Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-25

goes into the territory or rival INSTITUTE
tions. there to match their prowess On
such trips the coaches, the trainer and
the manager all have their hands full
looking first after the comfort of the
men and afterward in enforcing the strict
rules of training.
The Dreaded "Slump."
The hard. rigid training to which the
men are subjected and the strain at
tendant upon the many games. almost
invariably produces at some period of the
season a falling off in condition and abil-
ity which the coaches term slump.
This comes to all teams-and the coaches.
realizing that it Is inevitable, pray only
that it may come to their team early In
the season. Once in the midst Of a slump
there is nothing to do but to exert every
effort to make its duration as short as
possible. The coaches abandon criticism
and endeavor TO put heart In the men Dy
encouraging them. The captain talks per-
sonally and earnestly to his teammates,
while the trainer reviews and revlses his
menu. Even the rubbers exert extra ef-
fort and put additional strength into their
fingers when they knead the tired mus
cles Of the disheartened men.
Sooner or later the men respond to the
treatment and the old form is regained.
In many cases there is even noticeable
Improvement. Confidence is regained and
the gloomy expression on the faces OF the
coaches disappears, to be replaced by one
of cheerful hope. All are looking for
ward to the final and decisive game,
which will settle the position Of the team
in the championship scale.
Finally the great day arrives. The men
have been sent to bed unusually early
the night before and have been told to-
sleep late But in spite of their instruc-
tions they are up early, excited and anx-
ious. They walk around with wary
eye for the approach of the coach. II
discovered. the latter demonstrates good
them themselves
with aimless strolling. They are told TO
sit down. to rest. to avoid any and every
thing in the nature of exertion, and above
all not to worry, not even to think about
the game The trainer carefully exam
ines every man and pronounces on their
physical fitness Everything that can DE.
has been done. The result of the game
now rests entirely with the men them
selves. Theirs will be the greatest re-
ward in case of victory or the greatest
disappointment in case of defeat. Noon
comes and they file for the last time
to their places at the training table. There
they eat but little and talk less one
and all. they are wondering. The reSu-
lars are wondering what Will be their part
in the coming game ana the substitutes
are hoping and praying merely that they
be allowed to participate. The latter know
that their only chance lies in the possible
injury of one of the varsity men. lncy
do not exactly want this TO happen, put
they do want to get In the game.
The treat UdLle.
Finally the meal is over and the men
are driven to the gym" where they don
the habiliments of battle. Afterward the
head coach gathers them about him for
a final talk He doessnot say much-he
merely urges them to do their best. Then
they squat down and the quarterback rat
ties off countless signals which the men
interpret. Finally they file out on the
a Tl1nn M
For a few moments they pass the BAN.
while the rival captains determine the
final details. The teams take their posi-
fions the whistle sounds and the game
is on. For thrty-five minutes the
opposing eleyens battle with each otneT.
stubbornly contesting every men or
ground and for the time being hating
each other above everything else IN the
world. Part of this the spectators see.
They see the plays. they see the charges.
the defenses and the gains or losses.
But they do not see the strained look
in the eyes of the men on both sides as
they listen for the signals. They do not
see the involuntary twitching of the faces
of the offensive players as they strain
every muscle to advance the pan announcer
inch nor can they discern the look or
stubborn despair worn by the men on
the weaker side as they feel themselves
slowly giving way before the Onslaught
they are powerless to check.
During this thirty-iive minutes, OF ilrsl
half of the game. thes coaches walk nerV-
ously ND and down the side lines watching
every detail and raging helplessly because
they may not instruct this or tnat man
in some little point which. though APP
parently minute. might change the entire
result of the game. Then comes an inter-
mission. during which the winning play
ers hug each other in an intensity of joy,
only to be afterward cautioned that the
game is not over yet. The coaches of the
losers are meanwhile hiding their disap-
pointment by encouraging their men, in
structing them what TO do to make this
or that play more effective and how best
to break up their opponents formations.
Finally the men of both teams are given
q drink of water mixed with oatmeal and
are sent back to the field.
Then comes the second half which. even
though one of the teams be hopelessly
outcIassed is as holly contested as was
the first Finally the whistle blows for
the last time. The game is over. and the
teams forgetting their recent hatred.
gather few yards apart from each other
and give their cheers. There Is differ
ence in these cheers. One IS jubilant.
The other Is combination Of loyalty and
defiance
Meanwhile the spectators file out OF the
grounds and home. They have seen the
game; they can describe 1t in detail. but
they cannot describe the feelings Of the
losing players. whose long, weary months