Facing backwards at the snap

[jTheUmp]

So a question came up last night during our postgame rehydration session... apparently this happened during a freshman game earlier in the week (Don't they always?):

Team A lines up in a "normal" scrimmage play formation, with a snapper (#50), 4 backs, 2 eligible ends, and 4 other players numbered 51-79 on the line of scrimmage; BUT the 4 other ineligible players are turned around backwards, facing Team A's goal line.

Legal or no?

[IAUMP]

Not legal. Rule 7-2-5a requires A to have 7 players on their line of scrimmage. Rule 2-32-9 states that a lineman is an A player who is facing the opponents goal line... Therefore, facing their own goal line, means they are not linemen and thus are not considered to be on the line of scrimmage. Penalty for illegal formation.

[jTheUmp]

But 7-2-5 requires there to be 7 "players" on the line of scrimmage, not 7 "linemen".

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by jTheUmp

But 7-2-5 requires there to be 7 "players" on the line of scrimmage, not 7 "linemen".

2-25-2:

ART. 2 . . . An offensive player is on his line of scrimmage when he complies with the position requirements of a lineman.

[bigjohn]

Guess he is a lineman!