University High School - Cub Yearbook (Oakland, CA)

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season that they play in the big game. Some play well, others fall down. This happens all season. If I hadn't played on the same team that you did for three years, I'd say you knew nothing about football. Seeing the coach was in no mood to argue his friend left him as they passed the inlirmary. Professor Stevens firmly believed that thought could be transmitted from one brain to another. He believed if two person's minds were concentrated upon one subject the suggestion of the stronger mind would triumph and the body in which the weaker mind was situated would do the bidding of the stronger mind. He also believed that the persons did not have to be in the same room or even in the same building. Many times he had argued this point with Joe. Always Hanley refused to be convinced. I-Ie would always declare the demonstration in the theatres were faked, that they were only possible through the use of confederates. Some day I'll get a chance to prove it to youf' Stevens would say. XN'hen you do, let me know about it, was always I-Ianley's scoffing re- sponse, There is nothing in itf' Professor Stevens had stopped at the inhrmary to tell Carter how the game had resulted. He had been to see him the night before and had prom- ised to return after dinner. I-Iow did it go ? asked Carter eagerly as the professor entered the room. Havens dislocated his shoulder today. He will not be able to play Sat- urday, answered Stevens. He did? groaned Carter, 'fThen they have no one to go in. If only I could be there, he groaned, 'fIf I could only go in. I must at least see the game. They must let me go. But, argued the other , You won't be able to leave your bed by next Saturdayf' Dbl I must see the game. It would kill me to keep me waiting, Carter sobbed. Professor Stevens went from Carter's bedside to the office of the chief sur- geon and asked to be allowed to install a telephone to Carter's room so that he could tell him of the game as it progressed. Do you think he could stand the excitement? asked the surgeon. He could hear the cheering from the field anyhow, returned the Profes- sor. That wouldn't hurt him much as the suspense. It may do him some good, ventured the surgeon, I think .we'll try it. The morning of the game dawned brightly. It was a perfect day for the gay crowd assembled. The Markham red and gold and the purple of Alta- mont were everywhere in sight. Pretty girls wearing huge red. dahlias and yellow chrysanthemums dotted the Markham section. Violets bloomed on the Altamont side. Some of the more reckless youths had even obtained lavender orchids for their fair companions. It was a gala day for the crowd but a poor day for football. Professor Stevens took his place among the pressmen and prepared to tell every detail of the play to the boy whose anxious ears waited for news of the

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Is There Anything In It? CC AVENS is playing a good game today, said Professor Hal Stevens, to Head Coach Joe Hanley of the Altamont 'Varsity, as they watched the team in their last practice game before the Big Game the following Saturday. Yes, said the coach. Then he added, I hope nothing happens to him. Left end on the 'Varsity had given the coach a great deal of trouble. Now it seemed to be well taken care of by Havens, who was playing a brilliant game. At the first of the season it looked as though the position would be the strongest on the team. Altamont apparently had a wealth of ends. Carter of last year's 'Varsity, the best defensive end in the state and one of the gamest little fellows that ever laced a cleat, had returned, as had also Smith, a last yea1 s veteran, XVright of the last year's freshman team had been a star. Eldridge, also of the freshmen, was good material. XVhittier and Havens, who were subs last year, were figured to go back to the seconds. All looked promising. Presently troubles began. Poor scholarship removed XfVright. W'hittier's parents objected to his playing, and he was forced to quit. Then Eldridge frac- tured his ribs, leaving only Havens in case of injury to Carter or Smith. Two weeks before the Big Game, Carter was taken with appendicitis. Havens was the only man to take the place. Stiles, who two months ago had been a sub on the second team, on account of Carter's promotion, found him- self a substitute on the 'Varsity. Time outf' came the cry from the field. The coach saw an Altamont man on the ground. He rushed out to find Havens groaning with rage and the pain of a dislocated shoulder. There were tears in the coach's eyes as he turned to the bench where his substitute players sat, Stiles, he said, go in. That evening as Hanley was walking dejectedly to his room, he was met by Professor Stevens, who was one of the youngest professors in the Faculty. He had attended the same college and played on the same team as Hanley. Tough luck, joe, greeted Stevens, whom will you start next Saturday? I clon't knowf' he repliedg Stiles played a bad game while he was in today. He is too slow. XVhen he catches a pass he can't dodge. I may use Pierce. He's a, tackle, not an end, argued Stevens. VVell, said the coach dejectedly, he hasn't anything on Stiles. He is no end either l Stiles, I think, replied Stevens, is just the sort of a fellow the crowd would affect favorably. The concentration of the thousands of minds on the bleachers will overcome his indecision in getting into plays. He'll play well in the game with Markham. Listen to me Hal, fiercely interrupted Hanley. This mental sugges- tion doesn't mix with football. Listening to that silly psychology of yours has ceased to be funny. Nine men out of every ten play the same ball all

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'H- success or failure of his college, the college he had fought for for three years. He was determined, in spite of the doctor, to give him every point of every play, even the formations and the direction each play was taking. Especially he planned to tell him the playing of the man who went in at left end. just as the teams lined up for the kick-off the operator at the telephone exchange by some error closed the line to the Infirmary. It was five minutes before connections could be again opened. As he was told that Holmes, Markham's star kicker, had kicked a field goal, that the ball had been brought into position by Stiles, who was playing left end, that only a fumble and an uncompleted forward pass was all that saved Altamont from a touchdown, Carter broke out sobbing. Stiles, he cried, Stiles, you big bum, get in and break that up- As Professor Setvens told him the plays, Carter played them in his mind. As the game progressed, Stiles' playing became stronger and stronger. He displayed trick after trick that was characteristic of Carter, and only of Carter, but still Altamont could not score. Three periods had passed. Twice Renolds had attempted field goals from the thirty-yard line. Twice he had failed. But three minutes remained of the last period. Markham had not scored again, but their lead looked safe as they were in possession of the ball on Altamont's forty yard line. Three plays gained but six yards. Wlith four yards to go on the last down, Markham forme-d in punt formation, Holmes dropping back as though to at- tempt a field goal. There seemed but little chance of his making it, however, as he must kick from the forty-two yard line at the side of the field. They wonlt kick, cried Carter, as word came over the telephone of the formation. They know if they can hold the ball, they can kill time until the end of the game. XVatch the fake. Look out for a pass on the short sideg on your side, Stilesf, As the ball was snapped, Holmes poised as though to kick, then hurled it down the held where a Markham end was sprinting toward the Altamont line. Stiles had guessed the play and had followed the end. As the ball was about to go over his head' into the outstretched arms of the Markham man, he leaped and caught it. Stiles has intercepted the pass, came across the wire, and the hospital jumped at Carter's frenzied cry of Go it Stiles! Go it as you never went before l If Stiles had not shown speed before, he showed it now. Through the en- tire Markham team he dodged. In the open field, King, the fastest man in the state, who could do the quarter in fifty, started after him, but as they raced down the field he gained but little. Stiles dashed across the line and planted the ball between the posts. The game was not yet over, one minute remained to play. Markham re- fused to kick, as is customary to a team that has been scored upon. They elected to receive the kick. Renolds kicked to Holmes on the ten yard line. Holmes ran it back to mid field. A forward pass gained twenty yards. A buck by Holmes gained ten. Then King got away on a trick circling right