Drag an opponent to make him touch the ball after punt

[Farooq]

Good day, gentlemen
Could you, please, clarify this episode from latest NCAA game between USC and Arizona.
There is a punt executed. Ball landed on 32 of Arizona and started bouncing. After that kicking team players dragged and pushed returner of Arizona to make him touch a loose bouncing ball. Obviously in attempt to retain possession for USC.
How to officiate it if kicking team succeeded?

https://twitter.com/galegacyhoops/status/1710868209866252370  Video of the play

[Kalle]

I'd probably call holding (a PF sounds excessive but would support that) on the kicking team just to discourage this, but anyway, see rule 2-11-4-c, the touching would be ignored.

[ElvisLives]

This is covered in Shaw’s newest video review. Yes, holding should have been called. And any contact with the ball by the B player being dragged would be “forced touching” and ignored.
Who would teach this crap?

[Farooq]

They threw no flag for holding though. That made me guessing so much.
Thanks for a "forced touching" tip

[TxBJ]

I would have UNR.  Could have easily hurt the player.

[Kalle]

They threw no flag for holding though. That made me guessing so much.

This is a weird situation and I hope that the officials were not downgraded for not throwing the flag. Good to have guidance from Shaw for this, hopefully coaches stop teaching this nonsense.

[bossman72]

I would have UNR.  Could have easily hurt the player.

That's a stretch.  Holding is even a stretch.  No way it's a UNR, IMO.

[ElvisLives]

That's a stretch.  Holding is even a stretch.  No way it's a UNR, IMO.

How is holding a stretch? Have you seen the video?
Defensive players are allowed to use their hands to push, pull, lift, or ward off opponents WHO ARE ATTEMPTING TO BLOCK THEM, or when ATTEMPTING TO REACH THE BALL CARRIER, and they may use their hands and arms to ward off or block opponents IN AN ATTEMPT TO REACH A LOOSE BALL. Otherwise, defensive players must comply with the same rules as offensive players. Whether you consider kicking team players as offensive players or defensive players, there is no allowance for FOUR kicking team players to encircle a receiving team player with their arms, grasp that opponent with their hands, and drag that opponent toward the ball, loose from an untouched legal scrimmage kick, in an attempt to have that player touch the ball.
The only stretch there is the receiving team player’s clothing, being pulled by the kicking team players that have grabbed him, and are dragging him.

[MAFBRef]

Exactly!!!

[refjeff]

....

[bossman72]

How is holding a stretch? Have you seen the video?
Defensive players are allowed to use their hands to push, pull, lift, or ward off opponents WHO ARE ATTEMPTING TO BLOCK THEM, or when ATTEMPTING TO REACH THE BALL CARRIER, and they may use their hands and arms to ward off or block opponents IN AN ATTEMPT TO REACH A LOOSE BALL. Otherwise, defensive players must comply with the same rules as offensive players. Whether you consider kicking team players as offensive players or defensive players, there is no allowance for FOUR kicking team players to encircle a receiving team player with their arms, grasp that opponent with their hands, and drag that opponent toward the ball, loose from an untouched legal scrimmage kick, in an attempt to have that player touch the ball.
The only stretch there is the receiving team player’s clothing, being pulled by the kicking team players that have grabbed him, and are dragging him.

If you feel like calling holding, go for it.  We have the forced touching rule, so what advantage are they gaining?  Zero.

UNR is definitely too much.  I didn't see anything that rises to the level of a UNR foul in that clip.

[dammitbobby]

If you feel like calling holding, go for it.  We have the forced touching rule, so what advantage are they gaining?  Zero.

UNR is definitely too much.  I didn't see anything that rises to the level of a UNR foul in that clip.

They're getting an advantage by restraining B from picking up the ball and advancing it, without a whole host of A players already hanging onto him to pull him down immediately.

[bossman72]

They're getting an advantage by restraining B from picking up the ball and advancing it, without a whole host of A players already hanging onto him to pull him down immediately.

He wasn't trying to do that in the play.  He was trying to get away and not advance it.

[dammitbobby]

right - but they still took the opportunity for that away.  We've all seen returners let the ball go only to zip in at the last second, recover the ball, and try to make a break for it. 

[Snapper]

If you feel like calling holding, go for it.  We have the forced touching rule, so what advantage are they gaining?  Zero.

UNR is definitely too much.  I didn't see anything that rises to the level of a UNR foul in that clip.

That play is essentially over, and then 3 players grab him and try to drag him somewhere.  That's definitely going to create ill will.

At a minimum, we need to tell them to KTSO.  But I think a hold is more than justified here.  This nonsense has no place in football.

[ump_ben]

If you feel like calling holding, go for it.  We have the forced touching rule, so what advantage are they gaining?  Zero.

Wouldn't the advantage be that the ball would move down the field?  We disregard forced touching but we don't turn it into first touching.  If you legally block an opponent into the ball, and as a result the ball moves toward your end of the field, and then you touch it, they get it where you touched it, no?

[KWH]

This is covered in Shaw’s newest video review. Yes, holding should have been called. And any contact with the ball by the B player being dragged would be “forced touching” and ignored.
Who would teach this crap?

Big Ten teams like USC teach this crap!

[ElvisLives]

Big Ten teams like USC teach this crap!

Well, the good news is that the rules, and Shaw’s video review/comments, both tell us this is illegal. So, we should not have a problem stopping this crap.