Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart avoided injury Saturday against Alabama after being dragged down by his facemask in a scary play.
Alabama linebacker Dallas Turner got an open rush on Dart in the third quarter, then grabbed Dart’s facemask. Turner held on, pulling Dart’s head around almost 360 degrees before his helmet came spinning off.
The biggest facemask of all time? pic.twitter.com/ZNzlASePcA
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) November 12, 2022
Dart hit the ground. Turner immediately threw both hands to his head in a “What have I done?” move, clearly showing it was an accident.
Accident or not, the 15-yard penalty helped Ole Miss keep alive a touchdown drive against the Crimson Tide.
The incident evoked memories of other blatant facemask incidents in football history, including this classic in a 1998 Nebraska vs. Kansas State game, with KSU defender Travis Ochs dragging down Nebraska quarterback Eric Crouch. No penalty was called on the play.
https://twitter.com/PickSixPreviews/status/1073643995526508544
Many fans were livid about Saturday’s penalty, saying Turner should have been ejected.
I can’t stand these commentators, “he clearly didn’t mean to,” tweeted Meagan Robinson. “Um excuse me he ripped our QBs helmet off by the face mask. He meant to. Period. How about you talk about how horrible it was.”
“That wasn’t a facemask by Alabama … that was an Al-Qaeda video,” tweeted David X. Turner.
I can’t stand these commentators-“he clearly didn’t mean to” um excuse me he ripped our QBs helmet off by the face mask. He meant to. Period. How about you talk about how horrible it was. #OleMiss #Alabama #CBS #SEC https://t.co/fUrnJpVUgL
— Meagan Robinson (@MeaganRobinson7) November 12, 2022
That wasn't a facemask by Alabama … that was an Al-Qaeda video.#ALAvsMISS
— David X. Henry (@imau2fan) November 12, 2022
The face mask on Dart by Alabama’s Dallas Turner goes far beyond a football game; he could have broken the QB’s neck. Personally I think Saban should have sat Turner for the game. #AlabamaCrimsonTide #OleMiss
— DawgNation 52 (@GLew3366) November 12, 2022
Just saw the most blatant face mask penalty in the Alabama Ole Miss, like WTF that was scary
— Sergio M Quintero (@SergioMQuintero) November 12, 2022
Dallas Turner just took Jaxson Dart’s head off pic.twitter.com/1QneDvIUNn
— Connor O'Gara (@cjogara) November 12, 2022
In this day of extra protection for quarterbacks that facemask of Jaxson Dart was the most vicious thing I’ve seen in a while.
— Parrish Alford (@parrishalford) November 12, 2022
About Arthur Weinstein
Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.