism by the officials. To not do their job and watch the play. Then to deny it. Then teams have the opportunity to send in plays to the league officials for review, and to still not acknowledge the play? That is weak.
I agree that without the injury this would not have blown up this much. But I would also stand by the fact that it was a cheap play, like Tyson biting Hollyfield’s ear.
All due respect
If the officials look at film of the block (and they are looking at it) and determine it was a legal block, will this blog, commentators, news people and all the others attacking John Bender with such vitriol publish a retraction? Or are your minds completely made up? If not, then there is nothing more to discuss here, you are an angry mob in search of someone to blame for Fuga’s injury and nothing short of John Bender’s head on a spike will satisfy you.
Bender has expressed his sympathy both publicly and privately to Fuga and regrets that he’s been injured. No, he does not believe it was an illegal block but that will be for the officials to determine. I believe I can also say, with much certainty, that Bender had no malicious intent in his block.
If the officials reviewing the play determine it was an illegal block with malicious intent, Bender should be punished. If not, MOVE ON!!
Can you not watch the film...
…and decide for yourself if it was a cheapshot or not? I mean who cares at this point what the officials ‘think’. They obviously missed the call. Romney is still injured, out for the year and will have lifelong repercussions to this incident. Also going back to 2002? Two wrongs doth not make a right. If that indeed happened, I can’t remember and quite frankly don’t care at this point, then that is equally as dirty. Doesn’t taint the respective programs, but players that make these plays SHOULD be called out, irregardless of the gumption of officials to come out and communicate their errors.
Sad thing is Romney this will at best be a career limiting injury and possibly a career-ending one in it’s worst case scenario.
ehem
Care to call out this player?
It's spelled
U.A.L.E.
Let me see if I can find his twitter account so you can send him hate mail. Hmmm, found his Facebook page, I’d be happy to link it for you.
FIFA officials reviewed the World Cup games and didn't find fault with the officiating.
With some notable exceptions, and for obvious reasons, sports leagues are hesitant to publicly criticize the officials.
If you want to make the case that the play was a legal block, you can do that. I think we can make the case that the play was certainly reckless and borderline “dirty”. I don’t think anybody’s opinion is going to change because of what conference officials have to say about the situatsion.
by Blue2th on Sep 29, 2010 9:39 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
I guess I don't need to
Since you did already. I think you could have found a better clip of maybe some head to head contact or something. It’s pretty obvious that he is going to wrap the player up, and the WR bends over so he grabs his head instead of his body. Not saying BYU players don’t cheap host, but at least I could admit it if you actually picked a cheap shot.
Find a late hit clip, a leading with the head clip, and leg whip clip…something besides a normal tackle. I will admit a cheap shot. Obviously you can’t
Bender
Looks like he was classy and apologized (here), but the dude also flat out lied in the same breath and said, “I thought he knew I was there. I threw the block and could see the side of his eyes and I got on the front part of his knee. I was always told that if you hit on the front part, you’ll be fine.” If I blew out a guys knee with a call my head coach even said was illegal (“It was a clip. There’s no question about it,” Ault said. (here), I wouldn’t tell everyone I could see the guys eyes and thought I hit him in front. It was plain as day he couldn’t “see his eyes.”
It’s not so much that I think Bender did it on purpose, but that fact he won’t own up and say, “I shouldn’t have done it. I’d be pissed if somebody did it to us.”
By the way, don’t read the fan posts on those Nevada newspaper sites I linked you to here unless you want a lesson in religious bigotry. It’s ugly.
The ref looks at the play.....
Watch the film. Clearly the ref looks right at the play. Why would he not call it ? Why would he say he didn’t see it? He needs to lose his job before other kids get hurt.
As for Mr Bender….He tweeted “no call, no foul” How do you sleep at night? This Sat when your getting ready to take the field ,there will be a young man sitting on the sideline and maybe forever out of the game, because of what you did. Hope you have a fun game, I m sure you could care less.
That was a dirty play
I am 95% opposed to anything BYU, and usually err on the other side’s argument, but that was dirty.
I don't pour beer on Max Hall's family often, but when I do, I prefer Dos Equis.
I agree
I don’t have a lot of love for the Y but that block was inexcusable. As for the helmet grab video, that was just a bad no-call play. It wasn’t a cheap shot
In both cases the Refs blew it BIG TIME.
ESPN Agrees
I was amazed at how much face time ESPN gave this play. All the analysts were in agreement that, although legal, this was a cheap shot.
Glad to know it is not just our biased fan base.
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