Two weeks later as the eleven trotted out on Percy Field at Ithaca, to meet Cornell, working like a model machine with every piece doing its duty and all parts working for the benefit of the whole, every man knew that to force defeat on them required more strength and more aggressiveness than even the "Big Red" team possessed. This was one of the cleanest and hardest fought contests that ever occurred on any gridiron and the result was directly due to the superiority of the Penn State team. This victory was the greatest that any State team has experienced in recent years and well may our heroes of that conflict feel proud of the precedent they estab lished. On Nov. 2 our old rival, Dickin son, appeared upon the scene hoping to maintain her prowess in the foot ball world. Right from the whistle the Red and White were over whelmed and the final score and de feat was the worst in her career. Again had our team established a precedent and was entitled to the good cheer with which it left Williamsport that night. The Penn game at Philadelphia on the following Saturday was the greatest disappointment of the sea son. Our team started off with a vim and covered 22 yards on the first four downs but the gloom began to settle on the next play. • Hirsh man, who had been severely injured in the Cornell game, was completely disabled and forced to retire from the game. The dash and vim of the team displayed just before this accident was lacking afterward. The grit was still there but the unity of play had disappeared. Our oppo nents played the best game of their season and their mastery of the game made them unconquerable. After this game our coaches be gan the hard task of developing a new backfield. With grand old McCleary as a nucleus the new THE STATE COLLEGIAN A Word of Appreciation from Dr. Sparks. Editor "The Collegian," State College, Pa. Dear Sir: May-I through your columns ex press my gratitude to the members of the faculty, the alumni, students, and citizens of the village, who have sent me letters of welcome to the Pennsylvania State College. Such cordial expressions, coming at this time, are exceedingly grateful and deeply appreciated. Yours very truly, Edwin E. Sparks. University of Chicago, Dec. 10, 1907. combination worked finely, but the Navy game was simply a Nittany Lion being hit with the wrong end of the mule shoe. To have victory snatched from our grasp when it seemed assured was a heart breaker for everyone. The Middies were outplayed all through the game and to wipe out such a defeat served to augment that silent, grim determina tion and display the fine manly characters of the men backed by the White and Blue. The three hard games in succes sion at the end of the season proved too much for the team Every man was willing to do his best, but the strain of battle was evident as the team lined up against W. U. P. on Thanksgiving Day. The game was East and spirited and just how the decision which caused our defeat was made is beyond comprehension. W. U. P. played with all the usual vigor that is characteristic of this game and the result only increased the rivalry between the colleges ror the ensuing games. Reverses come to all teams, but Penn State has withstood what seems to be more than her share this year. The true college spirit of which we boast could suffer many more without affecting our loyalty to the team. The season as a whole was not of the best but the defeats of this year should furnish incentives to hard work for Capt. McCleary and his team next fall. The loss of seven valuable men by graduation next June will be severely felt and to fill their places will oe a difficult problem. The work of Capt. Burns was such that it warrants special mention in another column. "Jess" :-;:itchey, left tackle, who struggled with true State spirit for three years before gaining the po sition of varsity man, distinguished himself as one of the nerviest and grittiest fighters of the team. The clean, manly, and vigorous mode of his playing was of great assistance to his teammates. Next comes Kunkle, lett guard, who for three years has been a Skating Rink Iff Watch this space for announcement of opening of rink and attractions Knisely Brothers
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