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