Lance Leipold discusses targeting calls after two Jayhawks are ejected vs. Illinois

Kansas football coach Lance Leipold witnessed a rarity in his coaching career during the Jayhawks’ impressive 34-23 victory over Illinois of the Big Ten Conference on Friday night at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.

“I can count on one hand in 17 years — one hand — how many players on teams I’ve coached have had a targeting call,” Leipold said.

“To get two in one game ...” he added, his voice trailing off.

KU defenders Austin Booker and Cobee Bryant were ejected on separate plays in the second half for targeting, a rule that penalizes (per the NCAA rulebook):

• making “forcible contact” with the crown of the helmet on tackles,

• launching into players deemed to be defenseless

• and/or hitting a player in the neck or head.

As part of the penalty, both players must sit out the first half of next Saturday’s game at Nevada.

There is an appeal process that KU may pursue.

“I don’t know the procedure. (It was) a Big Ten crew. I don’t know how we go through it with our people to review those,” Leipold said. “I’d like to kind of see where it goes. I don’t even know at this moment what my options are because I don’t know if it goes somewhere else or within the (Big 12) Conference.”

Defensive lineman Booker drilled Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer on a 2-point conversion try late in the third quarter. It was certainly a highlight-film hit with targeting confirmed by the officials via review.

On the other targeting ejection, defensive back Cobee Bryant tackled Isaiah Williams after Williams had a short gain on a pass reception. Again it was called targeting on the field and confirmed via review.

“I don’t know because the one on Austin … I don’t know,” Leipold said. “His head is down a little bit but it’s still in (the) midsection. I’ve never seen a targeting call like that. Cobee … at least from what we could see there it didn’t seem like he launched. His shoulder (may have led into the tackle) … the player was putting his head down. That’s a tough one.”

Kansas played physical football on Friday night in overcoming a physical Big Ten team.

The Jayhawks outgained the Illini 539 yards to 341. KU had six sacks of quarterback Altmyer for minus-28 yards.

Defensive lineman Jereme Robinson and Booker had two sacks apiece. D-end Patrick Joyner and linebacker JB Brown had a sack apiece.

“Not bad,” Robinson said with a smile. “I left some money out there. I’ll take it.”

Robinson said the key to KU’s defensive effort was “being physical, stepping up straight and strong.”

He was especially impressed with Brown, a junior transfer from Bowling Green.

“He is such an athlete, so physical coming off the edge,” Robinson said. “He’s exactly what we need. I’m glad he got that sack.”

Of the sacks, Brown said: “It’s amazing. It makes you want to add six more to that, but it’s amazing,”

Brown said the Jayhawk defenders talked about being physical all week leading to the game.

“We were on it. Everybody thinks a Big Ten team is more physical than us. We matched it, too,” Brown said.

Of the victory, Leipold said: “It was a good day. I’ll watch (film) tomorrow and appreciate the effort. The first half (in building 28-7 lead) might have been as good of football as we’ve played since we’ve been (here), honestly. Penalty free. We executed.

“At first glimpse I think we were an extremely physical football team tonight. ... I thought we played tough.”

Drilling a Big Ten team at home in Year 3 of the Leipold era at KU classifies as “a big win, but it’s a nonconference win,” Leipold said.

“For where this program has been (for) over a decade, I think wins like this ...” Leipold began. “When Travis (Goff, AD) and I talked about the opportunity to move this game (to a Friday night), our guys deserve an opportunity to play when there are a lot of eyeballs on this team. I’m proud of how they played. I don’t want to make any more of it than that because we’ve got a lot of football to be played.”