Michigan State Football: Cal Haladay received worst targeting call ever

Everyone who watches football knows just how dangerous the sport can be. Keeping the sport safe by penalizing illegal, dangerous hits is good for the game and for amateur players.

The officials in Saturday night’s Michigan State football game took it a little too far, though.

In the fourth quarter with the game pretty much in hand, Western Kentucky quarterback Bailey Zappe attempted a pass over the middle of the field that fell incomplete. During the play, Cal Haladay dove to make a play on the potential pass-catcher and it looked fairly harmless.

The refs saw otherwise, flagging Haladay for targeting. After watching the replay, it seemed obvious that the call would be overturned after it showed Haladay’s forearm hitting the receiving target in a very non-malicious manner.

Judge for yourself:

Haladay was already diving low to make a play on the ball when it fell incomplete and his arm made contact with the receiver. The refs were right to throw the flag just to be sure, but when it’s clear as day on instant replay that it wasn’t targeting, it needs to be overturned. It wasn’t.

The refs upheld the call and Haladay was ejected from the game and the rule states that he’s also forced to miss the first half of the next game since this occurred in the second half.

Completely bogus call by the refs and it may cost the Spartan defense at Rutgers.

Michigan State football has to be furious about the call

Haladay has been one of the best defenders on the team this season and was second in total tackles before getting ejected for this phantom penalty.

This meaningless call on a clean play in a non-conference game that was well in hand in the fourth quarter could cost Michigan State’s defense dearly on the road against a Big Ten opponent. Mel Tucker and the Spartans should be calling the Big Ten offices all week to make sure they know this call was incorrect and missing the first half of Rutgers should be out of the question.

Michigan State’s defense needs Haladay in Week 6, especially with Chase Kline’s transfer.