Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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fan forum From The WebSite After Notre Dame defensive linemen Kona Schwenke and Sheldon Day were injured against Navy on cut blocks — which unlike chop blocks are legal — and linebacker/end Ishaq Williams versus Air Force because of a similar tactic, many Irish fans expressed that it might be time to stop playing the service academies. Others blamed Notre Dame's passive defensive strategy. Here's a small sample: IrishM: Cut blocking may seem dirty these days, but it is legal and was the way blocking was traditionally taught. Brawling Hibernian: So you're going to defend cut blocking on an appeal to tradition? Any other practice you might consider which was traditional and overturned? How about wearing helmets? How about head slaps? How about helmet-to-helmet contact? Taxbuster: I played in the 1970s and was instructed the GOOD method both in high school and college … never received any cut blocking technique and ran the veer option with great success. Jolly O: I will yield to your personal experience but cut blocking was real popular in south southwest Ohio in the 1970s, and no one was better at it than my high school. We were physically smaller than everyone we played and lost only three times in four years. We ran the Houston veer. Our defensive line technique played perfectly into Navy's blocking style. Not only were our linemen off the ball, they were upright much of the time — easy targets and enabled men 50 pounds lighter to move them around like chess pawns. Dcirish: If player safety is an actual concern, then it should be outlawed, just the same way that targeting has been. And if the academies can't compete without using it, that's too bad. Times change. Let them join another division of football then. Gulinias: I also remember when the crack back block was legal. The fact is this game is changing The targeting foul is an example. I am sure in time cut blocking will be even further restricted. DuquesneDuke: There is nothing to be gained by playing Navy, Air Force, etc. Nothing! SammyDiamond: Just because cut blocking was taught and used 40-50 years ago doesn't make it right. Rules/attitudes evolved with football, and in the present day, with the size of these athletes, it's ridiculous to dive at someone's knees. It should not be allowed. BobIrish21: Nobody needs to defend it. It's legal. Just a bunch of whining. Moving or flying south for the winter? Don't miss an issue of Let our customer service department know your new address! Call us at 1-800-421-7751 or email gevans@comanpub.com