Alabama fans irate after James Smith gets ejected with questionable targeting call

In a close game, Alabama can ill-afford to be down any players. With Qua Russaw already out of the game with an injury, Tide starting defensive tackle James Smith was ejected in the third quarter following a questionable targeting call.

It was not called on the field, but the booth rang down and ruled Smith had committed targeting upon review. The junior defensive tackle did lead with his helmet, but it did not look like forcible contact and he hit the Georgia running back in the chest - not the head.

Alabama was struggling to stop the run, even with Smith. Now, it just got harder. Alabama fans were justifiably irate on social media following the call that not only sends Smith to the showers for the rest of this game, but will cost him the first half of next week's game against Vanderbilt, too.

See if for yourself:

Alabama fans are losing it on social media over James Smith's targeting ejection

Former players weren't happy with the call on social media, either, if you were curious. I'm not sure what players are supposed to do if that's called targeting.

Another former Alabama legend sounding off on the terrible call.

The worst part is that it wasn't called on the field. The booth rang down to stop the game to make the call. For no reason. In no way is that in the spirit of the rule.

Soft barely even describes it.

Not only does Smith's ejection make the sledding tougher for Alabama tonight against Georgia, but it will have a big impact on next week's game against Vanderbilt, too.

Does anybody like SEC refs? Even their families? The officiating in a league that produces as much money as the SEC does just cannot be this bad.

I'll stick with the "pass interference" in Knoxville three years ago that directly cost the Crimson Tide the game - and the streak - against Tennessee

Sure didn't look like it.

This has to be the solution, no? All contact is bad contact nowadays, even when it's not forcible in any sense of the word. What happened to the game we love?

There has to be an overhaul of the targeting rule. In the very least, a Targeting 1 and Targeting 2, like in basketball. In no way should what Smith did lead to not only an ejection, but a first-half suspension next week.