The San Francisco call., 1896-08-29
ATHLETICS.
The Captain of the Olympic Club
on the New Football Team.

The Captain of the Olympic Club
on the New Football Team.
Leonard Gill, the present captain of the
Olympic Club athletes, who will retire
with the old board in September, sends
the following letter to THE CALL. which
should interest the officers of the new
board, and especially the football team.
Gill says:
Ii the coming board of directors of the
Olympic Club will give the football team
proper support this fall the Olympic Club will
have by far the best team in its history. The
main fault last season was that the formation
OF team was left to such q late period in the
season that the team did not have the neces-
sary time to properly organize and condition
itself. This year both OF these drawbacks have
been overcome, and at the present time suf-
icient work has been accomplished to insure
a frst-class eleven, and all that is needed to
put first-class team in the field is substantial
support from the incoming board of directors.
Percy Morse, an old football player and
star at that, will be the clubs new cap tain, and
as he is an enthusiast on the game, the team
will no doubt be given due recognition.
At q recent meeting "Pete' Smith was again
elected captain of the team and the selection
was undoubtedly good one. He is hard
worker. plays the game for the love of it and
has not a. superior in his position as guard.
Pete weighs over 200 pounds in his football
clothes and was protege of Heffelfnger's.
1t is not exactly known at the present time
who the club has to draw from for the other
guard; possibly Plunkett might be induced to
I'LL this position on the team ana should he
not play with Berkeley this season in all prob
ability he will play with the Olympics
M1ddlemass and new aspirant by the name
OF Mason will also try for guard. Mason has
had experience on minor elevens, and as he
strips at 100 pounds and is willing to learn he
will no doubt be great acquisition. Frank
Kington will be again found at his old position
at center Klngton is bigger than ever, as well
as stronger. He has been putting in his spare
moments OF late boxing with Choynski,
Buskirk until he has become already in excel
lent condition.
Billy Sexton will again be found at tackle,
and from present indications Douglass, one OF
last years Varsity Berke ley tackles will play
the other tackle. Virgil Nahl and McIsaacs
last years st. Mary's player, are probably tn
strongest ends the team has this early in the
season, but we may possibly be able to induce
Abe Lewis to join the team, in which event the
team Will be particularly strong at end.
Tommy Cooley will play quarter, and with his
four years experience with Stanford he will
strengthen the team in more ways than one,
and should prove a great assistant to its
captain.
Morse, Fred McNear Fred ButZ, Stow and Roy
Weldon as backs. Weldon as punter has not
superior on this coast. His kicks have al
ways been sure and accurate and he will
greatly strengthen the team. The Olympics
have always been handicapped by not having
tullbaek that was first-class kicker, but this
year this will all be obviated by the presence
OF Weldon back of the line.
Last season the team had training quarters;
house was furnished them, and the men
were supplied with three meals per day.
This was expensive and the results were not
altogether satisfactory. This season it is pro-
posed to simply furnish the men one meaIper
day-dinner-and do away with the house and
the breakfast and the lunch. The men can
then go to their peaceful homes and enjoy
good nights rest. The noise, the trouble and
clothes that were stolen last season at the
Olympic training quarters kept the manage
ment in hot water continually.
see by the papers that the Reliance team
cost its club $4,000 last season, which ls by the
way, rather expensive. The Olympics cost
their club something in the neighborhood of
$500, counting their trip to Butte and Incl