Controversial targeting incidents leave UCLA shorthanded at linebacker

LOS ANGELES >> One didn’t earn a penalty and one did, but two controversial incidents of targeting between UCLA and Hawaii last Saturday might leave the Bruins without two of their starting linebackers for this week’s game against Memphis.

Senior Kenny Young, who was forced out of last Saturday’s game after getting leveled on a blindside block, will go through the concussion protocol this week as the Bruins (2-0) prepare for their first road game of the year against Memphis on Saturday.

The Pac-12 released a statement Monday evening acknowledging an officiating error that led to the hit on Young not drawing a penalty. While the senior could miss playing time due to the no-call, junior Josh Woods will be suspended for the first half against the Tigers (1-0) after he was called for targeting in the fourth quarter.

The conference’s statement on Young’s hit recognized that David Coleman, the Pac-12 vice president of officiating, erroneously described the play during the Pac-12 Networks TV broadcast. He agreed with the on-field, no targeting ruling, saying it was “shoulder to shoulder.” However, video showed Hawaii tight end Metuisela ’Unga’s helmet making direct contact with the side of Young’s face mask, which caused the UCLA linebacker’s head to snap sideways and his helmet to fly off before he hit the ground.

“That was a vicious, violent intentional hit on a defenseless player — it was the definition of targeting, the absolute definition,” coach Jim Mora said. “It was clear, it was concise, it was beyond reproach that it was a violent, flagrant target and for some reason the process failed.”

Mora said the team will “err on the side of caution” with all head injuries, including Young’s and the one safety Jaleel Wadood suffered in the second half after taking an accidental knee to the head. Their statuses for Saturday will be dependent on their progress through the concussion protocol.

Combined with a knee injury to safety Adarius Pickett, the Bruins might be without four defensive starters when Saturday’s game kicks off at 9 a.m. Pickett sustained what looked like a non-contact knee injury early in the second quarter after he jumped and landed awkwardly on his right leg.

Woods was ejected after his shoulder hit Hawaii receiver Kalakaua Timoteo’s helmet on a pass breakup in the end zone. Timoteo started crouching down to secure a pass when Woods came through on the hit. Mora said his player was trying to turn his body to avoid the penalty.

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“By the definition of the rule, it was targeting, but it was not a flagrant, intentional target,” Mora said. “It was a young man who was trying to respect his opponent and avoid a big hit.”

Coleman said on Saturday’s broadcast that the ruling on Woods’ call was correct, and “it’s the liability of the defender to not make the hit.” There is no appeal process to rescind Woods’ suspension.

Mora said he believed that many targeting situations occur on accident and a way to revise the rule would be to allow for two levels of targeting: one that comes with an automatic ejection for more flagrant fouls and another that carries just a 15-yard penalty.

“These are college kids. They’re not professionals,” Mora said. “They get 12 shots to play. They lay it all on the line for these 12 opportunities to play and here’s a young man, Josh Woods, that does everything right, that’s trying to avoid the big hit and he’s penalized by losing half of a game.”

Quick hits

UCLA’s conference opener at Stanford on Sept. 23 is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff on ESPN. … UCLA will have a “White Out” game for its conference home opener against Colorado on Sept. 30 and all fans are encouraged to wear white.