Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-17

Wv YORD has come direct from
VA f. X. Hall, chairman of the
NV foot ball rules committee,
that the new backward
pass rule applies to every
backward pass, except that which
puts the ball in play from center.
In other words, every pass from a
back to another back after the ball
has been taken from center by a
back, in the event of a tumble is re-
tanned by the side making the pass.
On all double passes behind the line
of scrimmage, the danger of tumble
being recovered by the other team
also has been eliminated.
Two sides of argument appear in
connection with this. One is that the
new rule is nothing more nor less
than a deliberate action in favor of
the big, strong elevens that ordinarily
should win all games with so-called
weaker but more alert combinations,
and that this simply eliminates one
of the possibilities of q fiuke. The
other side is that it is the end of
foot ball to eliminate f1ukes and have
the games won by the better teams.
Takes Away Thrills.
AS to the actual effect of the rule,
no doubt it will be called into play
many times and will result in teams
kNeping the ball after fumbles when
ordinarily they might have lost it.
This eliminates a part of one feature
of the game from which spectators
have got many thrills, that of having
tumble picked up and run for
touchdown or long gain by a de-
fensive eleven.
However. that is not entirely elm
mated, because the great majority of
fumhleS occur, not in the ordinary
handing of a ball to another back, as
on a double pass. but in the direct
passing from center, and on the part
of men carrying the bali when they
are roughly tackled. The first pass
from center and hard tackles prob
ably are responsible for IS per cent
of fumbles.
OF course, it is possible that the
men will not give as much attention
to clean handling of the ball as for
merly, but coaches are pretty sure to
point out to their squads that in
former years they practically always
recovered the ball themselves, that
actually all they ever lost by fumbles
was the distance the ball was fumbled
behind the line of scrimmage, that the
same distance will be lost under the
new rule, and. therefore, clean hand
ling of the ball is just as essential
now as in previous years.
Georgetown and Maryland wind up
their indoor track campaigns this
week end. And, furthermore, the
races in which their teams are to
take part mark the closing of the in
door athletic season. Georgetown has
a relay team up at New York today
for another race with Syracuse and
Holy Cross, with two or three indi-
viduals also entered, and will remain
over to come down to Philadelphia
Saturday for its race there, again with
Syracuse and Holy Cross,
Maryland does not compete in the |
knights of Columbus games tonight |
in New York. but is to be represented |
by its relay team in the Meadowbrook |
meet in Philadelphia Saturday.
John O'Reilly, Georgetown track |
coach, who is at New York with his
team, expects to beat Syracuse again
and feels his men can trim Holy
pete. Syracuse, though, is a different
proposition, any little slip the Blue
and Gray runners might make would
cost them the event.
Maryland Is to run in duel race
with Penn State. In the meet In
Baltimore three weeks ago Penn
State took the measure of the Mary
landers by a scant margin, in a race
In which only three or four yards |
separated the two teams at any time |
The Meadowbrook. people requested |
another race for their meet, and Mary |
land was only too glad of the oppor-
tunity to get a chance to turn the |
tables.
Following these races, it is likely |
that both Georgetown and Maryland