Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1911-01-06

when a man stepped up TO MIN ac-
coutred for football and said:
"I'd like to be in this game"
do YOU know football?'
"YcS."
you're big and strong enough ap-
parently to do good work. It's pretty
late, but l think | can take you on
that IS. if you're really in college. |
never saw you before, and l can't ac-
,ept YOU without proof that you're in
college and not professional
Go ask the registrar. He's over
there in the west stand
Muir did as was suggested, came
back satisfied and acce d d the new
conner, placing him in the position of
right tackle
This happened not ten minutes be-
fore the teams lined up. When the
game began there were not dozen
persons on the ground that knew the
| Vernon team had got an accession.
man appeared in their line half head
above most of his fellows whom no
one recognized. He attracted little
attention. however, for every one
knows that bigness is not the only
| faculty necessary to a great footDall
player Those most intimate with the
personnel of the team noticed him as
he took his position in the line and
! wondered where he had come from.
Not one of them knew him. A men,
Der of the senior class said that his
face was familiar to him, but he
couldn't place him. Some felt suspl-
cion that he was a semiprofessionai
who had been showed through the ex-
INNS for some special course for this
special occasion. But even if there had
been time for this supposition to take
root the unimpeachable character or
Captain Muir would have prevented.
The game commenced with the butt
ing of two wedges. The newcomer
was seen in the center of the Vernon
wedge apparently dragging half doz-
Ell men with him as he advanced at 4
snails pace. Then when the game
became more open every one was sur
prised at the elasticity Of his great
body and his remarkable quickness.
The end of the first half is an inter
val of Importance in football. Up 10
that point the game is developing. The
comparative ability of the teams and
of the individual players is being
noted. No great interchange of views
among those present is taking place.
Every one is intent on the game, iook-
ing especially for scores. But the mo-
ment the half is ended there is a
hubbub as to what has taken place.
| One team c~ the other is marked for
the better one. Some one player has
shown especial ability as tackler.
passer OF the ball or runner One or
whom great things was expected has
failed lamentably. In this Vernon.
Kendall match when the teams had
| lined I'D for the kick off few bets
were being made Of to ! on Kendall.
When they broke their formations.
though Kendall had scored once and
Vernon not at all, Vernon hackers Of
| fered even money on their team. There
being no takers, odds were given.
This change Of feeling had been
brought about mainly by the big man
! who had come into the game at the
last moment. Twice by his own effort
| he had got the ball within six yards or
goal, but for want of support had lost
the ground he had gained. Once he
! had by a quick move got on the ene-
mv's right and could have carried it
to goal but for. the same reason-the
failure of MS team to assist him. And
now no one knew what he might sue
| ceed in doing unGided in the second
| half. BettorS are timid. and many be-
gan to hedge.
As soon as the second half opened
this change in sentiment became a
! revolution. The new man entered tine
fight as if the fate of Vernon depended
| on him. He had been seen during the
| interval to speak to one of the most
popular young ladies belonging TO the
| college coterie She had smiled npon
| him, and when he had left her he had
/ walked back on to the gridiron with a
determination in his face and i'll his
, very gait that brooded no good to the
| Kendall team. And now that the
game had recommenced-more open
than before-his great frame was seen
= aitting about like featherweight.
/ Within ten minutes he had run through
| q succession Of tacklers. d0dginS ana
ducEing, tiually carrying the ball TO a
touchdown. Later while on the ex'
tremp right the bali was passed to him.
and he made ore Of those famous runs
with it to goal that never fail to elec-
trifv spectators. His last feat was r.
carry half Il dozen men who were
,,Iin"ine tc him and the ball as well
for five yards and plant it over the
line
Tie half ended with this feat
while Vernon rooterS went wild with
. shouting. Their college had won and
had won through the personal effort OF
one man.
The moment the game was ended he
left the field.
The next morning in chapel the
president made the following. an
nouncement:
"Three years ago great injustice
was couc Il student of this uni Eersity
Elmer Ward. 4 member of the present
senior class. after being i'll college bu'
few months, was expelled for enter