Pulling the pile?

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

Am I the only one here who sees this? Think what "pulling" entails, and if on offense you're pulling anything, it's got to be illegal use of hands. That hasn't been a 15 yard penalty for decades, but it's either:

• assisting the ballcarrier by pulling him,
• locking arms with a teammate in blocking, or
• holding an opponent.

Can anyone else explain how any form of "pulling the pile" where a teammate in the pile has the ball could be legal other than in Rugby Union?

Sure. You left out[*]pulling the jersey of a teammate (which would be completely legal).

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Sure. You left out[*]pulling the jersey of a teammate (which would be completely legal).

You mean the standard for illegal use of hands on opponents and teammates is different? Is not grasping the clothes grasping the person wearing them?

[jTheUmp]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

You mean the standard for illegal use of hands on opponents and teammates is different? Is not grasping the clothes grasping the person wearing them?

Yep, that's exactly what he means.

See Rule 9-2

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by jTheUmp

Yep, that's exactly what he means.

See Rule 9-2

So I'm being naive to assume that the word "grasp" as used in different portions of that rule had the same meaning as applied to teammates and opponents?

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

You mean the standard for illegal use of hands on opponents and teammates is different? Is not grasping the clothes grasping the person wearing them?

Um ... are you serious? Who's being punked here? Thank god you own no stripes.

[ajmc]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Sure. You left out[*]pulling the jersey of a teammate (which would be completely legal).

Are you actually suggesting that pulling the jersey of a teammate, in possession of a live ball, forward would not violate 9-1-1, "An offensive player shall not push, pull or lift the runner to assist his forward progress"?

[HLin NC]

I'm still trying to wrap my brain around pulling an entire pile without the aid of some netting and mechanized equipment.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by HLin NC

I'm still trying to wrap my brain around pulling an entire pile without the aid of some netting and mechanized equipment.

Are you serious? The head bone's connected to the neck bone, etc.

[Suudy]

And the Pac-10 officials didn't have the stones to call the Bush Push:

USC Steals One At South Bend! (2005) - YouTube

Indeed, I've yet to see it called at the college level. If they won't call it when it is that clear and blatant, why would they call it on a pile?

[bigjohn]

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...eat=directlink

Maybe even a pull.

[bigjohn]

In Ohio it doesn't get called when it is blatantly the back running up and pushing the QB forward on a short yardage play. Most guys coach the backs to do that knowing it won't get called.
I know no one is going to call it if there is a scrum of any kind.

[CT1]

Rogers Redding's latest NCAA Bulletin addresses this issue:

In trying to gain yardage, ball carrier A44 is slowed by defensive players attempting to make the tackle. Back A22 (a) puts his hands on the buttocks of A44 and pushes him forward; (b) pushes the pile of teammates who begin to surround A44; (c) grabs the arm of A44 and tries to pull him forward for more yardage.
RULING: (a) and (c) Foul for assisting the runner. 5-yard penalty with three-and-one enforcement. (b) Legal play. It is not clear that A22 is directly assisting A44. (9-3-2-b)

[bigjohn]

Well I think we have established that Redding guide means nothing for NFHS.



Legal Snap?

[PocketSidewalk]

Originally Posted by HLin NC

I'm still trying to wrap my brain around pulling an entire pile without the aid of some netting and mechanized equipment.

+1

This was exactly the kind of thing that popped into my mind when I first read the OP.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by ajmc

Are you actually suggesting that pulling the jersey of a teammate, in possession of a live ball, forward would not violate 9-1-1, "An offensive player shall not push, pull or lift the runner to assist his forward progress"?

The OP said the player was pulling THE PILE. I assumed this meant "not the runner". The rule you describe makes it illegal to pull the teammate IN POSSESSION OF A LIVE BALL... but not just some random player in the pile.