Dillingham: ASU appealing targeting penalty that disqualified DB Shamari Simmons

TEMPE — ASU football filed an appeal to get Shamari Simmons’ targeting penalty from the Big 12 title game overturned, coach Kenny Dillingham said at his Monday press conference.

The call could cost Simmons the first half of the Peach Bowl after ASU’s bye in the College Football Playoff.

“I don’t know where the appeal goes. I don’t know who approves it, but yeah I hope it does get overturned,” Dillingham said. “I think it’s the right thing to do for Shamari and everything that he’s done in his career, and he’s played football his entire life to play in a game like this.

“For something to be that close and, like, two inches are the difference in this kid being able to experience something that he’ll have for the rest of his life, I think the human in everybody should understand that this is something that should get overturned.”

The hit happened on the first play of the fourth quarter with the game already in hand as the Sun Devils led 45-10.

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Appeals are sent by teams and its conference to NCAA national coordinator of officiating Steve Shaw, who was a head referee in the SEC for 15 years. Shaw will determine Simmons’ availability.

“It was unfortunate,” Dillingham said. “Shamari knew. He saw the quarterback looking away, so he made an emphasis to keep his head up. Then at the last second, you can see the quarterback turn towards him and lower himself a little bit. And that little bit of the turning and the lowering is what actually created the contact with the neck area.

“There’s numerous reasons why it’s bang-bang, so we definitely appealed it. He’s such a great kid.”

Simmons is one of 12 Sun Devils on the Tillman Leadership Council that Dillingham meets with weekly to discuss team plans.

The defensive back leads the team in tackles for loss (seven), has an interception and tipped up a Xavion Alford interception. He is also fourth on the team in tackles (70) after leading the team last season (73).

Dillingham said it “potentially” could be Kyan McDonald replacing Simmons if necessary, although Dillingham noted it would depend on which of Texas or Clemson wins the first-round game and how that offense matches up against ASU.

“This is about the kids, and it’d be unfortunate if a guy who’s put in all the work he’s had in his senior year, who tried to do the right thing, he kept his eyes up, loses half of a game … that he’s worked his entire life for,” Dillingham said.

“It wasn’t malicious,” he continued. “He wasn’t doing anything violent other than just trying to play the game with his eyes up, and for that to take something away from him that he should be able to embrace and cherish would be really disappointing for the kid when the whole mission of college athletics is for these guys. I hope something will happen there.”