Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-10-24
By J. W. Heisnan.

TN recent football game between
Tech and another Southern col
lege team the fullback of the x
team endeavored to punt. A Tech
man broke through and blocked the
punt and it rolled back toward the y
teams goal line with Means, of the
Tech team, and the opposition full
back in hot pursuit. Means was well
in the lead and would, in all prob
ability, have secured possession Of
the ball had not the x fullback caught
hold of Eds jersey at the back OF
the neck and yanked him forcibly
away from the ball, after which he
secured the ball himself. The officials
of the game saw the play and agreed
that what had happened was exactly
what I have related. but they let the
play go on, allowing the X team to
retain possession of the ball for first
down-thus Tech profited absolutely
nothing by her merltorious play Of
breaking through and blocking the
punt.
No kick was registered on the de-
cision at the time by the Tech captain
after it was explained that the OFF,
Gals construed it as a free ball. in
which case. they said players from
both sides would have the right to
use their hands and arms against OPP
ponents to get them out of the way 81
that they themselves might get at the
ball. At the time | was sure this de-
cision was incorrect but for the life
of me | could not recall just what
rule or what words in the rules would
prove the correctness of my view. j..
But on looking the matter up ind
the case covered by Rule XVIII IN the
note near the top of page lzZ. Inls
note states that If the rule about the
illegal use Of hands (stated just De-
fore the npte) is violated when nell
Their side is in possession Of the Dali,
the hall shall go to the offended side
on the spot of the foul Thus IL
should have been awarded to Tech on
the spot.
However, the officials would PROB
ah,v have claimed that this being d
free ball, both players had the right
to use their hands in a manner they
would ordinarily be restrained from
Rut I must submit, there is nothing
in the rule book to substantiate this
idea. and the old notion of one being
able to do most any old thing in the
case of a "free BALI Is nowhere borne
out in the rules.
THE only time and case possible is
i either after tumble or when
nlavers are going down field under a
punt and are trying to get at the ball
or the man running with the ball. But
in the first place this was not the
case of a tumble, and While 1t was
the case of a punt, yet the player
using his hands was not lineman
going down the field after 1t, but was
the Dlinter himself. 1t may seem to
some that this distinction has no
point but refer Tie reader to section
. of the same rule. which says that
Of the side in possession of the ball
(the X team kicks. players of said
side WHO HAVE CROSSED THE
LINE OF SCRIMMAGE may use their
hands and arms" Now, this punting
fullback had not crossed the line OF
scrimmaee. and hence he could not
claim the privilege.
Again, that same section goes on to
saw that they may use their hands
and arms to PUSH opponents out OF
the way TO get at the ball but II
does not say that they can PULL OPP
ponents out OF the way. YET the lat
er was exactly what the X fullback
had admittedly done to Means.
This difference in use of hands be-
tween a man who has crossed the
scrimmage line and one who has not
crossed it. and the difference between
pushing and pulling in such a case
are two distinctions in the game that
|. for one. never before thought of or
heard of; and | venture to say not one
football man in hundred has ever
| had the matter presented to his at