Horse Collar

[Chiefump]

Does the player have to be pulled to the ground for it to be called a Horse Collar tackle?  The rule just says pulled down, it does not state pulled to the ground.  I have been told that if the player is grabbed inside the shoulder pads and is pulled backward causing his knees to buckle, but then somehow he regains his balance and escapes it still should be flagged.

[El Macman]

Does the player have to be pulled to the ground for it to be called a Horse Collar tackle?  The rule just says pulled down, it does not state pulled to the ground.  I have been told that if the player is grabbed inside the shoulder pads and is pulled backward causing his knees to buckle, but then somehow he regains his balance and escapes it still should be flagged.

The only one that can answer that conclusively is RR, and he hasn't weighed in on that yet. Coordinator A can say to call it, but that doesn't make it the way the Committee wants it.

[TxSkyBolt]

Well, it is called a horse collar "tackle" and even though "tackle" is found no where in the definitions, we can all agree on what a tackle is.  I believe when the horse collar rule uses the word "down" it is not indicating a direction, but rather causing the ball carrier to be "down."

[kerryman71]

This may help, or just really screw things up.  This is taken from the 2012 Redding Study Guide (NCAA Rules).

Example 6-2: A34 runs runs around the right end for a five yard gain.  B45 then grabs A34 by the back collar of the shoulder pads.  B45 then pulls A34 to the ground a) before A34 can take any additional steps, or b) after A34 takes two steps.  Ruling: In (a) the horse collar tackle is a personal foul because A34 was pulled to the ground immediately after his collar was grabbed.  In (b) the tackle is legal as the pulldown was not immediate.

One more thing to keep in mind is the ball carrier's positioning in regards to the tackle box.  My thinking in regards to the OP is no flag.

John

[Etref]

Does the player have to be pulled to the ground for it to be called a Horse Collar tackle?  The rule just says pulled down, it does not state pulled to the ground.  I have been told that if the player is grabbed inside the shoulder pads and is pulled backward causing his knees to buckle, but then somehow he regains his balance and escapes it still should be flagged.

Think of it this way, it the defender pulls the face mask but the offensive player manages to shake him loose and keep going, are you going to flag it?