The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-11-09

Severe Practice and Discipline Which the
Members Of the Teams Undergo.


Severe Practice and Discipline which the
Members Of the Teams Undergo.
J. II sears in Harper's Weekly.
On entering college young man finds
that the football practice OF the first TWO
months 10 considered moro popular than
dissipation. That period between October
and Christmas 10 o critical one for him.
aud if he joins the training squad. he re-
ceives en- impetus IN the right direction
that il enough 10 keep him temperate IN
his habits through his entire course.
Probably be has not the benefit or pleas
ure of any ones acquaintance. but be
knows that he is wanted. with oil others,
OF the football team. and notice 10 that
effect posted on the college trees. possibly
seconded by his longing To be one of the
"try."
On the field men are beginning at
the beginning. -Four or five hundred
students are watching a hundred
lessons. and the new candidate
10 at once set to work failing on the baiP'
with tho rect. Ii is nothing moro diftcuit
than tn drop on rolling ball OF leather;
but TO the neophyte. and M awkward one
at that, the Jumping into the air and land
ing on ones head In the grass before several
hundred men Is anything but easy. 1t Is
an even chance that he Will miss the play
and sprawl ungracefuily on the turf. much
TO the amusement of the spectators, while
the ball rolls calmly on lts way.
Some men give il M at this stage OF the
game. They don't propose TO come TO col
leRe to amuso o peck of idiots" but our
friend scrambles after the ball throws of
other men trying Tor IT, and eventually
secures possession of IL; and probably
within o minute or two the captain of the
team asks him his name and. having
pointed out where the mistake was made.
tells him that that is the right spirit and
he must try it again.
From that time on until the end of No
vember il is series of hard-fought battles
with him. Never quite sure whether he is
on the team. he is always striving to do
better. He practices incessantly, and when
be Is not On the field IL is no uncommon
thing to lind him in his room rushing at the
wall with ball under one arm and the
other arm stretched ont before hinl tor If
he can hit the vail with his ontstretched
palm and bound away without bending
the arm. he can. 80 he wisely argues main
tain the ''strai ghtarm" against an adversary
on the field. Many time has the care
worn face of the landlady appeared in the
doorway to know what Oh earth was the
matter" and on being told that it was only
football practice, has gone away muttor-
ing that that game would be tho death Of
her. If II wasn't OF her b0usew
AT the end of q week the daily games be-
gin, and If the poor fellow was green at
the first principles he finds much more TO
learn now. An old hand instipctiyels
the beginner In sure 10 scrape off part of
his cheek. or bend all the fingers of his
hand the wrong way IN trying 10 stop his
fall; and, though his appearance from q
sporting point OF view Is no doubt much
enhanced thereby. his own mother would
scarcely know him afterwards From such
beginnings these it is that the
epithet OF brutal has grown around tie fair
name of Rugby football. This is largely
due TO the stirring reports In the news
papers OF pugilistic games, but even at Its
blacklist the game 10 not SO hard to fight as
many another that the boy will have to
encounter. How many wise parents there
able to bring up their children, To be
worthy men by defending them from all
KINDS OF scratches and dangers of scratches.
With these first bruises, and the stiffness
that always comes at the beginning OF the
season. the new boy gets mis- baptism of
ire. which teaches him manly self-respect
for his own good qualities, and apprecis-
ton OF similar traits in the character Of
others. tie learns to watch Tor himself. to
be on his own guard TO use his head quick
ly In suddenly presented situations. To
be sure he has hard time
each afternoon with his. stiffness
and his aches; it is disagreeable
days mud; it is uncomfortable to 90 out in
the rain and dive into q puddle OF water TO
secure tho ball 1ioatlng on its surface. but
in fcw minutes his blood is racing
through his veins and with the stirring
thought OF stiffness, oil fastidiousDess. is
soon gone, and the determination not to
muff this bali, not to let that man by.
brings ont as fine q spirit 8 Won can find
In mankind. end bruises. and wet clothes,
and mud are nothiEe compared with this.
But the GROWING JOY of our young
trends career up TO this time 10 when the
captain comes to him some fine day. and
bids hin make arrangements to leave his
clearinghouse. and join himself and the
older men at the training table. That
means place on the team, if all goes WELL
or. at the very least, a place among the
substituted. and IL means all the work.
and all the honor and all the joy that at
taches to O membership of the varsity
eleven.
This training table, arrangement is
very serious matter. 1t means. in the iirss
place. that each night after the days prac-
tice. and the bath that follows, he is to be
examined by the doctor Of the team to see
II he Is hurt IN any way, or If he has drawn
too heavily on his strength and needs GER
tain kinds of food and drink. Ii means
also that he becomes machine, as far as
his daily habits are concerned, which, by
the way. is probably rather shock.
If he is made of the same
stuff as the average college man. The
twenty or more candidates, of whom be
has now become one, are required to rise
at u certain hour. and meet at in the
morning. They take q short walk In tho
bracing air before breakfast. and end up at
the training table. where tho cloth is spread
with simple food. cooked as well as the
authorities that be can have 1t cooked.
Anything that stimulates falsely is
omitted. Anything that is likely
| TO injure the digestion is, for
| . similar reason. omitted; and, therefore
there il no fried food. no pastry. no coffee,
nor anything of such nature. But the
popular idea. on the other hand, that the
| men are fed on meat that ie almost raw in
| order TO make them ferocious il absurd.
| Anything that is substantial and that il
honest TODD can be had. And as each man
has probably been accustomed 10 differ
| ept diet. he Is naturally allowed to have
| what he wants within the bounds men.
toned. Finally. the men are supposed TO
| be In bed at 10 O'Clock.