Half time warm up rule: 17 & 3 USC on Coach

[KWH]

With all due respect Ed I think YOU are missing the point.
The 2009 Rule Book now REQUIRES YOU to start the MANDATORY Warm-up Period immediatley upon completion of the of the scheduled half-time.
It does not state, nor does it suggest, that you have any obigation to wait for either team to arrive. It does state in writing that, by rule, you are REQUIRED to start the clock and flag the coach if his team is no out there. Why? It takes the burden off of you and "opens the door for the bright legal mind to seek some recompense for a failure" of a HEAD COACH to have his team on the field for the mandatory Warm-Up Period as he is required, by rule to do.
It is incumbent upon YOU to follow the rule book! Which by the way, last time I checked is what you are contracted to do.

As for the burgler on the porch scenario. Given a like situation, a suitable solution might just be to drag him in the house and shoot him again!