Opinion: Travis Hunter's Heisman hopes dashed by Blackburn; society must be better
Submitted by Carson Now Reader on Tue, 09/19/2023 - 11:28am
Travis Hunter may be the most versatile player in college football today. Playing both offense as wide receiver and defense as a cornerback, Travis has quickly put himself on the Heisman watchlist. His season, however, took a drastic turn last Saturday night when Colorado State senior defensive back Henry Blackburn delivered a very late and, by the naked eye, unnecessary hit to Hunter’s mid-section. Blackburn’s hit caused a laceration to Hunter’s liver and will put the Heisman hopeful on the bench to miss three crucial weeks according to the latest reports.
Not only are the next few games crucial to Colorado’s season with nationally ranked Oregon and USC coming up but it is also the time for Hunter to shine the most against the toughest competition in the national spotlight. This injury (completely unnecessary and avoidable) has by all accounts taken Hunter out of the Heisman conversation. If a player misses big time games on the schedule, they are all but out of the running of the nation’s highest honor for a college football player.
The NCAA needs to change the definition of “targeting” which right now only includes mostly the “head and neck” area. While this is obviously the most vulnerable places on the human body, it is not the only place. The replay of the hit clearly shows the hit being excessive and unnecessary while being completely avoidable. If you watch the entire play afterwards, you can also see Blackburn give a “five” to one of his teammates after it was clear Hunter was injured. This begs the question: Was a “bounty” put on Hunter to take him out?
An example should be made of Blackburn and he should be sidelined by the NCAA until Travis Hunter is medically cleared to play. Blackburn, should miss as many games as Hunter misses due to the injury Blackburn himself caused.
One last thing: Since this has happened, Blackburn and his family have been subjected to multiple death threats and the family home address has been plastered all over the internet.
Make no mistake, the people responsible for these abhorrent actions are despicable and should be held accountable. There is no place for this. Ever. Society must be better. Let the NCAA and/or Colorado State University handle any reasonable disciplinary action(s) for Blackburn.
