“Langton!” called a voice, and there was a general roar of approval.
“Wellington,” called some one else and again the choice was unanimous.
“Prentiss!” suggested some one from the depths of the crowd about the doorway and received his reward of hoots and laughter. The third member was finally found in Harry Pierce, and as it was by that time close on eight o’clock, the meeting broke up. Rob remained behind with Wellington and Pierce and the three arranged to get together in Pierce’s room after study-hour. Evan and Malcolm walked back to Holden with Rob.
“Well, so far so good,” said Rob with satisfaction. “I knew it would go all right, though, as soon as Wellington agreed to take a hand. The fellows think anything he goes in for is all to the good. At this rate we ought to have our first practice the day after to-morrow.”
“But can we get enough fellows to make a team?” asked Evan doubtfully.
“Enough for two teams,” replied Rob. “You wait and see.”
The next evening there was a second meeting in the gymnasium and the Independent Football Association came into existence. Wellington was elected president, Malcolm Warne secretary and manager, Pierce treasurer and Rob temporary captain. It was voted to collect an entrance-fee of fifty cents from each member, the proceeds to be used in the interests of the team. Fifty-four fellows joined at the meeting. Mr. Osgood, the physical director, popularly known as Tommy, made a speech and was duly elected to honorary membership. Tommy said he was pleased to see such an interest in outdoor sports as appeared to be developing at Riverport. He believed in athletics of all sorts and was of the opinion that fifteen minutes of work on the turf or cinder track was better than an hour in the gymnasium. Of course he cautioned them against giving too much attention to foot-ball to the exclusion of study.
“The trouble is, I have found, that too many of you carry foot-ball and base-ball and rowing into the class-rooms with you. There’s a time for everything and a place for everything. Athletics belong on the field and when you leave the field you ought to leave athletics too. Of course I don’t expect you to dismiss foot-ball entirely from your minds as soon as you’ve had your shower; that would be expecting too much; but just see that when study time comes and when recitation time comes you put foot-ball out of your thoughts and get down to work. The year before last I had a student pass in a diagram of a foot-ball play in place of a chemistry paper. That sort of thing doesn’t do.
“And now one thing more,” continued Mr. Osgood. “Doctor Farren has given his consent to this project, but he isn’t convinced that it’s a good thing. He fears that there’s going to be too much foot-ball around here. So you understand that the project is on trial, fellows, and that you must not overdo it. Have a good time and get all the exercise you can out of it, but don’t let it interfere with your real duties. That’s all, I guess, except that I want to remind all of you that go in for the team that you must come to me and be examined.”
Mr. Osgood got his round of applause and then Rob was called on to tell the meeting about the coach he had spoken of the evening before.