Former NFL referee fires back at Lane Kiffin after targeting comment

Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin threw a barb at Big Ten officials over targeting calls at halftime of the season opener against Louisville. Kiffin, who was not on the sideline after testing positive for COVID-19, called out the Big Ten officials after four targeting calls in the first half, including two against Ole Miss.

“We just need this Big Ten officiating crew to teach us how to tackle because obviously, we don’t know how,” Lane Kiffin told ESPN’s Molly McGrath when asked about his thoughts on the first half.

NFL rules expert and former referee Terry McAulay took issues with Lane Kiffin’s comment and expressed his feelings on social media.

“It is not the officials’ job to coach players proper technique,” McAulay posted early Tuesday morning. “The rules for targeting have been in place for nine years and most coaches know how to teach. What is a foul for targeting is not going to change.”

Ole Miss linebackers Mark Robinson and Lakia Henry appeared next to each other as potential starters on the depth chart for Monday’s game before being disqualified in the first half on a pair of targeting calls.

More from McAulay

The thread did not end with an evaluation of the circumstances, Terry McAulay proceeded to go deeper into his Lane Kiffin criticism.

“There should be levels for targeting but asinine comments like this from a major head coach will make it less likely that the college football commissioners will alter their stance and allow levels of targeting,” said McAulay. “In fact, one reason automatic disqualification came into being was that the Commissioners felt too many coaches did not understand the need for proper technique to minimize the risk of serious head/neck injury in 2012.”

He continued: “Kiffin’s comments may lead them to believe some still don’t get it. And if he’s not going to coach his players properly, then all of his players can all be disqualified for all they care. Kiffin will need to learn quickly how to coach proper technique, because starting with the third targeting disqualification for a player [in a single season], that player will be suspended for his next full game.”

While McAulay does not speak directly for the commissioners or any of the nation’s referees, he does bring merit to the conversation as one of the country’s most recognizable officials.

As he mentions, a two-leveled targeting system has been a topic of discussion around football. It would allow referees to punish unnecessary and dangerous play with ejection while leaving room to punish bad form with a 15-yard penalty and a warning.