University of Santa Clara - Redwood Yearbook (Santa Clara, CA)

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20 THE EEDWOOD. STARRY MEANDERS, The Romans played their little game of pila without lining up and exhibiting those sparks of quick action or that sharp fric- tion which is done nowadays in football. Now the Romans might have called jiZrt a game without running reason into a hole, but as to calling anything resembling football a game — well, holes are too common and one must not take chances at all. I know that if I had the choice of playing a couple of halves or doing some- thing else, I Avould sooner strive to unravel the mysteries of Ho- mer, or try to make up jokes for the ' Frisco Examiner. A member of the staff of any magazine might waste paper and mnke a name by writing up comics while our ' Varsity is at practice. It seems to be the aim of every well constructed coach to see how hard the candidates for a team can hit the ground; hence that most uncomfortable institution of falling on the ball is restorted to in oblique cases while the promising youth so far forgets to forget himself tliat he gives litle satisfaction to the coach, who naturally enough wants to see him bore large aper- tures in the gridiron with that part of him that is nearest the sky. But if falling on the ball is unpleasant and distasteful, what must tackling previously occupied spaces of air be like? It is con sidered the very height of good judgment to miss your man about as many feet as is convenient, travel a few yards through space, and then let yourself carefully down on the extreme point of your nose. Of course all this must be done with the utmost cool- ness and precission, otherwise the little merit is lost. Such re- marks as ' fall easier, down lower, are calculated to encourage and not to insult. In the regal game, when the other side has the ball, fate seems to decree that you be ever on the defensive or retreat. The man opposite you makes himself noticeable by the shower of car- esses he bestows upon you, which seem for a time to make you forget the trials and troubles of this life and to give you an in- sight into the celestial. The chances are that you have been told to line up quickly ; without loss of time, so don ' t leave the field more than five or six

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THE KEDWOOD. 19 In flDemodam fatber Milliam flDclkinnon Sleep, gentle shepherd, sleep, and may ' thine be The peace of Saints: nor yet fore ' er abide Beneath the silent mound; but lo! inside Those heavenly realms of souls departed, free Repose; and dwell there everlastingly. With Angels pure, at thy Creator ' s side. Oh! good Samaritan, when anguish cried Thou heardest, and to shores beyond the sea, To fight for Christ didst sail, and on the field The dead and dying soothed, while soldiers round thee reeled. From volleys. Truest shepherd thou didst tend Thy Master ' s Sheep, and in their woe befriend. Rest thee, dear Father, not beneath the sod. But in the bosom of thy loving God. J. H. RIORDAN, ' 05.

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THE REDWOOD. 21 feet, you may not be back in time for the next play, which would be in bad form. Nevertheless there are many who delight in re- tarding the game and sometimes, just out of spite it seems, some one will soar several yards into ether while those below anxiously await his return. Always be ready. If you should see a play coming around the end don ' t fail to notify the spectators that you are to make a grand-stand, otherwise it might be hard for them to tell what you really did make. On comes the interference and without waiting to know if you are ready, plunges into the fray ; at least it has been told to plunge into the fray, but for some unaccountable reason of which there are many in football, the fray is mistaken for some poor deviFs solar plexus. After which the interference is quietly plucked out by the tackle, leaving you in a noble attitude to wait your quarry. A plunge, you rip your pants and look around for a muddy place to fall in, while the crowd seeing you do the high- dive act promptly burst into loud applause. It is, of course, im- material whether you get your man or not. It is the dip you want and you get it. But should the play be a buck and you preceive it to be directed for your especial benefit, make a rapid move- ment either to the right or left in order to avoid the rush, and to preserve the graceful contour of your features. The bucks are sometimes made by calling the tackle over, but if the play does not come off satisfactorily the captain gen- erally calls the tackle something else. These are a few of many phases of football. If you have not satisfied yourself with regard to its claim to be classed among games go out on the gridiron and get your experience for your- self. FRANK PLANK, ' 06.