CAPT. FORKUM.
FOOTBALL.
The first game of the season of
1904 for both State and the Uni
versity of Pennsylvania, was played
at Philadelphia on Saturday, Sept.
24th. The final score of 6 to o, was
as surprising as it was gratifying to
the student body. While our team
was big and busy, it was generally
thought that in playing ability, it
was much below that of former
years. For the last three or four
seasons, teams that were consider
ed equal if not better than any that
have ever been put out of this col
lege, have gone down to Penn and
been ignominiously defeated. This
year, with a team that had never
played a game, with several new
and untried players, we put up a
game that not only had them guess
ing, but was of much better quality
than our opponents exhibited for
the greater part of the contest.
This brings one thing out clearly.
That we have a far better team than
we thought we had and that the
boys are deserving of the hearty
support of every man in the col
lege. It matters not, nor detracts
one whit from the showing made
by State on Saturday, that Penn
has a weak team. Our strength
stood out all the more clearly be
cause of that. It is the only regret
of every man who played in that
game, that they did not better c eize
their opportunity to defeat P«. tin or
at least prevent them from scoring.
It is now up to every man who
wants to see our team complete the
most suceessful season it has ever
experienced, to get out on Beaver
field in the afternoon and clr. er on
the players, both Varsity and col
lege, in tluir daily practice. It is
the knowledge that the students
are back of them and appreciate
their good works, that puts spirit
and life into a team.
Coach Fennell, when asked about
the team, the new players and the
season’s prospects was very reticent
about expressing his views. He
said, however, “I have not much to
say at this time about the prospects
as I have not seen the team under
fire enough yet. As for the men
they are not very heavy, but seem
made of the right stuff.” When
asked about the showing made
against Penn, he said, ‘‘l was very
much pleased with their work, but
it was almost entirely due to the
‘spirit’ with which State went into
the game and which never dimin
ished until the whistle sounded the
end of the contest. All the credit
for the good work at Penn belongs
to Captain Forkutn and the players
themselves. ’ ’
Managtr Smith and Captain
Forkum were also highly pleased
with the work of the team and be
lieve that the present season, if
the men keep up the way they have
begun, will be the most success
ful in the history of the college.
FIELD NOTES.
The ‘‘college team” seems a
much better name for the second
team than ‘ ‘scrub. ’ ’ The latter is
a lowly designation for a most
worthy and indispensable body of
men. We suggest therefore 'that
‘‘the college team” be used when
referring to the second team.
| Saunders is running the team in
g ird shape this year. He should
cM’tf.inlv land hL ”S.”
Campbell played a great game at
Penn on Saturday. Unless he
takes a big slump, he has his posi
tion clinched.
Since acheer leader has been elect
ed there ought to be more system
atic rooting done along the side
lines. ‘‘Practice makes perfect.”
The game with Allegheny on
to-day should be a' good one.
They played a strong article of
football last year.
Last year we had 600 down at
Williamsport. This year we ought
to have even more.
TRACK WORKS.
Captain Hornbaker of the track
team issued a call for fall practice
last week and has had quite a
number of candidates on the field.
The incoming class contains some
promising men, among whom are
Wright, Van Horn and Ross, from
Mercersburg Academy. Wright
comes with a high reputation.
‘‘Bugs” Arnold is back again and
seems to be in better trim than ever.
Cross-country runs and warming
up practice has been the daily pro
gram. Altogether the prospects
are bright for a good team next
spring.
COACH FENNELL.
Few of the students here know
that Thomas Fennell, the football
coach, is quite a famous athlete.
He is a graduate of Cornell. ’96,
taking his master's degree there in
’97. During his college course he
played centre, guard, and fullback
respectively on the football team,
was a first class track man, and
rowed No. 7 on the crew that Cor
nell sent to England to race at
Henley in ’97. Since graduation
he has been practicing law at his
home in Elmira, N. Y., and the
football authorities here were en
abled to secure him only through
the earnest solicitation of his friend
Dan Reed, who coached last year’s
team. Mr. Fennell is already very
popular with the team and the stu
dents who honor him. If anyone
can turn out a winning team here,
he certainly is the man to do it.