Petersburg High School - Missile Yearbook (Petersburg, VA)

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was able to play in this game, it would probably cinch his berth on the All- American team. V As the day of the game drew near, the students on the campus be- came more downcast. They seemed to take out their misfortune on Jimmy Wilson, because he was the second-string quarterback and would get the call if Steve couldn't play. Some went so far as to be rude to him, While others avoided him. Jimmy became worried about it and was on the verge of turning in his uniform when one night his room-mate, Ted Wil- liams, closed the books he was studying and started talking. Jimmy, he said, it would be silly for you to quit the team when it needs you as it does now. But, Ted, can't you see how the boys are avoiding me? Even the team is beginning to give me the cold shoulder, and the trouble of it is I haven't done anything. Did I hurt Steve ? No, said Ted. Could I help it if he got injured? No, repeated Ted. Well, what can I do? I've tried to make up to the boys, but they don't seem to want me. U You can't blame them, Jimmy. Steve is the only player in the his- tory of Weeler College ever to be recognized as a possible All-American candidate, and now, if he doesn't play in the game with Washington U., he hasn't a chance to be on the team, which is the ambition of all football players. But, Ted, why do they blame me? I don't know, Jimmy. You know how people are. As long as you are a hero you are the tops with them, but when you are not on the top of the ladder, you are just another ball player with them. You don't expect me to stay on the team while they are treating me as they are now, do you? Well, said Ted, let's turn in now and talk about it tomorrow. O. K., Ted. Good night. Good night, Jimmy, and don't you Worry. Everything will turn out for the best. The next week was uneventful for Jimmy Wilson. He practised with the team but lacked his usual pep and vigor. After practice, on the day before the team was to board a train that Page twenty-eight T H E M I S S I L E

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The Unsung Hero By Irving Gordon Illustrated by J. B. Jackson 65 , 1, 3 M WEET-T! was the sound, f,-frdfx YN i -,Tm X which came from the Egg referee's whistle, as he ' ,, ' 0. Ni ' d ' 15 th b f '95 iJ,,,.,,Kl Jumpe in o e mo o ggi: Q f Q players to see if the man i b ,Q with the ball was over for a touchdown. A mighty roar I ' fiilif q . .f . I I 1 -3'-fifwzw 5, W 'ft' xl'W4r'Qf rolled down upon the gridiron from ' T.. V the thousands of fans in the sta- dium as they saw the arms of the referee above his head to signify ,, that the ball was over. The play- Q3 5 A ers of Weeler College were hugging X al and slapping each other on the back. This, however, soon stopped as they saw a player on the turf ,Q X ' fax s holding his knee and writhing in agony. A doctor rushed on the field, ex- amined the player's leg, and motioned for two other players to help him get the man off the field. I Who was this player? As the injured man was helped to his feet, the fans saw that the number on his jersey was 63. A surprised hush came over the people in the stadium as they scanned their programs to see who '63 was. Was it possible that this player was Steve Rogers, who was be- lieved to be the best athlete to attend Weeler College in the last twenty years: the only player of the college to be recognized by most of the sport writers as one of the best prospects to be chosen quarterback on the All- American team? Yes, it was on their program: No. 63-weight 184- Steve Rogers. The remaining minutes of the game were played with Jimmy Wilson as the field general for Weeler College. In the locker-room there were not the back-slapping and congratula- tions which usually follow a football victory. There was only the silence which follows the arrival of bad news because the team had just learned from the coach that Steve might not be able to play against Washington University for the Eastern Conference championship. If Steve Rogers T H E M I S S I L E Page twenty-seven

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was to carry them to play the championship game, Jimmy walked into the coach's office. Coach, began Jimmy in a calm voice, I'm going to check in my uniform. Coach Wallace looked up as if he had been expecting this. Sit down, son, and tell me all about it. You know all there is to tell, Coach, said Jimmy. Steve was hurt, and I was blamed for it. But how could I help it? I Wasn't even in the game, and anyway I wouldn't injure any teammate on purpose. You know that, don't you, Coach ? Yes, Jimmy, I know you wouldn't. But it would be silly for you to hand in your suit now, because we need you badly. I just learned from Doctor Greenfield that Steve will be able to start, but if he gets a hard blow on his knee, he will be finished for the remander of the game. So, if he should get hurt and you quit, whom would I use? Why not Max Green? suggested Jimmy. Max is a good player, but he hasn't had enough experience. If the team got into a tight place, he might pull the Wrong play and lose the game. Now if I had you in there, you are cool in a pinch and would know what play to use. You know Jimmy, you've been a great help to me the past three years, even though you haven't been a hero in the eyes of the football public. I know you've been an understudy to Steve, but without you act- ing as the other team's main threat in practice scrimmage, I don't think we would have had such good teams in the past three years. I think I should have tried you in some other position, because, son, you can really carry the mail when the time comes. If you still want to check in, it's all right, but you will be helping me, the school, and yourself as well if you will stick. O. K., Coachg if you put it that way, I'll stick. That's the way to talk, Jimmy. Be at the station at nine-thirty to catch the train. All right, Coach, and thanks for what you've told me. The day of the game dawned cold with low-hanging clouds which in- dicated that it might rain before game time. Coach Wallace had given the team a last minute pep talk in the locker room and sent his charges on the field when he grabbed Steve's arm and told him to remain there a moment. T H E M I S S I L E Page twenty-nine