Evening journal., 1915-02-27
TOUCHDOWNS FROM
KICK-OFFS SCARCE
1914 Rules Bring Surprises
TO Light Only 20 In
stances in Forty
Years
MUST PLUNGE
INTO THE LINE

An interesting sidelight Of the re-
cent meeting of the Football Rules
Committee vas the informal discus
sion of the unusual features Of the
1914 playing season. Park Davis
contributed one of his statistical rec
ords which showed that there were
more touchdoWns from runbacks of
the kickoff last autumn than in many
seasons combined. In 10 department
of football is it so difficult 10 score
as in this play.
In the forty years of intercollegiate
football. 1874 TO 1914, this feat. prior
to last fall. occurred but twenty six
times. Davis proved that the collect
ed data of the country presented six
teen instances of these runs in 1914
more than half as many as charac-
terized the preceding forty years OF
play.
theoretically The run-back OF a
kickoff to touchdown should be
impossible. The play is not sur
prise like a run from scrimmage
which can be mixed with several diff
ferent plays. kicks. forward passes
and the large class of fake plays. II
is not unexpected by opponents since
upon the kickoff there can be bui
two plays, a run-back or n return OF
the kick. Again. the defensive team
prior to the kickoff. carefully places
its eleven players all over the field
to prevent the run back.
An examination of these successful
run-backs disclOses that with one cX.
ception they have been accomplished
by dash straight into the thickes
of the opposing front. Runners who
try TO skirt the hanks usually arc
forced out of bounds or eventual,
thrown by tackles. When the run
back is directed straight up the cen
Ter of the field, the two teams usuall,
meet in a compact mass about th'
runner close to the 30-yard line.
sometimes happens that in the tight
tangled mass OF men, no one car
seize the runner. who thus is force'
through the mass into an open felt
beyond where he faces but two o
three back field defenders whom IN
inuoA OuACUlAAl VI OMA-uOu6N OA III
way to a touchdown--a feat that ha
occurred. counting in the 1914 in
stances, just AZ times in thousand
of attempts.
Another feature OF the 1914 srisr o
runs of this character is the appear
ance for the first time OF a player VIII
has accomplished the run more hal
once, and who has done SO, as sec
ond distinction. in one season. 'ghi
player is J. p. Gallagher of Christial
Brothers College of st. Louis.
Tho players who accomplished tn
feat i'm 1914 together with length o
the run and the game in which it wa
made, as recorded by Mr.. Davis, ar
as follows:
95 yards: H. n. Benfer, (Albrigh
VS.. SusquehaDna; b. f. Chamberlain
(Nebraska) VS.. Mich. Ag. Col; j.
Gallagher. christian Bros.) st. Loui
VS.. Ohio Northern :R. L. Tolley fSe
wanee) VS.. Cumberland; W. S. Tuck
er (Pennsylvania) VS.. Swarthmore
A. L. Williams. (CornelD VS.. HOl
Cross, 80 yards: c. A. Toolan, (Wil
liams) VS.. Trinity, 80 yards: r. v
Winston, North Carolina) VS.. Va
Mil. Inst. George Clark. Qllincis
VS.. Chicago; ]. f. Lowney. Colby
VS.. Bates, So yards; J. p. Gallaghe
(Christian Brothers. VS.. Transy
vania; Braham. (Middlebury) vs.. 5
Lawrence; S. S. Robinson. (Colgate
VS.. Ohio Wesleyan, so yards; A. /
Bergman, (Notre Damel VS.. Ros
Poly; A. Virgins (Ellsworthl v
Charles City College, 20 yards;
A Barker, (virginia) VS.. Randolph
Macon.