“Something nutty sounds more likely,” said Willard gravely. To his surprise, the other chuckled. “That hadn’t occurred to me,” he replied. “You see, some of the fellows call me McNutt. By the way, what’s your name?” Willard told him and McNatt nodded. “Harmon: the name’s familiar. I remember now. There is a fellow of that name who plays football. Quite a remarkable full-back, I think.” “Gordon Harmon? Did you know him?” “I read about him. He played on one of the high school teams in New York City, I believe. Is he a relation of yours?” “Brother.” “Really?” McNatt turned and viewed Willard with real interest. “Well! Think of that! I dare say you’re sort of proud of him.” “I suppose so,” replied Willard doubtfully. “I don’t think I ever thought whether I am or not,” he added, laughing. “You should be if what they say of him is true,” said McNatt earnestly. “I followed his work last season with much interest. A natural-born full-back, I’d call him. By the way, do you play, too?” “A little. I’m out for the team.” “Full-back? But no, you’d be too light. End, maybe?” “Half,” said Willard. “I’ve played there some.” “Hm.” McNatt looked him over critically. “Yes, you might do well there. You look fast. Ten pounds more wouldn’t hurt you, though.” “You talk like a football chap yourself,” said Willard. “Do you play?” McNatt shook his head. “I used to, but I got--ah--out of sympathy with it. You see, Harmon, football is capable of being reduced to an exact science, but played in the haphazard manner that they play it here it lacks interest. I haven’t played recently.” “Well, I don’t see how you can reduce it to any exact science,” Willard objected. “Of course, if you knew beforehand what the other fellow was going to do--” “You miss my meaning,” interrupted the older boy. “See here, Harmon. You start with a playing space so many yards in length and so many yards in width. You oppose a team of eleven players with a team of a like number. You may do a certain number of things legitimately. Each situation developed in the course of a football game calls for a certain move. But that’s what coaches and quarter-backs don’t realize. They think that a situation is unprecedented and, instead of making the move that is called for, they confusedly try something they shouldn’t, a play never intended for the situation.” “But how the dickens are you going to know what play the situation does call for?” demanded Willard. “The situations make themselves, and they’re all different!”