The Riggs family reunion did not go as planned.
Cody Riggs had not traveled to Missouri since he visited his aunt in St. Louis when he was 5 years old. He wanted to play well for her and the rest of his family, which made the trip to Columbia, Mo., from South Florida.
But the redshirt junior never got the opportunity.
With freshman cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III beat in coverage, Riggs left his feet to tackle Missouri receiver L’Damian Washington, who held onto the football for a 41-yard catch on the first play from scrimmage.
It was not a vicious hit. It just was not legal.
Television cameras caught defensive end Ronald Powell, missing the game with an ankle injury, consoling the visibly shaken Riggs.
“I was shocked at first, but I saw the replay. I did launch myself,” Riggs said Monday.
“I didn’t think I did on the field, but if you watch it, I guess I did launch myself.
“I had no intention of hurting the guy. I thought Vernon was going to pick it and when he didn’t, I tried to dive into him to see if I can get the ball out, but that’s launching. They made the right call. I just have to play smart next time.”
Riggs was the second Florida player ejected for targeting.
Defensive back Brian Poole hit Tennessee tight end Brendan Downs in the fourth quarter and was ejected on Sept. 21. Because the infraction occurred in the first half, Riggs will not have to sit out the first two quarters against Georgia. Poole was not as fortunate.
Riggs does not dislike the rule. Coming from football factory Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, the safety has been around the game his entire life and the perils that come with it.
“It’s a good rule because of concussions,” he said. “I know people that have played in the NFL with concussions. I understand the intention of the rule.
“But at the same time, my family came all the way up to Missouri from South Florida to watch the game, and they saw me play for 10 seconds off of a penalty that I really wasn’t trying to hurt anybody. It has its pros and cons. It’s just one of those rules that you have to live with.”
Riggs had to live with missing the remainder of the game in the locker room, which did not have a TV. He was relegated to watching on a computer screen inside Faurot Field as Florida’s dropped its second straight game.
It has been 10 days since the dependable Riggs had his Missouri homecoming cut short. He ranks second on the team with 6.5 tackles for loss and has started all seven games this season.
On Monday, Riggs had all the reason not to smile, as he fielded questions for the first time since Missouri. Yet, he smiled despite a losing streak, playing one snap and getting tossed in front of his family.
He watched Missouri clunk a game-tying chip shot off the left uprights to lose in double overtime to South Carolina this past Saturday night. Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier rushed the field as the Tigers’ faithful stood stunned.
Riggs, who was also stunned, went crazy, jumped around his house and called teammate Jaylen Watkins to bask in their good fortune. As Riggs moved on Monday from his brief appearance in Columbia, his team also can during a trip to Jacksonville to face Georgia on Saturday.
“We’re back in it. We’re back,” Riggs said. “We still have a chance.”
Follow Adam Pincus on Twitter @adamDpincus.
Cody Riggs (31) tackles LSU junior wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) during Florida’s 17-6 loss to LSU on Oct. 12 at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.
