Texas A&M cornerback Deshazor Everett will miss the first half of the Aggies' upcoming game against Sam Houston State after being ejected from Saturday's 52-31 win over Rice because he was called for a targeting foul.
Everett, a junior cornerback, made contact with Rice receiver Klein Kubiak with 3:40 remaining in the fourth quarter of Saturday's game. But it appears that Kubiak, the recipient of Everett's hit, felt the contact was legal.
After the game, Kubiak posted a pair of tweets to his Twitter account indicating he disagreed with the officials' call on the field.
“@SportsCenter: Deshazor Everett was ejected for targeting. How would you call it? http://t.co/wNxiQ16XhF” looked clean from my angle...
— Klein Kubiak (@Klein_Kubiak_84) August 31, 2013
Later, he tweeted at Everett with a similar sentiment and even employed a hashtag, #FreeDeshazor, that has been circulated by Aggies' fans who disagreed with the call.
@DeUcE2NiNa9 solid physical football hit in my book. I'll even support #FreeDeshazor. Good luck rest of the year bro
— Klein Kubiak (@Klein_Kubiak_84) September 1, 2013
Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin challenged the call after the ruling was made, but lost the challenge upon further review by the officials.
"It's a learning experience," Sumlin said after the game. "I would imagine there were a few of those called [in college football] today. That's the enforcement of the new rule, that's what's going to happen. We have to adjust as coaches and players because that's the way it's going to be called. There's nothing you can do about it. Because it happened in the second half, the way I understand it, he's out the first half of next week."
When asked on whether he got an explanation of the call because video replay appeared to show that Everett did not strike Kubiak in the head or neck area, nor did he lead with the crown of his helmet, both aspects that by rule, would lead to a targeting call and potential ejection, Sumlin didn't elaborate much.
"I challenged the call," Sumlin said. "That's all I can say. I wouldn't have challenged it if there was a question."
