Responding to sideline / bleacher chatter

[Canned Heat]

Originally Posted by Bullycon

Amazingly, I had more complaints last year than this year. I've had two plays where the runner was grabbed by the back collar, but not pulled down. Not a word. The one time a coach called for it, the defender clearly had him by the back of the jersey, not the collar of the jersey.

I had a boatload of those the first year it was implemented in the NFL, but had yet to be instilled in the NCAA or NFHS. One time a guy in the crowd (youth game, no less) was so extremely adamant, the coaches of the home team asked ME to settle him down. I reluctantly called time out and approached the sideline and stated to the gentleman that the horsecollar was a rule only in the NFL. I then mentioned that if he did not restrain himself any further, he would be removed from the venue. Got some ovation from the stands on the way back out to the field. This year, I've had at least 5 instances of coaches yelling for the HC and they weren't anything near an HC. All going down forward and one getting pulled forward from the name placket over onto his head. We did have a textbook one 2 weeks ago on a breakaway interception.