The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-10-23
RODGERS last TINE.
FlRTHE HOME FOLKS.
sIoultaineer Football Cap
tain Began Career With :.
Bethany.

MoRaANTowN, Oct. 2S-captain
If Rodgers who has had long AMI
honofsble career in West Virginia
athletics, and who stands out far
aboye any other individual athlete
syer produced in the state, will play
football on the coming Saturday at
wheeling and probably 1T will be his
last appearance before any consider
aI,le number of his home town" peo-
bie Rodgers was born and raised at
Bethany, the seat of Bethany college.
when he was sixteen years old he
started in at the college, taking first
arhigh school work as Bethany sup
ported mo first class high school. AS
afesiit he stayed at Bethany for four
wears and completed college entrance
eauirements there, playing football
tae whole. Naturally he was a star
even In his younger days, even though
re knew little about the game and dla
not have the best Of coaching. HIS
wonderful physique, speed and
strength made him wonderful foot
BAH player even before he had expert
ence.
III the fall Of 1915 Rodgers entered
tha8tJni9ersity and there was turmoil
chat shook athletics in half dozen
colleges that West Virginia played
West yirginia's opponents objected TO
playing against Rodgers even though
he had been a preparatory student
while participating at Bethany and
was, in effect, taking high school
courses. West Virginia authorities
held firm, however, and though 1t
meant that there were no games with
Pitt and w. & j. in 1916, Rodgers
played.
Here Rodgers has not only been the
Greatest all round athlete ever devel-
cped at the institution, but he has been
first class student and is one of the
very few athletes that has received the
Unqualified endorsement OF Jack"
Hare. the Registrar, as to his merits
a student. Contrary to the general
supp0sttion Rodgers is not an "old
man.. "A few days ago q university
athletic official was in Wheeling and
made the statement in crowd of
FANS that Rodgers claimed to be 70
years old Naturally most Of those
present laughed at the claim but w.
Isl Cramblett, athletic director at Beth
any college, who has known Rodgers
Tor fifteen years, or from boyhooa,
spoke up and substantiated the state
1ent, and OF course he is in position
to know There are few college foot
bail teams this season that average
less than twenty three years in age.
1T Is a rather remarkable co-lnci-
dent that Rodgers should play one OF
the last games of his intercollegiate
football career against the Bethany
team with which he started out. Beth
any has made rapid strides since
Rodgers left there. "Preps" are no
Ringer allowed to play on Varsity
team and other steps have been taken
to put the Institution on the same
plane with the best colleges and uni
versities in the country as far as>ata-
letic eligibility is concerned.
tof course, too, Rodgers is going to
bley one Of the hardest games OF his
lie Saturday. There will be three or
Eour hundred Bethany students and
ownsmen Of his from the villege OF
Bethany, and as many more Wellsburg
5eople Who know him almost as well
S the residents of his home town, at
The game and their loyalty will be di-
gided to some extent for Bethany ana
for Rodgers. Rodgers will be playing
his second game at $..uaterback for his
team, and ~ making this unusual shift
late IN his college career is endeavoring
to pull his team outiof the rut in which
IL floundered at Pittsburgh and place
It among the leading teams of the
country, ).
The West Virginia team with Rodg-
sfs al the helm, will leave here at noon
tomorrow arriving at Wheeling early
81 the evening OF Friday. The Nc
Lure hotel will be headquarters for
re West Virginia outfit and a hun
HE'D or more loyal followers Of the
cam will make the trip, A special
through coach has been provided for
team.
Three hundred inventions, most Of
hem designed to perfect processes in
hoemaking, are credited to one man,
49, f.fs II a,iis Nodd11 NJ Winchester