Gary Pinkel wants NCAA to look into hit on Blaine Gabbert
Missouri Tigers head coach Gary Pinkel has asked the NCAA to look into a hit on his quarterback Blaine Gabbert, which took place during a week nine game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Gabbert took a hard hit from Nebraska safety Courtney Osborne in the fourth quarter of his team’s 31-17 loss. Osborne broke through the line on a safety blitz and cracked the hulking 6’5” 200-pound quarterback. Osborne hit the Missouri junior hard and Pinkel
wants the NCAA to look into whether or not there was helmet-to-helmet contact.
“I don’t think there was malice involved there,” said Pinkel. “We would like them to review it and give us their opinion.”
The Cornhuskers hit Gabbert hard all game, as their defence was able to get the better of the Tiger offensive line for the majority of the contest. Nebraska was able to get to the quarterback for six sacks in the game and made Gabbert pay every time, hitting
him hard on each play.
The Cornhuskers have been disciplined once already this season for a helmet-to-helmet collision with linebacker Eric Martin, committing the transgression on Oklahoma State Cowboys kicker Andrew Hudson just a week earlier, and was forced to miss the game
against Missouri.
The Big 12 is said to be reviewing the play. However, Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini is not worried about the outcome.
“No, they got to do what they’ve got to do,” said the Nebraska coach of Missouri’s decision to ask for a review. “He [Gabbert] ducked a little bit at the last second. It was a good hit. The Big 12 is going to do what they have to do. I can’t control that.”
The Nebraska defence is known for their hardnosed play and this season is no exception, as the club once against ranks in the top 20 in points-against per game.
Missouri meets the Texas Tech Red Raiders on Saturday 6 November and Gabbert is expected to get the start.
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