Iowa fans unhappy after Karson Shara tossed for targeting Gophers punt returner

The referees believed Shara used the crown of his helmet.

The end of the first half between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Minnesota Golden Gophers had a flashpoint when Iowa's Karson Shara was ejected for targeting.

The Gophers were returning a point with the score at 10-3 in Iowa's favor when Shara hit Gophers returner Quentin Redding with what officials deemed to be the crown of his helmet.

Following a review, this was deemed to be targeting, with the Gophers earning a 15-yard penalty.

The replay did appear to show Shara using the crown of his helmet, but it nonetheless sparked a number of complaints from Hawkeyes fans, some of whom claimed the referees had failed to punish a similar tackle on Iowa QB Deacon Hill earlier in the game.

But there were others who felt the call was a fair one.