The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-09

To him who applies methods of ac- counting to football the sport will fur nish numerous surprises. Figures send many impressions into the discard. For instance, scores with blocked kicks this fall have been so few and far between that not more than 9 instances of these feats are to be found throughout the land. On the other hand, scores with fumbles never were so abundant. This statement may seem surprising in the face of the marvellous band of backs that sparkle and flash on the country's gridirons this fall, but it is their very impetuosity that produces so mapy fumbles and the nimbleness of their opponents that converts them into touchdowns.
 And several of these scores with fum- bles have won games. The prominence of the tumble this fall has prompted football men to consider whether the penalty for tumble should not be mere ly the possession of the ball where re- covered without the allowance of any run or score. When football games were contests between teams chosen on the field without preparation or the attendance of great crowds and without any valuable or important sentiment at stake, the present custom in regard to a tumble. 100 years ago, originated.
 Loss Often Too Great
 Today the entire football establish ment of a great university labors for an entire year to produce a team and it's play. Such an enormous prepara- tion and consequential result ought not l to be disposed upon a tumble, an in- glorious fluke.
 But today the tumble is here as it was in 1924, so let us enjoy the ex- ploits of the players who have scored in this manner.
 Two players divide the honor of hav- ing made the longest scoring run with fumbIes. They are Lynn Bomar of Vanderbilt and Gale Pullman of West Virginia Wesleyan. Vanderbilt's bat tie was waged with the Quantico Ma rines. John Groves of the latter eleven, famous as a back at Maryland year ago, fumbled the ball on Vanderbilt's 10-yard line in the first period. Bomar bounced upon it, captured it and his fleet feet sped swiftly down the lone 94 yards for a touchdown. The Ma rines scored in the final quarter and thus the game ended with the score 2 to z.
 Run Wins Game
 Captain Gale Bullman's 94-yard run is doubly interesting because 1t won the game in which it occurred. The struggle was with formidable Syracuse. Syracuse had the ball on West Vir- ginia Wesleyan's 6-yard line. Syracuse set to send the mighty Mcbride across Al. T RIf came back from center and the ball was fumbled. Pullman from his position at end scooped up the ball and was off. It was a stirring race between John Me Bride and him, Mcbride being an Olym- pie champion, but Bullman beat Me Bride to the line and touched down. A moment later he kicked a goal for the extra point. Mcbride later kicked goal from the field and thus the bat tie closed, West Virginia Wesleyan, [, and Syracuse, 3.
 The roll of players who have scored this fall with captured fumbles, the length of their runs, team and oppon- ent follows-in those contests marked with an (x) the run won the game:
 94 Yards-Lynn Bomar, Vandervilt vs. Quantico Marines; 94 yards, Gale Pullman, West Virginia Wesleyan vs. Syracuse (x); 75 yards, William Beatty, Maryland vs. Washington; 70 yards, Donald Meekee, Kansas Agri- cultural college vs. Kansas CD; to wards, Augustus Strauss, Gallaudet vs. Rucknell; 60 yards, David Laux, George Washington vs Western Maryland; 65 yards, Russell Edwards, w. & J. vs. Wayneburg; so yards, Sheldon Daly, Juanita vs. George Washington @; so yards, Frank Harrington Bowdoin vs Wesleyan; 55 yards, John J. Ma hee Harvard vs. Boston university % yards. John F. Crowley. Holy Cross vs. Harvard; 50 yards. William H. Amer Virginia vs. Virginia Poly; 90 yards, George Wilson, Auburn vs. Tulane; 5O yards, Frederick H. Eitel, Lafayette vs. Bucknel; 45 yards, Henry s. Wakefield Vanderbilt vs. Auburn; 40 yards, Dan iel Bernoske, Indiana vs. Louisiana State; 40 yards, George V. Kenneally St. Bonaventure vs. Rutgers; 40 yards