12 The Voice, For Students, By Students
November 3, 2010
www.fsuvoice.com
NFL adds
to tackling
rules, regs
Voice photo by Quinton Graham
Fayetteville State’s quarterback, Robert Benjamin, 16 hands the ball off to Anthony Council, 36 for another rushing touchdown, in
route to a 64-6 victory over the Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls Saturday at Luther “Nick” Jeralds Stadium.
Bright future for rebuilding
the Bronco football team
FSU is a combined 123-12 in their past two games, with one to go
The last home game
When: Saturday, 1 p.m.
Where: FSU
Why: Senior night
By Chamell Harris
Voice Feaidtures Editor
As of October 20, the NFL im
plemented a new rule that went into
effect immediately which seeks to
fine and suspend players who vio
late the new policy on tackling. The
intent of the policy is to protect
players from serious injuries due to
devastating hits and head shots. The
punishments are as severe as being
fined thousands of dollars to being
ejected from the game as well as
game and/or seasonal suspension.
Sports announcers and commen
tators on ESPN argue that by hav
ing a rule on how to hit, the NFL
is trying to “legislate football”
and by doing so they are changing
the game for the worse. While the
counter-argument is that the new
rules are preventative regulations
that will flirther ensure safety of all
players in the league.
On October 22, NFL Executive
Vice-President of Football Op
erations, Ray Anderson, released a
DVD that shows the type of tack
les that can and carmot be done in
a game. In the video, Anderson said
that “hits to the neck and head area
that are reckless and wild must be
eliminated.” He continued to give
play by play commentary on how
and why certain tackles were illegal .
or legal.
For example, when a player is
in the act of catching the ball, they
are considered defenseless, thus a
tackle cannot be made.
Anderson wants to make play
ers work harder on the technique of
tackling, which he states a proper
tackle should “minimize the risk of
injury to the opponent.”
The big question is what are play-,
ers expected to do on the field now
with the new rules put into place?
A game like football is played at a
fast pace with big guys whose job
is to stop the other team from mak
ing a play. How are they supposed
to stop certain plays if the way they
were taught to play for years is sud
denly changed? As of October 24,
10 players will face penalties due to
the new rule.
How does this affect Bronco
See NFL, next page |
By Quinton Graliam
Voice Sports Editor
Though the season might not
have begun the way Bronco fans
would have liked, all hope isn’t
lost in Bronco nation.
“I would say we beat ourselves
because we were just a few plays
away from witming each game,”
said John Hicks, a senior safety.
The Broncos have had some
shortcomings this year losing four
games by two touchdowns or less,
but with three losses in a row,
the Broncos bounced back and
brought home a big win against
Shaw University, and then an even
bigger win at the homecoming
against Livingstone College.
“I thought we played very well
against Livingstone, we came out
a little flat, but as the game pro
gressed we got the things done that
we needed to, to win the game,”
Head Coach Kenny Phillips said.
59-6 was the score of the game
against Livingstone. The Broncos
blocked four punts to secure the
win. These signs of excellence
leave hope for the future of Bron
co football.
This past Saturday the Broncos
played the Johnson C. Smith Uni
versity Golden Bulls. Coming in
to the game, Smith had the num
ber one offense in the CIAA, and
the Broncos took the challenge
head on, and came out victorious.
The Golden Bulls came into
the game averaging 338 yards per
game, but was held to just 16 yards
of total offense in the first quarter,
and ultimately finished with 271
yards.
FSU scored five times in the
first half, taking a 3-0 lead on their
opening series after Turner’s field
goal with 11:19 to go in the first
period.
A week after having a dominant
performance by the special teams
against Livingstone, Fayetteville
State’s special teams showed up
again. After the defense held JSCU
offense inside its own 10-yard line.
the Bronco defense blocked a punt
through the back of the end zone
for a safety, giving FSU a 5-0 edge
with 7:50 to go in the first quarter.
They scored again on a pass
from Robert Benjamin to Dallin
Gray for the touchdown, and it
gave the Broncos a 15-0 lead.
Afters flimble by Jeremy Frank
lin of JCSU, the ball was recov
ered by Marcus Allen in Golden
Bulls’ territory. Three plays later,
Benjamin hooked up with Carlin
Jordan on a 3-yard touchdown pass
for a 22-0 lead with 42 seconds left
in the half
The Broncos kept things moving
after halftime and never lost a beat,
with Benjamin being the dicta
tor on the next four FSU touch
downs. Fayetteville State scored
on five straight possessions in
the second half, and the lead in
creased to 43-0 before Smith was
able to score on a 2-yard touch
down pass from Robert Johnson
of JCSU.
FSU wasn’t done though, and
tacked on three more touchdowns
before the end of the game. Mi
chael Staton added a scoring run
in the fourth quarter while Andrew
Bowden recovered a fumble and
took it in for for the score to make
it 64-6.
The last two games have been
flawless for the Broncos. Success
ful games only make folks wonder,
what could be next for our beloved
Bronco football? Judging by the
last three games and a roster with
many talented returning players.
Bronco fans should keep a close
eye on their football team.