BleedGopher
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2008
- Messages
- 60,824
- Reaction score
- 16,284
- Points
- 113
per Greder:
Daletavious McGhee received his “Duke” nickname from his grandmother after they watched “Dukes of Hazard” more than a decade ago in Georgia.
The moniker stuck from peewee to high school football, and he brought it with him to Minnesota in 2013. The Gophers safety has now built a name for himself on the field, too.
McGhee, a senior projected to start this season, worked his way from redshirt to backup in 2014-15 and up to part-time starter last season, when he and the Gophers defense became linked to a spike in targeting penalties against them.
Minnesota had a Big Ten-leading eight targeting calls, with McGhee flagged three times. After calls that forced Illinois and Northwestern wide receivers to exit those games, he was ejected for targeting in the second half of the 17-12 Holiday Bowl victory over Washington State. By rule, he must sit out the first half of the Gophers’ season opener Thursday against Buffalo at TCF Bank Stadium.
“Duke” doesn’t believe there is anything wrong with his intent.
“If you ever meet me off the field, you know that I’m a really nice guy,” McGhee said. “I am a physical player. As far as targeting, I think it’s a great rule to incorporate in college football, especially when you look at the well-being of players. I support the rule 100 percent.”
Since targeting was introduced in 2008 and ejections were added in 2013, the number of calls last season increased to the most ever across Football Bowl Subdivision. The overall number of calls went from 55 in 2013 to 195 last season. Targeting addresses player safety for hits from the helmet, shoulder and arms to bring forcible contact at the head or neck area of an opponent.
“(Minnesota) had eight in the season and all of them were correct,” Bill Carollo, the Big Ten’s coordinator of football officials, said at the conference’s media days in July.
http://www.twincities.com/2017/08/28/gophers-defense-focused-on-safer-tackling-and-fewer-flags/
Go Gophers!!
Daletavious McGhee received his “Duke” nickname from his grandmother after they watched “Dukes of Hazard” more than a decade ago in Georgia.
The moniker stuck from peewee to high school football, and he brought it with him to Minnesota in 2013. The Gophers safety has now built a name for himself on the field, too.
McGhee, a senior projected to start this season, worked his way from redshirt to backup in 2014-15 and up to part-time starter last season, when he and the Gophers defense became linked to a spike in targeting penalties against them.
Minnesota had a Big Ten-leading eight targeting calls, with McGhee flagged three times. After calls that forced Illinois and Northwestern wide receivers to exit those games, he was ejected for targeting in the second half of the 17-12 Holiday Bowl victory over Washington State. By rule, he must sit out the first half of the Gophers’ season opener Thursday against Buffalo at TCF Bank Stadium.
“Duke” doesn’t believe there is anything wrong with his intent.
“If you ever meet me off the field, you know that I’m a really nice guy,” McGhee said. “I am a physical player. As far as targeting, I think it’s a great rule to incorporate in college football, especially when you look at the well-being of players. I support the rule 100 percent.”
Since targeting was introduced in 2008 and ejections were added in 2013, the number of calls last season increased to the most ever across Football Bowl Subdivision. The overall number of calls went from 55 in 2013 to 195 last season. Targeting addresses player safety for hits from the helmet, shoulder and arms to bring forcible contact at the head or neck area of an opponent.
“(Minnesota) had eight in the season and all of them were correct,” Bill Carollo, the Big Ten’s coordinator of football officials, said at the conference’s media days in July.
http://www.twincities.com/2017/08/28/gophers-defense-focused-on-safer-tackling-and-fewer-flags/
Go Gophers!!