The Washington herald., 1908-01-06
MIKE THOMPSON TAKES REST
ChestertOWn Natives Miss Training
Stunts Of Premier Referee.
Georgetown Graduate Has Unique
for Duties on GFfdfrOn.

From the New YORK Times
Prof Mike Thompson, the Georgetown
graduate. has broken training. and all
Chestertown. Md, is resting. Its daily
occupation is gone, and it has returned
to its old pursuit-gathering at the sta
tion twice day TO see the train unload.
And Chestertown misses Nike sorely. for
since his rise 10 eminence in football cir
cles his daily training for his work has
been one Of its greatest pleasures.
Mike trains religiously. Besides study
ing rules and penalties, plays and posi-
bilities, he has other ideas Of the referee S
requirements. He must have. among
other things. a very accurate idea Of dis
tance, so that he can tell instantly
outside OF the center or whether a for
ward pass crosses the scrimmage line
within or without that prescribed limit
So Mike takes means to equip his eye foI
the quick judgment necessary.
Washington College field provides his
opportunity, and each afternoon Mike
goes out on it, Picking out a favorable
spot. he sizes it up. and then. stepping
quickly 10 the right or TO the left. he
PAGES of five yards aleTtly. Then ne
stops and measures the distance with his
eye. This done, he goes 10 another part
Of the field and repeats the process, while
the admiring tOwnsf0lk, who watch hin
eagerly, rush TO the first place with tape
and rule TO verify his calculation. Rarely
do they find il more than an inch al
result, they cheer each near shot with
gusto. Meantime. all unconscious Of the
fUror he excites, Prof Mike continues tc
mark of his five-yard PAGES. From every
geometric point in the Washington Col
lege field Prof Thompson can tell exactly
where the hve-yard circle ends.
This is not the only detail in which
Prof. Nike perfects himself. he is. per-
haps. the most skillfui follower Of the
ball refereeing on the gridiron. 1t is neces-
sary to often do a quick gymuastic stunt
TO get the mass of players on a bal
loose in the field. This requires agility
as wen as quickness, and a c0utortive
skill that is hard 10 acquire Prof
Th0mpsons form does not suggest the re-
maTkable agility he has developed, but II
possesses a wonderful adaptability. He
confines the training stunts TO perfect this
70 his private sanctum, refusing 10 reveal
their nature for fear Bill Edwards should
/ learn the secret.
His confreres jolly Mike about his
/ training stunts but seriously. il is this
painstaking that has made him the best
referee in the East There has been nc
official who has kept a game moving
quicker. caused less complaints among
the players, been more efficient and equi.
table in his rulings, OF made his mistakes
with better grace than Thompson. His
mistakes have been few and far between
and this is due to his careful preparation
| for games as we'll. Before each game ht
acquaints himself with the plays tha
each side viii use. and by his foreknowl
| edge can tell pretty nearly whether ol
not a rule has been broken in the per
! fOrmance. BY his constant warnings L
the players of both sides impartially ht
averSs many fouls that would otherwise
| be committed. and so prevents delays ol
! the game and the great unpieasantness
due to excessive penalties. All the play
ers who have worked with him have beer
! impressed with this quality. and have
| given him hearty cooperation on tn,
| field and approval off is