Bench tackle on a break away

Texas Aggie

Actually, this did happen in the 1954 Cotton Bowl between Alabama and Rice. A bama player (Tommy Lewis) tackled Rice's Dickie Maegle. I believe Rice was awarded a TD, and Lewis ejected. That's the proper way to handle this on a breakaway run. If its not a breakaway, I'm still going to think long and hard about awarding a TD.

Ejection is a no-brainer. This is a flagrant act.

irefky

Originally posted by JRutledge
The Referee can award a Touchdown for any unfair act that would have prevented a TD. This is the classic case for awarding a TD unless it was unclear that the ball carrier would have scored.

Peace

I would award a TD in this situation and eject the player.

Forksref

TD, UC, ejection which is good for the next game, too.

Warrenkicker

If it is pretty clear that he could have scored a touchdown then part of the penalty enforcment would be a touchdown useing 9-9 (the God rules). It is a minimum of illegal participation. Ejecting the player is a simple one. Whether you call it IP or USC I feel that 9-9 allows us to award the TD and also penalize on the try but calling it USC is probably the better way to go.

mcrowder

Question that just occurred to me.

Can you call it IP, award the TD, eject, and then enforce USC on the kickoff or the try? (If no, what if the illegal participant ended the play with a 15-yard facemask - could THAT be enforced on the kickoff or try?)

Snake~eyes

Originally posted by mcrowder
Question that just occurred to me.

Can you call it IP, award the TD, eject, and then enforce USC on the kickoff or the try? (If no, what if the illegal participant ended the play with a 15-yard facemask - could THAT be enforced on the kickoff or try?)

Well if you're going to award the TD, you could basically do whatever the hell you want. You realy could call IP, USC, facemask, but it will always go on the try in NFHS.

Grey Hare

What if it is not a clear "breakaway" for the runner, but he has only one man to beat, and the IP takes place from the sideline? What do you do then? Just curious.

mcrowder

Pure judgement. Tough call. One man to beat as in a footrace? Probably a TD. One man to beat as in a single defender ahead of him or waiting for him? Tougher call.

Warrenkicker

I'll go with 5 yards past the last defender plus the 15 yards and the ejection. It sounds good to me in principle at least. The defender probably won't stop the runner on a dime so 5 yards sounds reasonable.

WaRef

Thanks, Texas Aggie for the history reminder. I have seen film of the famous Cotton Bowl tackle. I understand that at the time, Rule 9 did not specifically have the language authorizing the awarding of a TD, but that this play was the inspiration for adding it to the books.

William C

If it happens --you better make it 'hurt' that team --big time --or else --subs will be stepping off the sideline all night making game saving tackles.