HEY, MA–BOOM!!!
If you missed last night’s horrible intersection of angle, momentum, and potential energy made kinetic in dramatic fashion during the LSU/MSU game, you haven’t now. Watch as Brandon Lafell extirpates Zach Smith in the third quarter. Feel free to stand at your desk, jump up and down while shaking your arms back and forth, and scream “DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYUUUUUUUM!!!!”
Your boss will totally understand. Or will fire you. Either way you win: it’s still college football season. (HT: Those brave, brave men at Mississippi State Sports Blog.)
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1
gerry dorsey says:
come to the msu/alabama game for zach smith bobblehead night!!!!!
August 31st, 2007 at 12:03 pm
2
UF Gator DMD says:
That was so painful to watch. Felt pretty badly for the kid who got crushed…just seeing his head flop around like that…
It was also a great block.
August 31st, 2007 at 12:05 pm
3
Seven Years in Gainesville says:
YOU GOT KNOCKED THE FUKOUT!
was he OK? he looks a little concussed…
August 31st, 2007 at 12:13 pm
4
DC Trojan says:
Just watching it last night made my neck ache.
August 31st, 2007 at 12:15 pm
5
Michigan Gator says:
Is it appropriate that the only emotions I had last night when I saw that hit were laughter and happiness?
August 31st, 2007 at 12:17 pm
6
BDoc says:
Keep your head on a swivel!
I think that hit actually shook my TV a little last night.
August 31st, 2007 at 12:21 pm
7
Yinka Double Dare says:
You just got… JACKED UP.
Of course, they’d have thrown a flag on that in an NFL game for the helmet-to-helmet, but damn, that was some pwnage there.
August 31st, 2007 at 12:23 pm
8
Allahver Fist says:
I’m glad my office blocks snuff films, but I still remember the play as if it were a meal ago.
August 31st, 2007 at 12:24 pm
9
Futbawl Fan says:
that lick, my friends, is the difference between soccer and real football
any kid who ever played with rock ‘em sock ‘em robots has dreamed of hitting another kid that hard… thank goodness few of us ever have to experience that kind of shock *those who don’t wear seatbelts are just waiting their turn*
August 31st, 2007 at 12:27 pm
10
D says:
Maybe I’m just being a Kleenex-dabbing, mucous-checking pus….but most of these crackback blocks are irrelevant. How many times do they actually occur in front of a ball carrier or open up lanes?
No, the play has passed the defender by. And as he’s rushing to get back in it, a blocker hits him obliquely and, yes, knocks the ever-living-fuck out of him.
De-cleaters make my dick hard too, but there are degrees of sexy, sexy. Lafell’s block was brutal and inconsequential. He snapped that kid’s vertebrae to be on Sportscenter. Bravo.
I know, berzerkers. I’m off to CVS to buy tampons.
August 31st, 2007 at 12:27 pm
11
Techie says:
Damn, just damn.
August 31st, 2007 at 12:32 pm
12
Ben Million says:
I lost an incisor watching that. I look like Shane McGowan now.
August 31st, 2007 at 12:36 pm
13
Bench Casey says:
What is the weird footage at the end of the video? Did Tyler Durden make this clip?
August 31st, 2007 at 12:41 pm
14
asim says:
@#6:
It should’ve been helmet-to-helmet in this game, as well.
August 31st, 2007 at 12:43 pm
15
Southern Papa says:
That hit is worthy of the new, steroid free, WWE.
August 31st, 2007 at 12:54 pm
16
Brian says:
Brain meet skull.
August 31st, 2007 at 12:54 pm
17
BJ and the Bear says:
Apparently some of you think helmet-to-helmet rules are meant to prevent contact between helmets. That was no rule violation, even in the NFL. He led that hit with his should and it was his shoulder at the point of impact. But yes, there helmets did touch. OMG refs do something!
“De-cleaters make my dick hard too, but there are degrees of sexy, sexy. Lafell’s block was brutal and inconsequential. He snapped that kid’s vertebrae to be on Sportscenter. Bravo.”
It’s not sexy, sexy. It’s ugly, ugly. And that’s what football is at its core. Mean, nasty, brutish (and too short). What makes a hit like that so deliciously evil is precisely that it DIDN’T matter. You can be completely out of a play and still get your spine cracked.
August 31st, 2007 at 1:00 pm
18
Ben Million says:
#10 – No, he snapped that kid’s vertebrae because he’s a huge, violent man. And I totally agree with you – yes, it’s a monster hit, and fun to watch, but from now on don’t wake me up unless he gets ahead of the play and springs somebody for a huge gain.
August 31st, 2007 at 1:07 pm
19
R.D. Baker - Retired Blogger says:
You have defeated the Zach Smith
You gain 1000 XP
August 31st, 2007 at 1:10 pm
20
RedDevilEA says:
I’ve felt like I’ve been badgering the witness all summer and watching that hit was the sweet, sweet release of finally getting with a real live girl. Welcome, too, since last year’s prom queen turned out to be a dude.
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!!
August 31st, 2007 at 1:12 pm
21
ChicaGoBlue says:
Here’s what I don’t get: that hit, while spectacular and boner inducing, is clearly helmet to helmet, as was that USC defender’s hit on Cowan (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTct4-vvhiQ), as was Crable’s hit on Troy Smith last year. In the first two instances, no flag was called and the announcers conveniently ignored the fact that the hit was helmet to helmet, whereas in the UM-OSU game the official (correctly) threw a flag and the announcers clutched their pearls and wondered aloud how Crable could make such a mistake.
No, I am not at all bitter about last year.
August 31st, 2007 at 1:23 pm
22
ChicaGoBlue says:
Here’s what I don’t get: that hit, while spectacular and boner inducing, is clearly helmet to helmet, as was that USC defender’s hit on Cowan (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTct4-vvhiQ), as was Crable’s hit on Troy Smith last year. In the first two instances, no flag was called and the announcers conveniently ignored the fact that the hit was helmet to helmet, whereas in the UM-OSU game the official (correctly) threw a flag and the announcers clutched their pearls and wondered aloud how Crable could make such a mistake.
No, I am not at all bitter about last year.
August 31st, 2007 at 1:23 pm
23
One And Done says:
As long as you know you’re a tampon user, D, fine.
Inconsequential? Only to those who’ve never played. Consequential in the sense it can fire your teammates up & show that you’ll lay the hat on someone. Consequential in the sense that the guy is still trailing the ball carrier & theoretically a potential tackler & ergo needs to get the hat laid on him.
Now, if he’s 50 yds. away from the play, I might agree with you, D but 5 yds. from the play, I look on you with derision of not understanding the subtle nuances & beautiful brutality of contact sports…
August 31st, 2007 at 1:23 pm
24
One And Done says:
#14, you need to watch the reverse angle again. LaFell leads with shoulder not the head, hits with the shoulder. The only reason the 2 helmets make contact at all is b/c of the force of the hit.
“Helmet-to-helmet” hits only pertain to when you lead with the helmet, which Laeall did not do.
August 31st, 2007 at 1:26 pm
25
Kerwin4two says:
#3: That’s exactly what my wife said
D@mn, I love her!
August 31st, 2007 at 1:31 pm
26
Unhappy Monkey says:
Anyone…, anyone? No one, I guess I’ll have to write it:
“THIS IS DIV 1 FOOTBALL, go play intramurals, brother!”
August 31st, 2007 at 1:34 pm
27
mp says:
If anyone wants to see some SEC football Auburn has still got season tickets for sell, their dirt-poor fan base must be feeling the crunch of the subprime-crisis
August 31st, 2007 at 1:57 pm
28
Burt77 says:
that is EXACTLY correct #21 and #22… the helmet did not lead, and Zach was close enough that a cutback by Flynn would allow Zach to make tackle.
August 31st, 2007 at 1:59 pm
29
matty blue says:
come on, guys – i thought you only liked the BIG cheap shots, ala reggie effing nelson.
this one is THIS CLOSE to legal. not ACTUALLY legal, mind you, but close.
August 31st, 2007 at 2:00 pm
30
matty blue says:
22 – tell that to shawn crable.
August 31st, 2007 at 2:02 pm
31
Brewster Crew says:
That hit also has an effect on the teammates of the guy who got his bell rung. They’re going to be a little more tentative when pursuing downfield. The only thing that’ll cure that is the defense delivering a slobberknocker of their own to even the score.
God, I miss playing football. Cracks on unsuspecting DBs and LBs made being a WR in a running offense worthwhile.
August 31st, 2007 at 2:12 pm
32
One And Done says:
Sure, Matty Blue, have his #?
I’ll tell you the same thing I’d tell him:
“A referee making a bad call on a legal hit is not the same as a referee making a correct call on an illegal hit even though penalties are called on both situations.” Then I would add “if you don’t win your conference you shouldn’t be able to play for a national championship, so quit your bitching.” That last part would be pithy lagniappe free of charge.
I find it humorous that people don’t understand or don’t want to understand the difference.
Bad calls do not make calls correct, even if they have an officiating body’s stamp of approval; see LSU-Auburn last year for the numerous “correct” calls.
August 31st, 2007 at 2:19 pm
33
One And Done says:
Brewster Crew, I feel your pain! I was also a WR in an option offense. That was one of the few joys I had too- laying a lick on an unsuspecting LB or DBer & kickoff coverage.
“Don’t stand around a pile!”
August 31st, 2007 at 2:21 pm
34
One And Done says:
Thanks, Burt.
August 31st, 2007 at 2:24 pm
35
Papa Lou BSU says:
Maybe it’s the former o-lineman in me, but I’m a hellvua lot more impressed by a pulling guard de-cleating someone than I am by a wussy receiver or DB doing the same.
For one thing, as noted, the pulling guard is actually *clearing open the hole for the play* while the “skill position” hit is typically behind the play or irrelevant to it.
For another thing, a pulling guard has a five or six-yard running start to knock a 300-pounder on their ass, as opposed to a DB/WR, who usually takes a 15-yard head start to tattoo a guy who weighs less than most coffee tables.
You’ll notice these WRs never go after a DL or Mike LB, either. There’s a reason for that.
August 31st, 2007 at 2:29 pm
36
tOSUBuckeyes says:
Starting wide receiver this year for Ohio State, Brian Hartline, taking Gonzo’s place as the fastest white boy on the team, appears to be able to bring the wood.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JiSSlyWy70
August 31st, 2007 at 2:31 pm
37
gerry dorsey says:
wow…it smells like vagina in here.
that hit was so legal (insert your own witticism here).
August 31st, 2007 at 2:32 pm
38
One And Done says:
Yeah, Papa the reason is b/c you OL & DL types are 40 yds. behind the play so it’d irrelevant as has been noted to hit them.
The other reason is that many offenses don’t call plays calling for crack blocks otherwise we’d stick our noses in their more often. B/c I can guarantee you, some of us former WRs played for coaches where you had to hit. That’s the way it was at John Curtis. Block & hit or you don’t play.
So yes, you do speak like a former OLmen or do I have to bring up the numerous occasions when you super terrific blockers pull & hit NOBODY b/c your less than stellar footwork gets outrun by said weighs less than coffee table types?
August 31st, 2007 at 2:37 pm
39
Brian says:
Sweet NFL hits: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mK6-KljouQU
watch for the guy who bounces off his head and allllmost lands on his feet at 0:53
August 31st, 2007 at 2:42 pm
40
Turk182 says:
to quote Rocky Dennis, “momma, my head hurts”
August 31st, 2007 at 2:55 pm
41
Holly says:
You ain’t hurt, son. Rub some dirt on it.
August 31st, 2007 at 2:56 pm
42
Papa Lou BSU says:
“Papa the reason is b/c you OL & DL types are 40 yds. behind the play so it’d irrelevant as has been noted to hit them.”
We’re 40 yards behind the play clearing a path so your 120-lb. ass doesn’t get demolished, thankyouverymuch.
And this former big ugly is also a competitive runner, so check yo’ self with the aspersions about footwork, fella…
The only real men on the field are in the trenches…
August 31st, 2007 at 3:05 pm
43
Willet says:
Fastest white boy on osu. Is that like a SEC linemen fast?
August 31st, 2007 at 3:11 pm
44
Palouse says:
Sweet! Football position sparring…..honestly, I thought kickers were the only ones that were on the receiving end of fights like this.
There’s nothing like a good cheap shot on an unsuspecting kicker. Bonus points if it’s a Grammattica.
August 31st, 2007 at 3:17 pm
45
Yinka Double Dare says:
Sure, he lead with his shoulder. That wouldn’t stop an NFL official from throwing a flag. We all know they enforce several of their rules (horsecollar tackles, roughing the passer, helmet-to-helmet, pass interference) with a complete lack of consistency, and if they see a head snap back like that with helmet-to-helmet contact, someone is throwing a flag.
August 31st, 2007 at 3:19 pm
46
SeaTrojan says:
Having peripheral vision is NOT overrated.
August 31st, 2007 at 3:19 pm
47
crabs says:
tOSU -
Are you going to let this “Dick” get away with this? Doesn’t he know that sidewalks aren’t for relieveing ones’ self in Columbus – Igloo coolers are!
http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=274086>1=7703
August 31st, 2007 at 3:28 pm
48
One And Done says:
Maybe at your school the only real mean were in the trenches. At my school where we’re most likely going to notch off a 22nd state title later this year, if you’re on the field, you hit. Just b/c most WRs are wimps, doesn’t mean we all were.
And this former 128lb WR could lay that hat too, so cast your WR aspersions on those that play in a run & shoot offense. In fact, I once made a name for myself with my coaches as a 105 lb. frosh for perfectly chopping a DE who outweighed my by 100 lbs. Also, I ran down one of you big nasties & made the tackle after a fumble recovery, so I’ve done both of the things you accused WRs of never doing, hitting DL & LBs. You have to remember there are some borderline crazy people out there & some of us played football. But then again, I didn’t do it on national tv, so no one really cares.
And you’re the exception not the rule if you’re a runner & OLman, but let’s quit being disingenuous b/c you can’t sit there & tell me the majority of your brethren wouldn’t get juked by a concrete block.
Also as an aside, I won’t sit here & believe being a runner is not the same as having good footwork. I’m too intelligent for that. Running in a straight or almost straight lines or making low radii turns every 100 meters does not qualify as good footwork in my book. If you run a marathon & have to juke people or avoid tacklers or weave through some obstacles every so often, maybe I’d concede to your point.
Or unless you’re some new form of extreme runner that has to run through blazing potholes or run & jump & put your feet right in the spots where there are no broken glass or snapping turtles or something, then I’ll think “runner = good footwork.”
Also, from the skill positions, I offer you this quip:
I’ve seen guys score with no blocking on a play b/c of the sheer athleticism they displayed on a play. I’ve never seen a line score w/o a ball carrier. So yes, I’ve in tune enough with football to know the most important positions besides a stellar QB are the lines but I won’t buy the complete coachspeak, b/c you can have the best blocking the world, but if there’s no ball carrier, all there is is a nice big hole.
And besides if I give you credit & quit smack talking, I would actually have to do some work today at work which is another thing I will not do! Nay, sir!
August 31st, 2007 at 3:30 pm
49
weagle251 says:
On a completely unrelated note, who else completely loathes the new ESPN score bars that eat up the top of the screen?
August 31st, 2007 at 3:30 pm
50
Erik says:
______________________________________________
One And Done –
Or unless you’re some new form of extreme runner that has to run through blazing potholes or run & jump & put your feet right in the spots where there are no broken glass or snapping turtles or something, then I’ll think “runner = good footwork.”
______________________________________________
Not to take sides on the greater issue, as it’s *far* too funny as it is, but there actually is a lot of this if you’re running off pavement. If you’re talking about bad weather down a muddy hill, suddenly you *do* have to put your foot down just so, except you don’t know where that spot is until maybe two steps beforehand. And then you do that for, oh, an hour or so.
I don’t know if Papa is doing this or if he’s a shit-eating concrete runner, but there is a lot of footwork involved in running out in the forest or wherever.
August 31st, 2007 at 4:24 pm
51
One And Done says:
If Papa is a cross country runner, then I’ll be the 1st one to eat my words & fix a crow sandwich. All of which the Auburn faithful will say taste like corn dogs!
August 31st, 2007 at 4:34 pm
52
PW says:
48
Where are you winning state championships with 120 lb. receivers and 205 lb. defensive ends? Kenya?
August 31st, 2007 at 5:22 pm
53
gerry dorsey says:
#48
“single a” high school football can be fun can’t it????
August 31st, 2007 at 5:41 pm
54
alextuscaloosa says:
Listen real close to the gay in Folwer’s voice when he says, “i love when you talking southern football”
August 31st, 2007 at 6:45 pm
55
bup bup bup says:
hat hat hat.
that was helmet to helmet, but it wasn’t intentional. i think the video makes it clear he was trying to lead with his shoulder.
although to be honest, i get more subversive glee when the smaller guy puts the bigger guy in a bad way.
that’s why when #36 linked that video with hartline, i thought he was talking about this little gem:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnRwtj2Wz2o
pay close attention to the left side of the screen starting at 0:18.
hartline > 2 iowa defensive linemen
August 31st, 2007 at 6:47 pm
56
Mr Pelican Pants says:
Welcome to SEC footbawww. It took the surgeons 3 hrs to remove his helmet from his cranium with a band saw. All his wisdom teeth were missing and we think his earpads will be a permanent fixture under his eyes. I am sure the underlying theme to this hit will be the song “Here Comes the Boom!” by Saliva played non stop for the next 5 days.
August 31st, 2007 at 7:24 pm
57
Mr Pelican Pants says:
Or better yet, what would have been cooler is if Zach Smith would have had a pistol in his hand, and after he got hit he would have cooked off a couple of rounds into the ground as he fell down, like the cowboys used to do after the indians shot em, they just stop in their tracks fall to their knees and as they fall over, they pull the trigger over and over in desparation, into the ground.
August 31st, 2007 at 7:41 pm
58
One And Done says:
To the jealous of me, I played at John Curtis Christian HS, Lousiana, 2A enrollment, defeating 4A & 5A giants both in state & out. Yes, THAT John Curtis.
Much like my opponents who snickered at my tiny frame, what some of you will never understand, being good & playing football is about talent, attitude & belief. Not necessarily size. God didn’t bless with me size but he blessed me with the craziness to get stuck in with people twice my size, while most of the ilk who post things such as “What state? Kenya?” were the ones who always offered excuses such as “Oh, I’d play but I’d rather do other stuff or I’d rather party on the weekends.” So don’t cry just b/c I was man enough to play at a school that was nationally ranked #5 by USA Today with even my tiny ass playing while y’all were busy smoking doobers & shotgunning beers & being scared to play with the big boys.
But I wouldn’t expect anything less than these type of responses from so many experts who watched but never played…. mainly, b/c well, frankly, you were all scared of getting hurt. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaah, big fast men in pads, scare me. Waaaaaaaah.
August 31st, 2007 at 8:33 pm
59
One And Done says:
Damnit, they need an edit feature to fix typos.
August 31st, 2007 at 8:35 pm
60
Nutty McNut says:
Isn’t Lafell the guy who RFN destroyed last year in the UF vs. LSU game. If I remember correctly it was on the 1st Ryan Smith pick, he might picked up a few pointers from that hit…
August 31st, 2007 at 11:42 pm
61
Willet says:
one and done
you are really cool
September 1st, 2007 at 12:24 pm
62
Not a Fifer says:
DBs are never slow to nail opponents who aren’t looking. If one gets his bell rung occasionally, fuck ‘im.
September 3rd, 2007 at 7:34 am
63
Out of Conference says:
The QB would have picked up 10 more yards or more had the blocker picked up the man behind him instead of looking to making the highlight reel.
September 4th, 2007 at 10:04 am