CHICAGO — College football is implementing a stiff penalty to a vague new rule in 2013. Targeting and initiating contact with the crown of the helmet could get a defender ejected from a game, or even suspended from his team’s next game.

The problem arises when trying to determine exactly what constitutes a “defenseless player.” The decision will be at the digression of referees.

According to the College Football Officiating, LLC, targeting is defined as “to take aim at an opponent for purposes of attacking with an apparent intent that goes beyond making a legal tackle.”

It further defines defenseless players as “a receiver attempting to catch a pass, or one who has completed a catch and has not had time to protect himself or has not clearly become a ball carrier.”  

That means a receivers cutting across the middle of the field are no longer fair game for linebackers. Any sort of blind-sided hit could result in an ejection, if deemed targeting by a referee.

The types of hits that made Ray Lewis famous will be grounds for ejection. 

How frequently these new sanctions will be administered and how the college football world will react to them is still a question mark.

Big Ten football coaches weighed in on both side of the debate at Big Ten Football Media Days on Wednesday in Chicago.

Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern

“It’s well documented I’m a rather large hockey fan, and to see the way the rules have changed in the game of hockey to where it’s more of an athletic game and guys aren’t getting pressed up and boarded — it’s the same for football. If you’re defenseless, you should be protected. 

“But there will be some hits that I’m looking forward to learning from and seeing exactly how that’s going to be officiated.”

Bo Pelini, Nebraska

“It’s going to be pretty subjective. I don’t think it’s an easy thing to call. And in my opinion it’s going a little bit overboard right now.

“We just have to make sure that we’re not messing with the integrity of the game or the sport and how it’s supposed to be played.” 

Jerry Kill, Minnesota

“I think when you have things happen in college football and you have concussions and things of that nature, there’s a huge amount of awareness to make sure we teach the fundamentals.

“We’re all into the safety of the kids and football … Sometimes things happen. That’s a part of life and a part of anything. But anything we can do to teach it and do a better job for safety is important.”   

Kirk Ferentz, Iowa

“Anybody can recognize that this needed to be dealt with, but I think on the plays that are bang-bang, which many of those are, I’m just hoping the officials will use good judgment.”

Tim Beckman, Illinois

“(Targeting) is constantly talked about throughout spring football, throughout winter workouts. It will be constantly talked about to our defensive football team. We had an issue last year where we actually had a young man (defensive back Earnest Thomas) taken out of our Penn State game for that. 

“We learned from it. We’re still going to be as aggressive as we possibly can with our schemes and doing the things that are necessary to be successful on defense.”

Sean can be reached at [email protected] and @sean_hammond.