Interference and Other Football Stories

Can I see you a minute, Coach?
Yes, Mack. Come in.
Mack Carver, substitute back on Grinnell University's varsity squad, stepped across the threshold of Coach Edward's office. He carried his one hundred and eighty-seven pounds easily and with an athletic swagger. But he scowled as he entered, indicating that his call was about an unpleasant matter.
Well, boy—what's on your mind? smiled the Coach, straightening up from a mass of papers which contained diagrams of the plays Grinnell was to use in her season's big game against Pomeroy, now less than a week away.
Plenty! was Mack's bluntly grim answer. He stood now, facing his coach, across the desk.
Coach Edward's smile faded as he met Mack's challenging glance.
I want to know why I've been kept so much of the time on the bench? the substitute back fired, point blank.
Because, answered Coach Edward, evenly, there were eleven better men on the field. That's ordinarily the only reason any man's kept on the bench.
I don't believe it, retorted Mack, feelingly. You've had it in for me because my brother is coach at Pomeroy. That's the reason! And you'd like to be coach at Pomeroy yourself!
Coach Edward drew in his breath, sharply. Perhaps I would! he said. But that's a strict matter of business—nothing personal!
No? flashed Mack. You and brother Carl have been rivals for the last two years. You've been out to beat each other on the gridiron and now that you've turned out some cracking good teams with the smallest college in the State, you think you've got my brother on the run!