Pac-12: Refs missed targeting call on UCLA’s Tahaan Goodman

UCLA safety Tahaan Goodman should have been called for a targeting penalty against Washington State on Saturday, said Pac-12 vice president of officiating David Coleman.

Appearing on Pac-12 Networks today to talk specifically about targeting fouls, Coleman analyzed a few calls from the weekend with network analyst Mike Yam. One was Goodman launching himself head first at WSU quarterback Luke Falk, who had left the game earlier with an apparent head injury but returned to start the second half.

“It’s a definite– It’s a launch,” Coleman said. “We have to have our antenna up when something like that happens. As you see from this shot, there is definitely elbow to helmet contact, and that’s a targeting foul. …

“(Falk) had definitely given himself up (by sliding). And then you see the other player coming like he is, something bad is going to happen in a situation like that.”

Goodman’s hit was also much more egregious than the play that resulted in UCLA linebacker Kenny Young being ejected against BYU back in September. Young was called for targeting after making what looked like incidental contact with quarterback Tanner Mangum’s helmet.

UCLA outside linebacker Deon Hollins had expressed his own frustrations with officials earlier this week, pointing out what he perceived as excessive, uncalled holds.