The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-10-19
RIP Van FOOTBALL
'Tis !. Different Game Now
You'd Hardly Know II.
(By Harve Parsons.)

(By Harve ParsonsL)
When the late Mr.. r. Van Wrinkle
returned to his native village after his
long rest. the brand of politics talked
|, around the grocery store porch sound
ed strange to him. A change had TAX
en- place during his absence. Saturday
afternoon newspaper man went out
to see the Topek--AggiviQe football
game on Washburn field. 1t was the
first football game he had witnessed
IN nearly q dozen years, and q change
had taken place during his absence.
Even the field Is different. A dozen
years ago the bleachers were along the
west end of the grounds: the north
fence was along the road, and the field
ran north and south. So. for that mat
ter. did certain husky outlaws, 30 COW
cred with armor that they were COM
pletely disguised, and were recognize
instead Of autos lined the open side Of
the field.
Although the rules have been chang
ed considerably. the visitor gathered
that the Topeka boys trimmed the
Manhattanites by q large and enthu-
siastic score, but was unable to say
just how 1t was done. The two squads
of youngsters looked not like the foot
ball players of old. There was but one
pair of shin guards among the 20 play
ers. and not one of the rubber mug
zles SO necessary In an old fashioned
game. There mules were not only
necessary as protection to the nose
OF the wearer, but they were an adj
vantage to the adversary. The wear
er couldn't bite SO deep while holding
q mouthful of soft rubber.
In We good old days when Sam La
kin. Fat Clark, Doc Jimmie Stewart,
Ham Steele. Red Cunningham and
other college sports disported on that
field, the rules were very, very differ
ent. 1t was considered bad form to
paste an opponent with brass knucks,
but about everything else was good.
1t was verbOten to bite one on the calf
of the leg, because veal was not on
the training table menu, and too much
But the system called for carnage and
mayhem. Two of the heaviest players
were detailed to furnish the anaes-
thetic. while certain other members
performed the operation. At times, q
game reminded one OF q can Of angle
worms rolling down the field. splitting
an occasional specimen until It closed
with q rough-and-tumble between the
two survivors. Another stunt was the
pyramid formation wherein one
player jumped on the ball and the 9TH
er 81 jumped on him. Sometimes,
when the players were all large. heavy
persons. the pile was SO high the top
| man could easily see over the fence.
At times the referee would use q can
opener to dig into the pile and find out
which player had the ball.
Those were days Of foreboding
| among best girls. mothers. wives and
children Of the players. At times some
little tot might be seen weeping over the
perils OF Grandpa, who took a course Of
| concertfna music.-three lessons a
team.
And 1t IL different now. It Ia q COM
paratively safe game. as attested by the
absence of the medical corps and the
armor. AS an exercise. it seems to be
! sufficient. The boys get up a sweat.
and those of the audience who demand
gore for their price Of admission, may
view an occasional cut lip or bloody
nose. The Saturday game between the
high school boys. was one-sided. The
IAggietown kids were smaller and
younger. but they were game as q cage
full Of weasels. Even when they were
showed under and the time limit pre-
| cluded any chance to win, they con-
tinued to offer the best they had in
stock A stunt known as the forward
pass which was evidently swiped
from the rules of basketball, was their
best hold, and they worked it right reg
ularly for gains. They were defeated BY
| score of "a to 0. but they kept the
ye1lowlegs busy from midafternoon to
quitting time, and in their earnestness,
made places for several Topeka substi-
tutes to get into the game. Had the up
river team weighed about a hundred
pounds more, the score might have been
| different.
The fall guy of a high school il the
cheer leader. The humorists in the
stand neglect to heed his requests for
noise. or get on some other brand Of
disorder instead Of the formula he calls
! for.