First lawn darts, now the fumblerooski.

Following in the footsteps of the NFL and NCAA, the football rules committee of the National Federation of State High School Associations has apparently banned the fumblerooski, where the quarterback intentionally puts the ball on the ground and a lineman (usually a guard) picks it up and runs with it.

Not much mention of it on their website, but I have a feeling it was a modification to rule 7-2-8, which they removed some option to use a "planned loose ball." Sadly, their rule book is only available to members, so I can't confirm this (and no one seems to have posted a copy online, so much for piracy).

The official interviewed on this said removing the fumblerooski would eliminate "confusion" when officials have to rule on the legality of the play. While it's not a common weapon, I don't know how much "confusion" it really creates. The QB puts down the ball. Another player picks it up. That player tries to advance the ball. If that's confusing, wouldn't that make all fumble recoveries confusing? (OK, in a way they all are given the bodies that tend to fly around, but I don't see how the fumblerooski is more confusing).

I'm not sure where legalizing the fumblerooski will be on my platform for public office, but it'll be there.