Several other speakers followed. One, a Senior named Lewis, spoke well and rationally. “I regret that previous speakers have seen fit to lay the blame for the state of affairs on Dick Lovering, our coach. He doesn’t deserve it. Things don’t seem to be going very well, and that’s a fact, but I don’t think there’s anyone to blame for it. The trouble began when we lost Farrell. The team went on for some two weeks, I believe, without anyone in charge, and Captain White had everything to attend to, assisted, of course, by the manager. We all know that White tried his best to find a man to take Farrell’s place, and that he couldn’t do it. Then the Athletic Committee decided not to pay a salary this year, and that settled all chance of getting anyone with experience. As a last resort Captain White and some of the players went to Dick Lovering and asked him to coach the team. Lovering didn’t ask for the place and didn’t want it. He refused at first, I am told, and finally consented because White and the others wouldn’t take No. Lovering has made no claims to be an experienced football coach. The fellows didn’t think he was. But they had to have some one and Lovering was the only fellow in sight. If things haven’t gone as well as they might have you can’t lay any blame to Lovering. He may be partly accountable, but he isn’t to blame. He’s done the best he’s known how. I’m certain of that. Perhaps he has made mistakes. I confess I don’t know, for I’m no football authority. But I _am_ sure he has done his level best and worked hard. Now the whole thing amounts to this. You’re not satisfied with the progress the team has made. Probably the team itself isn’t. Perhaps if methods of instruction or coaching or whatever you have a mind to call it, were altered things would go better. Lovering himself is here this evening. Before we go any further, why not hear from him? Perhaps he can satisfy us that things aren’t as bad as they seem, that they’re going to be a lot better and that when we run against Springdale next month we’re going to lick her. If we do that we’ll have done what we want most to do, and we’ll forget all about what went before. I’d like to hear from Coach Lovering.” There followed much applause as Dick put his crutches under his arms, arose and faced the meeting. Then the hand-clapping subsided and an expectant silence ensued. Dick looked sober but quite untroubled. He began to speak in a quiet voice plainly heard all over the hall and in crisp, businesslike tones.