Wisconsin Safety Reggie Pearson Ejected From Game After Brutal Hit That’s Now Sparked Outrage Online

Saturday’s game between the Wisconsin Badgers and Michigan Wolverines was expected to be a hard-hitting affair that excited fans of both teams. This was partially accurate considering there were plenty of big hits, but two plays by Wisconsin defenders in the third quarter were a bit too hard and resulted in targeting penalties and ejections.

The second hit, delivered by safety Reggie Pearson, was a brutal blow to the head of backup quarterback Dylan McCaffrey, resulting in a concussion. McCaffrey had originally entered the game in relief of starter Shea Patterson, but his stint on the field only lasted three completions before Pearson ended his day.

As expected, Pearson was ejected by the officials by the obvious targeting penalty, but the reaction of the crowd surprised many. Instead of simply accepting the punishment and moving on to the next play, the Wisconsin fans booed the referees.

Between the brutal hit by Pearson and the reaction of the fans, there was no surprise that many on Twitter were outraged over this sequence of events during the 35-14 rout. They expected better play from the defense, as well as better judgment by the fans.

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Whenever a crucial call is made by the referee, fans of the home team tend to boo. It doesn’t matter if the penalty is justified or not, they simply don’t agree and want those in stripes to hear their displeasure. It’s a common occurrence in college stadiums around the country, but there are certain moments in which the fans could benefit from remaining quiet. 

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After examining the hit on Dylan McCaffrey, the common response was that this play certainly fit the description of targeting. Intentional or not, they felt that Reggie Pearson committed a costly error and should have been ejected. However, many others vehemently disagreed with that assessment and were far more angry at the referees and college football in general. 

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Was the targeting call against Reggie Pearson correct? Many fans that believe so while others view the penalty as a critical mistake. Regardless of whether it was correct or not, many simply see this as an opportunity for the coach to pull the young safety aside and help him improve his tactics on the field. 

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In the NCAA, targeting an opposing player brings a punishment of ejection for the remainder of the game and missing the first half of the next. However, certain fans would like to see more severe repercussions when applicable. Maybe a full-game suspension, or possibly two if the play warranted. Wisconsin’s Reggie Pearson may not have intended to injury Dylan McCaffrey, but the football fans would prefer to see him on the sideline during an upcoming game. 

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Love or hate the targeting penalty, many simply couldn’t believe the reaction from those in attendance at the game. Why would they boo the penalty, especially after McCaffrey suffered a concussion? Many felt this decision truly painted the university and its fanbase in a bad light. 

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One of the more fascinating aspects of social media is the ability of some fans to toe the line. It’s better to split the aisle than it is to side with one side or the other. Many fans proved this point when they tried to point out how both sides could be correct in their assessment’s of the targeting penalty and subsequent ejection. 

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Whether the fans on Twitter loved or hated Wisconsin certainly played a role in the reactions to this play, but many simply couldn’t believe that this hit had happened. They simply were outraged over Pearson making the hit and wanted to see him punished to the full extent that the NCAA is allowed. 

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Technology is wonderful in instances such as these. With the power of slow motion, the fans and analysts alike can watch every second of the play in detail to determine if there was a basis for the ejection. Many fans did just that and concluded that Reggie Pearson could have avoided this hit to McCaffrey’s head. They just believe that he chose not to. 

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While the overwhelming response to this play was outrage at the Wisconsin player and the fanbase, there were some other surprising takes. A vocal minority believed that this hit was legal and thought that it should not have warranted an ejection from the game. 

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Having the ability to slow a replay down can be very beneficial at times, it does have its drawbacks. This targeting penalty is a very fitting example considering that at full speed, it appears to many that Pearson is targeting McCaffrey’s helmet and neck area. In slow motion, however, there can be an argument that the Wisconsin defender was trying to avoid this collision at the last moment. Either way, slow-motion certainly led to multiple arguments on social media.