St Johns College - Yearbook (Annapolis, MD)

Page 151 text:

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A H ..,, ,..----.--. -- - to announce, Second down, a touchdown to make. The latter expression struck me at the moment as an unfortunate one to use, but a glance at the position of the linesmen showed that in two more attempts the Hopkins team had to carry the ball across the goal line or surrender it to St. Iohn's. They took their two trials and failed to carry the ball over, in fact, failed to make any gain. None of the onlookers seemed to question the fact that four downs had been played, but when Captain Spates claimed the ball the ref- eree informed him that it was Hopkins' ball on the third down. Here again protest and argument were without avail, and again St. John's gave way. Another down played, and again Hopkins failed to gain. During the progress of the play the referee blew no whistle to indicate that anything was wrong, but after the play had been made and stopped by St. Iohnls, he approached the umpire and asked, Are you going to declare off-side play? The umpire said there was no off-side play. Then, sai-d the referee, I call interference with the .center,', and he proceeded to allow half the remain- ing distance to the goal line and give the ball to Hopkinsfor a first down- This ruling Captain Spates again protested, and asked the referee to get the judgment of the other officials. The umpire, the two linesmen and the two timekeepers were called upon for testimony, but none of them could say that he saw off-side play, interference with the center, or anything improper or irregular in the play. The referee, however, refused to change his decision, and after waiting a reasonable time for him to reconsider his action, Captain Spates called the team from the field. There was no opportunity for honest difference of judgment as to the first error. Had there been, it would have been the duty of those concerned to submit to the judgment of the referee- But every one who saw the plays, and who could count four, knew that the referee was wrong as to the number of downs. To decide the probable right or wrong in the conflicting contentions as to the second point in dispute-interference with the center-the position of the observers and the sur- rounding circumstances must be taken into consideration. Spates is a guard, and, of course, stood within half a yard of the ball. The writer stood directly behind the center, not more than seven yards off, and, therefore, had an unobstructed view of the ball and the men who could possibly interfere with the center. The referee stood to one side, not less than twelve yards from the ball, his view being obstructed by half the players on each team. It was after 5 olclock, or about 20 minutes after sunclfown, on a very rainy day. I From the position of the referee he could not see what was going on. At best his decision rested on guesswork. I say most emphatically there was no off-side play, no inter- ference with the center. Had there been the slightest doubt about the fairness' of the play, I would have advised Captain Spates to accept the judgment and continue to play. But know- ing that he had yielded twice, when the referee was clearly and absolutely wrong, I could not counsel him to do otherwise than he did. Had he finished the game he would have been in the position either of a man who did not know his rights, or knowing, had not the courage to stand for them. It was one thing to let the game go by default and under protest against decisions wrong both as to fact and rule, it was quite a different matter to lose the game by letting the referee continue to give the ball to Hopkins until they could carry it over under the pretence of regularity. Captain Spates chose the former course. It should be added that his action meets with the approbation of every one connected with the college- 'While we have such men to lead our athletic teams, St. Iohn's reputation for sportsman- ship is entirely safe. 1 3,6 1..- -- - ..su.ag-.,.............wa 1-r:':,.: gzdgr. 'f

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Yells heard on the Foot Ball Field 1 at 4, Push 'em back! Shove 'em back! Drive 'em back! Team! Mac, Mac, Moony Mac! Full Back, Halbert! Big man, strong man ! Captain Spates! Through the line Beatty tore Give him the ball and rush him more! Ready! Steady! Eddie! Tarbutton! Get at 'em, St. Iohn's !! Orange and Black! Orange and Black! Those are the colors that We will back! Sis! Boom! Bah! St. Iohn's! St. Iohn's! Rah! Rah! Rah! S. I.! S. j.! Hip! Hip ! Ray! Ray! - S. J.! S. I! Hip! Hip! Ray! Ray! St. John's! St. john's! St. Iohn's! Whoop her up! VVhoop her up! Whoop her up again! VVhoop her up for St. Iohn's! ' A winning set of men! QBegz'n this yell slowly cmd i1 1zc1'ea-se each zflinize you repeatj 138