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

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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. .

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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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HOPELE.S'S HARD Y 17 Maybe the ball wasn't, but I'm not so sure about myself, ruefully asserted the player whom jack had so vigorously put to earth. The new fullback grinned sickly and shook his head as Capt. Davis converted for the varsity. On the kick off the first team secured possession and dribbled down the Held until Jack fell upon the ball. Im- mediately he sprang up and trotted to his position, only to see Corcoran, the varsity five-eighths and fastest man on the team, rush past him with the ball. jack was dumfounded but not a whit dismayed. With a bound he was after the fast flying five. Yard after yard the distance was cut down until' by a mighty spurt, and an amazing Hying tackle, the varsity man was stopped a scant yard from the goal. So fierce was the tackle that Corcoran dropped the ball. Ere Jack could scramble after it, Evans. a varsity forward, scooped it up and planted the ball between the posts. Har- dy's disgust knew no bounds. During the remaining few minutes of play no further opportunity presented itself to the new fullback. As the teams trotted OH the field, Coach Horgan sur- veyed Iack with a broad grin. Fullback had a little to do, chuckled the coach. At that you did well. That tackling was great, he added. Too bad I couldn't grab two at a time, lamented Hardy, but say, coach, wouldn't it be better if the rest of the team followed the ball more closely, he innocently asked, and then wondered why Horgan laughed. They'd have a lot of fun following you, if you ran like you did to-day. Had on that heavy sweater and that other junk, and yet you caught Corcoran. Once more Horgan viewed his new charge in frank amazement. Well, be sure and come out to-morrow, ordered the little coach, and the two parted company. wk bk 14 lk ak 14 ik . Weeks passed and still the Sophomore appeared each day for practice. Other players were dropped from the squad yet Jack clung on. His kicking was faultless, his tackling superb, but his knowledge of the liner points of