St Xavier College - Xaverian Yearbook (Cincinnati, OH)

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WILLIAM G. KNECHT, '25 Captain-Elect of 1924 Football Team Pug: 01:: Hundred Forty-ninz

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Fag: 011: Hundvm' Furty-m'ght

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TURNING BACK THE PAGES St. Xavier ended the '1923 football season with a percentage of .500, repre- senting four games won and the same number lost. This record does not at hrs: seem very impressive, but a brief glance at the schedule explains much, for it reveals among other opponents the powerful Navy squadron, the Haskell red- skins, the Billikens of St. Louis U., and the redoubtable Ohio Wesleyan contingent. The time prior to the first game was spent in earnest conditioning, but was marked by an undeniable dearth of substitutes. This was a problem which caused no end of trouble to Coach Meyer and later proved the teanfs undoing. High hopes were aroused, however, by the power shown in the first game, and as this increased in each succeeding fracas, hope advanced to a state of dangerous optimism. After the St. Louis game, which was the most brilliant stage of St. Xaviefs progress, the cry of iiBring 0n the Navy,, could be hearti wherever Xavier enthusiasts were gathered. But those faithful souls who traveled across the continent eastward as well as those who remained at home know full well the terrible tragedy of Farragut Field. Let us draw the curtain. The morale of the team seems to have been completely shattered by this debacle. The breaking point came, and there was no one to fill the breach; so four defeats followed swiftly after four victories. But too much credit cannot be given the team and the Coach for the splendid courage they showed in the face of almost overwhelming difficulties. Two of Xaviefs sons were picked by experE for the mythical All-Ohio Eleven. They were our great little Herb Davis and the much admired Bill Knecht, who was elected Captiain for the 1924 season. Following in the wake of the pigskin tournament came basketball, With eight Ohio Conference games booked the St. Xavier cagers bade fair to captu re the league title, but fell short in one of the two contiicts with Ohio U. This was the only him: on their Conference record of seven games won to one lost. They were thereby entitled to second place in the Conference standing. In their non-Conference games the Sycamore Saints were not so fortunate, losing three and winning five. All in all, this year is the best Xavier has ever enjoyed in the court game. A novel feature of the season was the rotating system of captaincy ushered into prominence here by Coach Meyer. Just a few minutes prior to each game Meyer announced his Hoor general, and it was found that this system proved most adequate and practical. At the close of the season, all the letter men being present, Richard Marnell was electedthonorary captain for the past year. Marnell has shown by his faith- fulness in the past four years with the college that he is fully capable, and highly deserving of the honor given him Dick Weiskittel was chosen, on his own superior merits, as All-Ohio center, and it is universally agreed that the experts made no mistake. Page On: Htmdrrd' Fifty