St Ignatius College - Ignatian Yearbook (San Francisco, CA)

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HHOPELESS HARDY 15 You come out to the field to-morrow, my boy. I guess you don't need elementary practice. Wait and see, prophesied Hardy as the two parted company. And resuming his cheerful tune, the Sophomore proceeded towards his room. The following afternoon the Stonefield squad to the num- ber of forty were perfecting themselves in the delicate art of catching punts, when jack Hardy arrived upon the field. jack was clad in the battle scarred togs that had served him at Michigan. His headgear, shin guards and especially his huge block M came in for many a stare from the two score panting, dusty performers upon the chalk-lined field, as Coach Horgan hurried over to greet the new arrival. Hardy, viewing for the first time in his life the spectacle of a Rugby team in uniform, hesitated, and then started for the gate. Hey, Hardy! Wait a minute, called Horgan. Jack waited for him to draw near. Sorry to trouble you, coach, apologized Hardy as Hor- gan approached. Say, where is your Rugby team anyhow? This is the field, isn't it? interrogated jack, his eyes upon the white posts. What do you suppose this squad is ? demanded Horgan rather sharply, as he more than half suspected that Hardy was kidding him. Oh, gee! Is that the team? asked the youth. Why, I thought they were the track team. You don't mean to say they wear that rig in a real game? inquired 'Tack as he noted the bare legs, the thin jerseys, and then remarked his own heavily padded suit. They sure do, answered the coach, with a twinkle in his eye. There's something I can do, suddenly exclaimed jack, as one of the squad muffed a spiral kick. What's that? asked Horgan with a chuckle. I said I could catch punts, returned Jack. Oh, I thought you meant you could miss 'em, sug- gested Horgan, and both laughed.

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Qnprlema Tinting HISTLING cheerfully, Jack Hardy was cross- ing the campus when Patsy Horgan, the yy varsity coapqh, firsthespiedhhim. Qigcllipnngg tYY,13F2 f B7Qy his stride t e coac caug t up wit ar y and began talking rapidly. Horgan needed ' A ' A no introduction. Even the unsophisticated Freshies knew him for what he was-the man, who since the dawn of the Rugby era upon the Pacific Coast, had turned out team after team of winners for Stoneiield University. Strange I haven't seen you out for practice, my boy, pursued the coach as his eye measured the splendid build of the younger man. What's your name ? he continued. Not strange at all, drawled Jack. I haven't been out. That's the main reason. My name is Hardy-Jack Hardy, he supplemented, eyeing the coach with frank curiosity. Well, then, why haven't you P demanded Horgan, again surveying the massive shoulders of his companion. I've just been in college about a week, retorted Jack, and moreover I hardly know the goal posts from the dress- ing-room about Rugby. I knew it was too late in the sea- son to come out for elementary practice. You're a Freshman, then? interposed the coach. No, Sophomore, smiled Hardy. I spent my Fresh- man year at Michigan. Coach Horgan viewed the youth with newly awakened interest. Last fall,', he remarked, a Michigan Freshman's drop kick won the game from Chicago. That Freshman's name was Hardy, he added with a questioning glance up at jack. For Horgan was as small in stature as his successes were great. Hardy reddened under the coach's gaze but finally an- swered. I guess I'll have to plead guilty as charged, he smiled, and then sought to change the subject. But Patsy Horgan was not to be denied. '- in . said ' .4 It

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16 IGNATIAN The player at fault with a View of concealing his discom- fiture, booted the ball far beyond the rest of the squad, straight towards the coach and Hardy. Jack, balancing himself upon his toes, awaited the fast dropping leather. Straight into his arms settled the ball, a moment later to be driven back, ten yards beyond the Stone- field squad. A murmur of admiration greeted this feat. And then Patsy Horgan introduced the new arrival. As the squad was divided into two teams, Coach Horgan took Hardy to the side lines and there endeavored to ex- plain some of Rugby's foreign terms to the new player. The scrum, line-outs, kicks to touch, all were thoroughly ex- plained before Coach Horgan was satisfied. That's about all I can teach you to-day, Hardy, he concluded. The rest you must pick up by experience. Glorying in his new found knowledge, the big Sophomore decided to take part in the practice game. If you let me go in at fullback on the scrub I'1l not have much to do, will I? asked Jack innocently enough. For thus far in the game the fullback's sole chance was the return of a long kick. ' No, you'l1 not have a great deal to do, Hardy, espe- cially after the varsity backs get warmed up, answered Horgan, but he looked the other way. A few minutes later Jack was out upon the field hopping about in anxiety, watching the course of the ball. Sud- denly three of the varsity backs broke away from the pack and began a passing rush down the field. The center three- quarters was tackled from the rear and dragged down, but the two fives sped on with naught save Hardy between them and the goal. Jack closed in upon the player with the ball and tackled fiercely, hurling his man to earth, only to see him pass the ball to his team-mate, who went over for the try. Say, what kind of a game is this P roared jack as he scrambled to his feet. That ball was down. I tackled that man fairlyf' Sure, sure, grinned the referee, but the ball wasn't dead. .