Coaches Agree: No More Fooling Around

What in the name of Vince Lombardi is this fumblerooski stuff?

Bill Redell of St. Francis High and Kevin Rooney of Notre Dame are successful and respected longtime area football coaches who will meet in tonight’s Mission League opener at St. Francis.

Yet both professors of the X’s and O’s must attribute part of their success this season to a wacky, no-brainer of a play in which an unsuspecting lineman picks up an intentional fumble and runs for a touchdown.

The so-called fumblerooski, banned in the college and professional ranks, has accounted for touchdowns for St. Francis against Alemany and Pasadena. Last week, Notre Dame lineman Ryan Karapetian ran 39 yards for a score in a 16-14 victory over St. Paul.

Redell has run the fumblerooski with success the past few years, including a touchdown against Notre Dame two years ago.

Redell, however, said he isn’t counting on fooling anyone tonight with the play.

Or on being fooled.

“I’ll promise not to use it if Kevin promises not to use it,” Redell said.

It’s rare for the more conservative Rooney to call for a bit of razzle-dazzle. Rooney said he began running the fumblerooski in practice as a method of educating his defense for St. Francis.

“I’ll take that deal,” Rooney said of Redell’s offer. “They run it a lot better than we do.”

Backfire-ooski: Loyola High won’t soon forget the fumblerooski that failed last week against Hart. The Cubs, who were ranked No. 3 in the state before falling, 24-10, tried the trick play on a fake punt. Hart was prepared. Three defensive linemen jumped on running back John Hilvert as he tried to pick up the ball and run with it.

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The Fumblerooski: The quarterback takes the snap and lays the ball on the ground between the center’s legs and then carries out a fake handoff or pitchout to the tailback. The center and right guard (gray oval) hesitate after the snap until left defensive end penetrates past three yards. Right guard then turns, picks up the ball and runs.