Mike Norvell addresses problems with current targeting rules, what he wants changed about penalties

Entering the 2023 season, targeting is still a topic of discussion in college football. At least for Florida State head coach Mike Norvell. There would likely be agreement that the rule is not perfect but Norvell has an opinion on how changes can be made.

With any kind of confirmed targeting call, a player is ejected from the game. And depending on the timing, he could miss the first half of the team’s next matchup. Norvell thinks this takes away from players in what can be a short career in college football.

Instead, looking to a similar system as soccer would be of interest to Norvell. The key word he used when describing whether or not a suspension is worthy was “intent.”

“I don’t like with so few and limited opportunities when a young man without intent missing a part of their career,” Norvell said at the 2023 ACC Football Kickoff. “I speak to it. I think it’s something that should be looked at. Maybe kind of like they do in soccer with the yellow or red (card). I mean, that’s something we can get a sense of. And hopefully, that’s something that continues to get evaluated.”

Florida State itself did not have too much interaction with targeting last year. The penalty flag did come out last season in the epic showdown against LSU. However, it was Tigers defender Ali Gaye that was ejected for hitting a Seminole.

Now, whether or not Gaye had any intent of hitting quarterback Jordan Travis would have been up to the officials. And while Norvell is all for the safety of the game, the targeting rule is somewhere college football can continue to get better.

“The intent of the rule, you want this game to be as safe as it possibly can,” Norvell said. “The welfare of our student-athletes, that’s critically important. But there’s times where there is no intent or someone is sliding and it just happens.

“I think as we advance, we can continue to get better there. You want to make sure we’re ensuring and accountability if there is the wrong intent in the head-to-head hit.”

Norvell has likely run out of time this season to see any kind of change to the targeting rule. If he wants to speak up again next offseason, he will have the opportunity. But until then, Florida State will have to play within the current rule structure and avoid those head-to-head hits.