“Tackle coming around and going through with the two halfs may be new, but I don’t believe it makes the play any better. Besides, what’s the idea of working it from a shift? You can do the same thing from regular formation. Shucks, I’ve been seeing that old trick ever since I was knee-high!”
“I guess what you can call new plays aren’t to be had any more, Chick.” Bert was glad enough to argue this matter out if only to keep Chick away from his grievance. “Most everything’s been done already, and about all a coach can hope to do is dress an old play up in new togs so it’ll look like a stranger. I don’t believe Johnny will let us use that Number 14 to-morrow, anyway. I think he’s going to save it for Kenly.”
“He’s pretty sure to try it on Mt. Millard, because Mt. Millard will take a lot of licking, old scout. And I’ll bet Mt. Millard will love it to death, too! Anyway, if he does use it to-morrow it won’t be my fault if I flub it. He hasn’t worked me in it once.”
“Oh, you can’t miss, Chick. Defending left half’s your meat. All you do is block him off.”
“Just the same, I should have been in on it at least once,” responded Chick, evidently determined to be displeased. “No fellow can learn a play just by watching it from the bench or tagging along with the gallery!”
But, as it turned out, Chick needn’t have worried himself, for the next afternoon at two-forty-five Mr. Cade gave out the line-up for the Oak Grove game and Chick wasn’t mentioned.
[CHAPTER XII]
THE EDITOR CALLS
That line-up held some real surprises, and since it was the line-up that, with but one change, continued to the end of the season it may be well to set it down here. Left End, Kruger; Left Tackle, Thomas; Left Guard, Wick; Center, Patten; Right Guard, Lowe; Right Tackle, Haines; Right End, Savell; Quarter-Back, Ball; Left Half-Back, Storer; Right Half-Back, Walsh; Full-Back, Galvin.