Boeingboy1
The -800 aft fuselage will contact the runway at a pitch angle of 11 degrees, with the main wheels still on the ground (flaps 5). Normal lift off attitude (flaps 5) is around 8.2 degrees and that gives a tail clearance of 20 inches.
Not too difficult to see how an over zealous rotate could cause a tail strike!
[This message has been edited by Cream Crackered (edited 17 April 2001).]