Laval Rouge et Or player slapped with 1-game suspension for illegal hit

Quebec's student sports regulatory body, the RSEQ, has handed a one-game suspension to Laval Rouge et Or football player Kevin McGee after the Concordia University Stingers made a formal complaint following last Sunday's game in Quebec City.

McGee, a defensive back, was suspended for unnecessary roughness for tackling Concordia player James Tyrrell when he was in a vulnerable position.

The Concordia Stingers filed two complaints with the RSEQ following the Sept. 24 game, one on behalf of Tyrrell, the other for quarterback Trenton Miller who was also hit.

Miller, the Stingers quarterback, called attention to the incidents by posting a video on Facebook this week, asking RSEQ to take steps to make player safety its priority.

The video has garnered 58,000 views and over 800 shares.

In its decision issued Friday morning, the RSEQ ruled that the hit against Miller did not warrant a punishment but that after reviewing footage, McGee would sit out the Oct. 1 game.

During the Sept. 24 game, neither Rouge et Or player received a penalty relating to the incidents.

Miller said he was happy with the fact the RSEQ took action.

"I just think it's awesome that they really took the time to consider players' safety, and I think they kind of understand now where they have to go in the future with it," he told reporters at Concordia's Loyola campus Friday evening.

In a statement, Université Laval said that it does not plan to appeal the decision and that "the organization wishes to reiterate that it has never encouraged or taught student athletes to tackle with the intention of causing harm."

• Concordia Stingers quarterback calls for end to 'horrific and unjustly violent hits'

Calling for change

In the video, Miller describes the hits to himself and his teammates as "unjustly violent" and calls on the league administrators to take action.

"We need to do this so parents can confidently put their sons in pads and let them play this great game without worrying about harming their future," said Miller.

Concordia University's department of recreation and athletics told CBC in a statement Thursday that it "cares deeply about the safety of its student-athletes" and that "the department considers the events in the Concordia Stingers-Laval Rouge et Or football game on Sept. 24, 2017 to be unacceptable.

Miller said Friday he wasn't upset by the fact the player that hit him wasn't suspended. He said his video was about more than just the game against the Rouge et Or. 

"This is way more than just my hit or anything like that, this is isn't about me, it's about player safety and the RSEQ in general, Quebec football," Miller said.

What Miller takes issue with is the part of the RSEQ's rule about under what circumstances hits are penalized. They hinge on intent.

Miller says it needs to be more "black and white" because it's hard to judge intent, and that may be why neither player involved in the controversial hits last Sunday were penalized. 

"I'm sure he didn't do it intentionally," he said of Gabriel Ouellet, the defensive back who hit him. "That's why it's hard to have the rule to judge intent on the hit."

"I'd love to see some changes to the rules, but I'm sure [they're] on the way."

Concordia spokesperson Mary-Jo Barr said the university is behind Miller. 

"I think we all sort of feel it's time for a larger conversation about what's going in terms of the rules and the way they're applied, and keeping students safe," she said.