The Washington times., 1921-11-03

Recognizing MS physical type as
necessary on the gridiron, this boy,
absolutely yellow" according to the
standards of football, was ordered 10
report for practice. The same finch.
.ng methods which marked his play
were soon evident 10 all. But the
coaches, far seeing, were not discour-
aged. .r. .rr.-
They plotted a plan for putting pep
into this person. Every day this par
ticular candidate faced in the scrim-
mage line one of the hardest OF the
hard boiled On every line up he was
mauled and beaten and actually cuffed
about. And every day he knew this
same treatment was coming his way
How they ever managed TO keep him
reporting for practice we never knew.
But they did.
The Worm TURKS.
Finally. the worm turned. One af-
ternoon this weak hearted boy came
back. He had figured il out just rs
the coaches knew he would figure il
out. He had come TO realize that his
sole hope rested in giving battle. And
the fight occurred. The coaches had
instructed the hard boiled to eventual
~ give up. 1t was terrible battle,
but the chicken-hearted boy of the pre-
vious day was now u raging lion and
he won. Ever afterwards he was in
the van of attack.
Perhaps, many will think such
brutal methods are unethical. to
say the least. But as the real pur-
pose of football is to instill into youth
an indomitable fighting spirit that
will carry through life such means are
justifiablc.
Truly, the dubs are turned into
There comes clearly to our
mind the case of a big guard in this
Unable to make the team
"A situation arose before a big game
that placed the burden of that con
test upon his shoulders. The first
string guard was hurt in the final ,
practice. and IT fell to Jumbo" to fill
his place. No boy ever faced n more
trying situation. The necessity of his
playing up to the form of a better man
was put up TO him in no uncertain
terms as was the fact that his play
would largely determine the outcome.
When the shades of night were fall
ing over the Polo Grounds on that
crisp Saturday in November "Jumbos"
stellar work at guard had actually won
a great contest from one OF those old
machines tutored by Sanford. |
That boy had learned something, too, !
which stayed with him through life !
he power of determination.
OFF Days or Indifference?
And the stars fall, No fellow has /
4 harder task in football, once he be. |
'omes a star. than to keep his play up
10 the high plane of the past. Heaps
II praise. the cheers of the crowd, and
he laudation of the press has turned
he head of many sober and matured
nan. 1t is not then surprising that IL
,wclls the dome OF n youth under
wenty. It's human. this result.
one OF the best ends we ever
coached reached such conclusion 4
,bout his play just before the final
game of his career. Now, nothing is
more certain to bring about disaster
han conceit a radical step had To
20 taken. Fortunate we were in hnv.
nC an ample supply OF backs thut
year. So, four days before our final
yame we moved an AllAmericnn hn,f
o this end and benchcd the regula.'
occupant OF this berth. No fellow ever
rot a ruder shock. He knocked" and
'wclChcd" for n day or so. Then 10
woke up.
Tho man In him came forth at this
.tage and he not only confessed hut
,egged to be taken back. In his tinal
,ame he played the greatest game of
lis career.
Athletes are much alike. Real play.
.rs Of football will have off days, Just
g do big league stars and golf cracks.
they are not 10 blame for this Bat
{ is up To the coach to he able To
ell whether they are just off or
whether their poor play is caused Jy
onceit or laziness.
We have seen men trying their best