St Xavier College - Xaverian Yearbook (Cincinnati, OH)

Page 163 text:

a Transylvania October 4. CTOBER 4, 1924, marked net nnly the first game on the St. Xavier O 1924 football schedule, but also the dedication of Elet Hall St, Xaviex-ts fine new Dormitory, This marked a great step towards the realization of an ideal. Nearly all those attending the ceremony retired to Corcoran Field to encourage the lads in green, who were to show their wares in the initial conflict with Transylvania Cellege of Kentucky. I It was an eager, speculative throng that crowded the stands on this day The honor of a grand old school rested on the stalwart shoulders of a new team. The rippling notes of a whistle, a yellow oval somersaulting through the air, a perfect field, a jubilant mass of humanity,ethere, you have the inception of a new football season And well did our boys play their part. They fought doggedly to win their game and a place in the hearts of a critical audience that was watch- ing them perform for the first time. We can find no disgrace in their 13 t0 7 defeat, for they lost through lack of experience to a good team that was forced to keep its cleets in the sod every minute of play. Kelly turned in a brilliant game, his first in a college uniform. And Reynolds uneoverexi a few of his matchless passes towards the close of battle that kept the spectators on their feet. Whatever mistakes were evidenced in field generalship can be attributed to an inexperienced backfield. one just making its debut in collegiate football. The result of this game goes to strengthen the conviction that a team is Ktjinxed in taking the field after a dedication ceremony on its home grounds. Page One Hundred FiIty-nine

Page 162 text:

Football 1:1924i HE Fall of 1924 gave to the Xavier football followers, 2: brand new team. With but five veteran regulars from the preceding season the bulk of the team was made up of Snphrmmres who were as yet untested by the strain of battle. But the spirit was good among these new men, and early season practices showed that when the whistle blew fur the first game, St. Xavier would be represented by a team that would fight to a finish. Captained by Bill Knecht, this green-sweatered teuin entered the first set-to full of ambition to win for their Alma Matelh Their hopes were given a severe jolt in a 13-7 defeat at the hands of the strong Transylvania Team. This was followed by defeats hy VVittenhel'p; at Springfield, Marysville :it Corcoran Field, and St. Louis at the Mnund City. In the next battle, Xavier did well to earn a draw with Kenyon at home. However, Western Kentucky State Normal and Otterbein proved victims to old Xavier and the butt ni' much elation among Xavier followerst The season ended with the annual clash between the Blue and White and the Redskins of Haskell Institute. For a while strong opposition was given the visitors, but their hardiness won nut and Xavier was crushed by a very large score. While the season, from a standpoint uf games won and 10st, did not prove to be such that would arouse great joy. nevertheless, all Xavier fnothall fans felt very much satisfied that in the young and unexperienced eleven that sported 0n the grid, there was the potentiality of a great team; one that in :1 short time would make the fans forget the unpleasant defeats nf the 1924 season, and would force them to be among those I told you so fans. whn shout when a victorious team tl'mls the green turf. Page One Hundred Fifly-eight

Page 164 text:

Wittenberg October 18. T. XAVIER travelled to Springfield for her secnml tilt of the season, a 8 conference battle, with VVittenborpc. But the up-state aggregation proved to be a disastrous opponent for HThc Fighting Irish ; 32 and 7 were the respective numbers standing nn the scoreboard when thv din 0f conflict died away. Nevertheless, this score cannot be accepted as an indication that the Xaverians exhibited an inferior ht'aml of football. For three quarters of the way both squads fought an almost oven fuotingJWitte-nhorg leading by only six points. when the I'uurth period opened. Finding the line play and end run equally ineffective against a heavier enemy, Xavier resorted in the fourth quarter to a barrage that wrecked more havoc with friend than fne. Six times did the winning missle, hurled from her backfield, come to rest in the arms of at Wittenberg warrior, And three of these led to the nineteen points gleaned by the enemy in the final stanza. XavierKs touchdown came in the third period after a steady march down the field. The diminutive wonder. Tommy Mussio, pulled down a forward and skirted the left flank for six points. Wenzelk tne made it seven. The most pronounced feature of the Witten'herg game was. the improve- ment it brought out in the Avnndale gridders since their encounter with Tran- sylvania two weeks previous. In every position there was sign 01 development and evidence of hard training; - Page One Hundred Sixty