Alf -
Review this play
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=JGogFxATeuo
I believe this type of excessive contact (he launches) has no place in and should be eliminated from NFHS play.
Amazingly, the NCAA agrees with me as it is now (as it was then - see the flag) illegal in NCAA play.
And of course you will need to disagree...
Actually KWH, you're half right. Considering your fixation with NCAA rules, which I no longer focus on, allow me to familiarize you with the current NFHS rule; 2-20-2 "Targeting is an act of taking aimand initiating contact to an opponent
above the shoulders with the helmet, forearm, hand, fist elbow or shoulders."
In looking at the contact in real time, it is clear the contact was in fact aimed, and involved either/both the blockers forearm and/or shoulder as the initial point of contact. However, it was
NOT CLEAR , at least to me, if that initial point of contact was actually above the shoulders.
Given that subsequent slow motion views from multiple angles seems to support my conclusion that the initial point of contact, either by forearm or shoulder appears to be initiated at the defender's upper chest area, as well as the proximity of the potential defender in pursuit to the runner, I would likely have refrained from considering this contact, although dramatic and severe, excessive or illegal.
To qualify as a genuine "Bang-Bang" type of call, which this play would certainly match, is that the action observed is extremely close to the dividing line separating legal from illegal, so I wouldn't quibble with a contrary conclusion. Hopefully the covering official, who made this call, was in the proper position to view the contact in it's entirety, was thorougly versed in the requirements of the rule governing the game he was officiating and reacted to specifically what he observed, and how what he saw related to that rule.
There is no, "see, I told you so" value to analysis of this particular play, other than the importance of being in the proper position to completely observe a contact unfold, and be keenly aware of the exact requirements of the rule you are about to consider.