What would you have?

[NVFOA_Ump]

Dead ball time after a play is clearly over, RB A23 who has just been tackled by B99, gets up abruptly and without warning throws a punch at the head area of B99, striking him with a closed fist in the neck area. B99 does not retaliate and simply walks away.   What are you calling?

[ElvisLives]

Dead ball time after a play is clearly over, RB A23 who has just been tackled by B99, gets up abruptly and without warning throws a punch at the head area of B99, striking him with a closed fist in the neck area. B99 does not retaliate and simply walks away.   What are you calling?

Knowing fully well that B99 probably said or did something that I didn't hear or see to cause this action by A23, I can only call what I did see, and I saw A23 strike B99 with his fist. Dead-ball, personal foul, 15-yard penalty with a first down, and B99 is ejected.

[lawdog]

What is to question here?  You saw a guy throw a punch.  That's 15 yards and an ejection.  Pretty simple.  Am I missing something here?

[NVFOA_Ump]

What is to question here?  You saw a guy throw a punch.  That's 15 yards and an ejection.  Pretty simple.  Am I missing something here?

Have noted that on 2 different NFHS discussion boards there has been posts stating that several states are instructing officials that this is a PF since fighting shall be interpreted in their states to require 2 or more participants.  That obviously is not in keeping with the plain language of the definition and the rules and IMHO a flagrant deviation from what the NFHS wants called here.  I was just trying to get an idea as to how many states are potentially ignoring the clear written rule here?

[SCHSref]

Have noted that on 2 different NFHS discussion boards there has been posts stating that several states are instructing officials that this is a PF since fighting shall be interpreted in their states to require 2 or more participants.  That obviously is not in keeping with the plain language of the definition and the rules and IMHO a flagrant deviation from what the NFHS wants called here.  I was just trying to get an idea as to how many states are potentially ignoring the clear written rule here?

It is a PF. Fighting is a PF but also carries an ejection. I saw that discussion and it was pointless. If someone wants to say that is targeting, sure...technically it is but throwing a punch is an ejection and 15 yards.  No where does it say someone has to fight back.

SECTION 11 FIGHTING
Fighting is any attempt by a player or nonplayer to strike or engage a player or nonplayer in a combative
manner unrelated to football. Such acts include, but are not -limited to, attempts to strike an opponent(s) with
the arm(s), hand(s), leg(s) or foot (feet), whether or not there is contact.

[JasonTX]

Have noted that on 2 different NFHS discussion boards there has been posts stating that several states are instructing officials that this is a PF since fighting shall be interpreted in their states to require 2 or more participants.  That obviously is not in keeping with the plain language of the definition and the rules and IMHO a flagrant deviation from what the NFHS wants called here.  I was just trying to get an idea as to how many states are potentially ignoring the clear written rule here?

Maybe some bleed over from college officials?  In a college game we would not label it as fighting, but instead striking, but still can be flagrant with an ejection.  For some reason when you put fighting on a foul report, it triggers all sorts of things that they want to reserve for a ole country bar fight, and not just simply one kid striking someone.