It’s known to most NFL football fans as the “Roy Williams rule.”
The NFL’s official “horse-collar” tackle ban is nicknamed for the Dallas Cowboys’ safety and the league’s most frequent horse collar tackler.
The NFL defines the tackle as a player grabbing the inside collar, back or side of the shoulder pads to bring a player down from behind in the open field.
Now the often-controversial NFL horse-collar tackle ban could make its way to college football after the NCAA Football Rules Committee recently proposed the restriction.
The NFL implemented the ban in 2005 after horse-collar tackles caused several serious injuries. Experts say several factors contribute to horse-collar tackle injuries, such as the tackle’s angle and element of surprise. Perhaps the most famous incident was Williams’ horse-collar tackle of then-Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Terrell Owens, who suffered a fractured fibula.
During the 2004 season, Williams’ horse-collar tackles injured Owens and three other players: Tyrone Calico of the Tennessee Titans suffered a sprained knee, Jamal Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens suffered a sprained ankle and Musa Smith of the Ravens suffered a compound fracture of his right tibia.
Now, NFL officials can impose fines and 15-yard personal foul penalties for the banned tackle.
LSU senior wide receiver Demetrius Byrd said he fully supports the ban, although he has never been horse-collar tackled.
Byrd said his long dreadlocks make him even more susceptible to defensive players potentially grabbing him from behind.
“I pray to God I don’t get tackled like that,” he said. “That’s a vicious tackle. That hurts. Take [the horse collar tackle] out. Get it out of here.”
LSU coach Les Miles said he appreciates the NCAA’s effort to prevent injuries. But Miles said he has some concerns with officiating the rule.
“I don’t know how you legislate it,” he said. “It would be one of those things where I’d have a very difficult time understanding if I’m precluded from tackling a guy if I have just one spot to go for.”
Miles said he would have trouble teaching a player what to do if he has grabbed a shoulder pad.
“Do you tell him to disengage it?” Miles questioned. “Do you tell him to let [the offensive player] run? They’re going to have to explain that to me, and I will learn that.”
Senior linebacker Darry Beckwith said he has unintentionally committed several horse-collar tackles during his collegiate career.
“Luckily they didn’t get injured,” Beckwith said. “When you grab someone from behind, they usually fall back, which makes it dangerous. I hate to see people get injured in that kind of manner.”
Sophomore cornerback Jai Eugene said he has never horse-collar tackled a player but would be in favor of the rule.
“I’m a skinny, smaller guy,” Eugene said. “So I don’t really tackle guys high-up. I think the ban was mainly done because of Roy Williams and the way he tackles.”
Miles said he does not plan to work with defensive players to prevent horse-collar tackles unless the ban is officially implemented.
The NCAA did not specify when the ban could be passed. The potential rule now goes before the NCAA general membership for feedback.
—-Contact Amy Brittain at [email protected]