Football days : $b memories of the game and of the men behind the ballEdwards, William H. (William Hanford)
General
Football days : $b memories of the game and of the men behind the ball
Edwards, William H. (William Hanford)
Football
"About two plays had been run off, when Smith once more shouted:
"'He's holding me.' Robby went in back of him and said:
"'Why didn't you kick him?'
"'Kick him!' replied Brent. 'He held _both_ my feet!'"
Hardwick recalls another incident that has its share of humor, which
occurred in the Yale bowl on the day of its christening.
"Yale was far behind--some thirty points--playing rather raggedly. They
had possession of the ball on Harvard's 1-yard line and were attempting
a strong rushing attack in anticipation of a touchdown. They were
meeting with little or no success in penetrating Pennock and Trumbull,
backed by Bradlee. And on the third down they were one yard farther away
from the goal than at the start. They attempted another plunge on
tackle, and were using that uncertain form of offense, the direct pass.
The center was a trifle mixed and passed to the wrong man, with the
result that Yale recovered the ball on Harvard's 25-yard line. Wilson,
then a quarter for Yale, turned to his center and asked him sharply:
"'Why don't you keep track of the signals?'
"In a flash, the center rush turned and replied:
"'How do you expect me to keep track of signals, when I can hardly keep
track of the touchdowns.'"
Brown University was playing the Carlisle Indians some ten years ago at
the Polo Grounds at New York City. Bemus Pierce, the Indian captain,
called time just as a play was about to be run off, and the Brown team
continued in line, while Hawley Pierce, his brother, a tackle on the
Indian team, complained, in an audible voice, that some one on the Brown
team had been slugging him. Bemus walked over to the Brown line with his
brother, saying to him:
"Pick out the man who did it."
Hawley Pierce looked the Brunonians over, but could not decide which
player had been guilty of the rough work. By this time, the two minutes
were up, and the officials ordered play resumed. Bemus shouted to
Hawley:
"Now keep your eyes open and find out who it was. Show him to me, and
after the game I'll take care of him properly."
It is interesting to note that Bemus only weighed 230 pounds and his
little brother tipped the scale at 210 pounds.
In 1900 Brown played the University of Chicago, at Chicago. During the
second half, Bates, the Brown captain, was injured and was taken from
the game, and Sheehan, a big tackle, was made temporary captain. At that
time the score was 6 to 6. Sheehan called the team together and
addressed them in this manner:
"Look here, boys, we've got thirteen minutes to play. Get in and play
like hell. Every one of you make a touchdown. We can beat 'em with
ease."
For many years the last statement was one of Brown's battle-cries.
Brown, by the way, won that game by a score of 12 to 6.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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