Gus laughed. “You’re foxy, aren’t you, Lanky? See you later.”
Gus hurried into Academy and Rob meandered toward Holden smiling contentedly.
The Independents stuck pretty closely to the rudiments of football for the first part of that week, but since there was enough experienced material in the ranks to form a first and second squad on Thursday Duffield, much to every one’s surprise, held a ten minute scrimmage. The first squad wasn’t made up as Rob had anticipated. Evan was at quarter and Rob at left half, but Morse didn’t suit Duffield as a center and of the ends Rob had selected only Brimmer found a place. The biggest surprise came when the coach put Jelly in at center. But strange to say, Jelly took to the place like a fish to water, and, with Evan driving him and Duffield close on his heels every minute, showed evidence of real speed. The first squad as composed that day was as follows: right end, Cook; right tackle, Kasker; right guard, Chase; center, Jell; left guard, Koehler; left tackle, James; left end, Brimmer; quarter-back, Kingsford; right half-back, Lyman; left half-back, Langton; full-back, Shaler.
The work was pretty ragged that first day, but that was to be expected. Duffield scolded and threatened, and one would have thought to hear him take on that he was deeply disgusted with the material before him. Rob was certain of it and had visions of Duffield throwing up his position on the spot. And so, when at the conclusion of the afternoon’s work, the coach called him aside, Rob was prepared for the worst. Duffield made him put his sweater on and then took him by the arm and led him to a seat on the old grandstand. For a full minute Duffield said nothing, only watched the First and Second Teams plugging away at each other on the farther gridiron, and Rob’s heart sank lower and lower. At last, however, Duffield turned and spoke.
“Well, Langton,” he said, “I don’t see why we can’t turn out a pretty good team with that stuff.”
“Wh—what?” stammered Rob.
“Why not?” asked Duffield. “We’ve got good material; better than the average considering age. We’re going to be light, but that isn’t anything to worry about. Take a light team and teach them the sort of plays that fit ’em and they’ll hold their own with a team ten pounds heavier. I’ve seen it time and again. Look at some of our teams at Brown; look at last year’s.”
“That’s so,” murmured Rob, wondering whether his face was expressing the relief he felt.
“We’ve got to be fast, though, Langton, almighty fast! We’ve got to din speed into that bunch right along, every minute. If it comes to a choice between two men the man with ginger gets the job. You’ve got a find in that chap Kingsford. Where’d he fall from?”