Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-10-09

A certain business man of wealth
and position in his community, stop
ped OFF the other day at a college
town with a business friend OF his 10
see a football game. The son OF his
friend was playing end on one OF the
the teams, ard the father induced the
captain of finance 10 accompany him
to the contest. Paternal pride was
on edge and every move of the boy
was watched anxiously by the father.
The business man, too, was interest
ed, for the lad. had long been favor
tie OF his-indeed. he felt almost as
though the boy were his own.
The game progressed. with the OPP
posing team having a shade the bet
ter of it. Somehow the lad failed to
do anything spectacular. The chap
playing the opposite end of the team,
however. was cheered TO the echo
several times for bits of sensational
work. such as difficult tackle, the
recovery of fumbled ball or clever
piece of interference. His work was
all out in the open where the grand
stand could not fail to identify him
not purposely. of course, but It simply
happened that way.
The proud fathers son came in for
none of the applause. He seemed TO
be merely in the game-and always
tangled up in the mass plays where 1t
was difficult for the average specta-
tor to see who was doing the good
work. He was lost sight Of, his name
was not shouted aloud on the end OF
the college yell. He was overlooked
in the shuttle.
"Jim," he said to his friend. why
doesn't the boy do something?"
Jim" drew a few long puffs at his
cigar meditatively.
did you ever play football your
self Bill?" he asked presently. Mo-?
Well. that's why you don't see what
the boys doing. Watch him, have
you noticed that the other team isn't
gaining any around his end? And do
you know why? Watch this play,
row-see, they're trying his end again
Watch him, There. Did you
see him break up that interior
ence? Look at the crowd-they're
cheering for the halfback who tackled
the runner. aren't they? But-and |
know what I'm talking about-that
halfback could never have got the
runner in 10000 years if our lad had
not busted that interference into
smitherSens. Usually, YOU know the
halfback breaks up the interference
and the end tackles. but the boy
seems to be an expert at that game
SO he sails right in-for the good of
the team.
Now watch that other end for a
few minutes-the chap who's been
doing the sensational work. See, he
makes one star play, and the next two
go way by him-look. they gained five
yards around his end just then. He's
playing a good game alright, alright,
but he's playing on his nerve, on his
state of excitement, on the encourage
ment of the crowd. He's grandstand
player, a skyrocket, though. I'm sure,
he does not realize it himself.
Look now. They're sending their
play in between our lad and the half
back-see. they're thrown for a loss,
Did you see the boy get the runner
then, not out in the open. but right
in the scrimmage. Listeni The
crowds yelling-but you don't hear
them Yelling the name Of anybody in
particular, do you? No, they're cheer
ing because Embellishments stop
ned that play. The coaches know
who did it. though, you can bet your
bottom dollar. All, there he goes
again-clear around back of the lire
to help stop that rush through
guard
Look at the other end-wha,'s he
doing? Why, scrapping and Juggling
outside the play-with tie end CD the
other team, wasted energy. You see
the difference now Our boys no
grandstand player. 30 skyrocket-he' S
plugger. Hes doing his work quiet
". steadily. grimly. He isn't playing
on his nerve, nor is he dcpenden. on