Clarification on a block protocol rule

[bitcoinandroid]

On the protocol rules here https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Protocol_rules#.22block.22_messages

it states: "8. For the coinbase (first) transaction, scriptSig length must be 2-100"

But it looks like the coinbase transaction doesn't have any scriptSig param at all, for example:
http://blockexplorer.com/rawblock/000000000000073ab0ea030440998db75d5c74393c6a0875a37fc4f00f1539e8

What am I missing?

Thanks!

[1714116756]

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[theymos]

The coinbase field is the scriptSig field.

[bitcoinandroid]

Thanks theymos!  I thought that might be it.

As a follow up, on https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Transactions#Generation it says:

"The data in "coinbase" can be anything; it isn't used"  So why the check for between 2 and 100 characters?  Is this just to prevent too much data from being stuffed in there?  Just trying to understand the reason behind it.

Also, this block looks like it has a really long coinbase field (130 characters).  How was it allowed?
http://blockexplorer.com/rawblock/00000000000009e6e9b08e2ced87f48e08654d03bbd0027ef0f5d1da803522a3

Thanks I really appreciate the help!

[theymos]

Is this just to prevent too much data from being stuffed in there?

Yes.

Also, this block looks like it has a really long coinbase field (130 characters).  How was it allowed?

The restriction is 100 bytes. That's 65 bytes.

[gmaxwell]

Also, this block looks like it has a really long coinbase field (130 characters).  How was it allowed?
http://blockexplorer.com/rawblock/00000000000009e6e9b08e2ced87f48e08654d03bbd0027ef0f5d1da803522a3

That block has merged mining, and it's also signaling support for OP_EVAL. It's an eligius block.

[bitcoinandroid]

Ok great, thanks for the feedback guys!