Did he target or didn’t he?

The officiating crew on the field Saturday at the University of Hawaii’s football game at UCLA and the replay review officials determined that Tui ’Unga did not break the rule that disallows leading with the helmet at an opponent’s neck or head.

But the Pac-12 conference “acknowledged an error in officiating” in a statement it released Monday:

“The game officials and replay officials missed a targeting penalty that should have been called on Hawaii. The play in question was in direct violation of rule 9-1-4 (Targeting and Making Forcible Contact to Head or Neck Area of a Defenseless Player).”

On the play in question, the UH tight end blocked UCLA linebacker Kenny Young so hard that Young’s helmet came off.

As I watched the TV replay from different angles, one looks like ‘Unga led with his shoulder to Young’s chest, but from another view you can clearly see the players’ heads make contact as Young is focused on chasing the UH ballcarrier, unaware of ‘Unga approaching from an angle.

Young did not return to the game. UCLA coach Jim Mora was still unhappy after the Pac-12’s statement.

“Nothing rectifies that,” he said. “That was a vicious, violent, intentional hit on a defenseless player. It was the definition of targeting. … It was beyond reproach that it was a violent, flagrant target and, for some reason, the process failed and they will address that.”

I don’t know if it was intentional. It looks like ‘Unga tried to lead with his shoulder. But intent doesn’t really matter according to the rule. As it states, “When in question, it is a foul.”

When asked for comment Tuesday on the play, specifically, Hawaii coach Nick Rolovich said he did not see the TV replays.

“It was a physical play, no doubt,” he said.

A football recruiting analyst, Dirk Knudsen, was so incensed by the hit that he publicly challenged Rolovich to suspend ’Unga for two games.

That isn’t going to happen.

“I saw that. He wants me to punish him four times what he would’ve been if he had been thrown out (of the game),” Rolovich said. “If I followed through on every Twitter suggestion I got I’m pretty sure there wouldn’t be a University of Hawaii football program.”

That doesn’t mean Rolovich is flippant when it comes to player safety. Actually, his attitude is quite the opposite and he likes the recent rule changes designed to make the game less dangerous.

“I think it’s moving in a positive direction, making people more aware of lowering the strike zone,” Rolovich said. “I think a lot of the (addressing of) well-being issues for the student-athletes are very good for the game, and good for the human race.”

The Warriors are among many college and pro football teams that have adopted tackling techniques that are based in rugby fundamentals. For the obvious reason that rugby players don’t wear helmets, leading with the head is not an option.

“It’s the trend now,” said Kelly McGill, former UH offensive lineman and president of the Hawaii Rugby League. “It’s not only a safety issue. A rugby guy makes 20 to 25 tackles in a game, plus running the ball, so you have to have good technique or you won’t last the first 10 minutes.”

There have been team discussions about the risk of head injuries football presents, and how they can be decreased, Rolovich said.

“I don’t know if it’s an adjustment; I think elevated awareness is definitely there,” he said.

Rolovich noted, however, that concussions and other injuries are not just happening in his sport.

“I’m not sure football doesn’t take the brunt of all these controversial issues when plenty of data supports that these injuries are more prevalent in other sports,” he said. “It’s probably because our sport is so popular.”

Rolovich said he still has a dusty old VHS tape of NFL big hits, as do many football fans.

“Back in the day, that was a big part of the game people enjoyed,” he said.

It wasn’t that long ago that a hit that would result in high-fives all around and a helmet sticker now can get you a penalty and possibly a suspension. But even the officials are still trying to figure out where the line is.

Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783. His blog is at Hawaiiwarriorworld.com/quick-reads.