Evening star., 1948-09-03
Appeal 70 Heads
OF Loop Schools
.Urgedby Tatum
Ruling Against Grid
Stur Deemed Unfair
By President Byrd

\
Jim Tatum, University of Mary
lands football coach, is angry anc
disappointed today over the South.
ern Conference ruling that his prize
halfback, Lu Gambino, is ineligible
for play again. He wants to appeal
yesterdays decision of the confer.
ence's Executive Committee, but il
almost is certain that nothing can
be done to assure another playing
year for the star running halfback
who until his status was questioned
was considered a good America
prospect.
Gambino was declared ineligible
for further competition under the
three-year varsity rule yesterday at
the Executive Committees meeting
in Richmond. Maryland thought ii
it had good case because OF
Gambino's service in the armed
forces, but the committee ruled
otherwise. Lu played a freshman
year at Indiana University in 1941
and a varsity year there in 1912. He
also played varsity football the last
two seasons at Maryland.
Decision Unfair, Byrd Says.
Tatum plans to ask DR.. II. C.
Byrd, Maryland's president, to wire
presidents of the other Is members
of the conference in an appeal for
Gambino, but Dr. Byrd so far has
not said what he'll do. Such a
move on DR.. Byrd's part likely
would have little effect, as confer
ence rules state that the decisions
of it's executive committee on
eligibility matters shall be con-
sidered final
DR.. Byrd left town last night with
out announcing any further plans
ON the case, and is not expected back
until Tuesday.
DR.. Byrd said after hearing the
outcome of . the Gambino case
yesterday: LAS far as I'm con-
cerned, the decision is so unfair
that I do not care to discuss the
matter at this time"
Gambinos loss is a terrific blow
to the Maryland team. There are
many other good players on the
team, but Lu was the principal
offensive cog Of last years squad
that went to the Jacksonville Cater
Bowl. He scored 96 points during
the regular season, plus three
touchdoWns in the Gator Bowl.
Gambinos personal plans still are
iS no CT
of the Chicago Bears of the Ma
tional Football League and Of the
Cleveland Browns of the Al-Amer-
ica Conference and because of his
liability would have little difficulty
making a good deal for himself
with either club. He has stated re-
peatedly, however, that he would
rather stick at Maryland this year
and get his degree than play pre-
| football.
He hasn't made up his mind. but
said his future plans will be guided
by what Tatum tells him. He
worked out with the team this
morning as though nothing hao
happened, in the hope that some
appeal can be made and that he
yet may be able to play.
Tatum said that If Gambino does
not play, he can have a job around
the school somewhere, probably as
an assistant freshman coach. The
players athletic scholarship still
is good and definitely will not
be taken up now that it appears he
will not play this year, Tatum said
Technically Bars Lu.
Maryland had based its claims on
Gambinos eligibility on those sec
tions of the rules which state that
they do not apply to servicemen
players. Gambino was in the Army
Enlisted Reserve Corps during his
second season at Indiana, but he was
not stationed there by the Army
Had he been stationed there as were
Navy VIZ and VS. students, there
would be no question about his eligi-
bility. There are number of
players in the conference, including
at least one at Maryland, who are
playing their fourth or fifth season
of varsity ball, having played while
Navy students at conference or other
schools.
Attending yesterdays meeting at
Richmond were Col. William Couper
the conference president, and Col
Geary Eppley of Maryland, Max
harrington of George Washington
Col. D. S. McAllister of The Citadel
and DR.. H. A. Fisher of North Caro-
lima, other members of the Execu-
tive Committee.
The committee said in a formal
statement that it had given SYM
pathic consideration to Marylands IS
appeal and that "the facts are not
i'll dispute.
Having completed three years of
valsity competition in intercollegi-
ate football, after his freshman
year (Gambino) is no longer eligible
10 compete in intercollegiate foot
ball at a Southern Conference in
stitution."
Just who will take Gambinos
place on the Maryland team is un-
decided. Tatum said there isn't any
one player who can match LUIS
ability. Il doubt if there're 10
players in the country who can
run to the left as we'll as he can. u
Tatum had big plans for Lu this
year and was going to use him ex-
tensively on defense in addition to
offense, where he played mostly last
year.
Likely candidates for the right
nalfback post, which Lu filled al