THE "ANTIDOTE" IS ADMINISTERED
[Illustration]
High up against a fair blue sky studded with fleecy clouds streamed a
banner of royal purple bearing in its center a great white E--a flare of
intense color visible from afar over the topmost branches of the empty
elms, and a beacon toward which the stream of spectators set their
steps. In the tower of College Hall the old bell struck two o'clock, and
the throngs at the gates of Erskine Field moved faster, swaying and
pushing past the ticket-takers and streaming out onto the field toward
the big stands already piled high with laughing, chattering humanity.
Under the great flag stretched a long bank of somber grays and black
splashed thickly with purple, looking from a little distance as though
the big banner had dripped its dye on to the multitude beneath.
Opposite, the rival tiers of crowded seats were pricked out lavishly
with the rich but less brilliant brown, while at the end of the
enclosure, where the throngs entered, a smaller stand flaunted the two
colors in almost equal proportions.
And between stretched a smooth expanse of russet-hued turf ribbed with
white lines that glared in the afternoon sunlight.
The college band, augmented for the occasion from the ranks of the
village musicians, played blithely; some twelve thousand persons talked,
laughed, or shouted ceaselessly; and the cheering sections were loudly
contending for vocal supremacy. And suddenly on to this scene trotted a
little band of men in black sweaters with purple 'E's, nice new canvas
trousers, and purple and black stockings; and just as suddenly the north
stand arose and the Robinson cheers were blotted out by a mighty chorus
that swept from end to end of the structure and thundered impressively
across the field:
"_Erskine! Erskine! Erskine! Rah-rah-rah, rah-rah-rah, rah-rah-rah!
Erskine! Erskine! Erskine!_"
It was repeated over and over, and might, perhaps, have been sounding
yet had not the Robinson players, sturdy, brown-clad youths, ambled onto
the field. Then it was Robinson's turn to make a noise, and she made it;
there's no doubt about that.
"_Rah-rah-rah! Robinson! Rah-rah-rah! Robinson! Rah-rah-rah! Robinson!
Robinson! Robinson!_"
The substitutes of both teams retired to the benches and the players who
were to start the game warmed up. Over near the east goal three Erskine
warriors were trying--alas, not very successfully!--to kick the ball
over the cross-bar; they were Devoe and Paul and Mason. Nearer at hand
Ted Foster was personally conducting a little squad around the field by
short stages, and his voice, shrilly cheerful, thrilled doubting
supporters of the Purple hopefully. Robinson's players were going
through much the same antics at the other end of the gridiron, and there
was a business-like air about them that caused many an Erskine watcher
to scent defeat for his college.
The cheers had given place to songs, and the leader of the band faced
the occupants of the north stand and swung his baton vigorously.
Presumably the band was playing, but unless you had been in its
immediate vicinity you would never have known it. Many of the popular
airs of the day had been refitted with new words for the occasion. As
poetic compositions they were not remarkable, but sung with enthusiasm
by several hundred sturdy voices they answered the purpose. Robinson
replied in kind, but in lesser volume, and the preliminary battle, the
war of voices, went on until three persons, a youth in purple, a youth
in brown, and a man in everyday attire, met in the middle of the field
and watched a coin spin upward in the sunlight and fall to the ground.
Then speedily the contesting forces took their position, the lines-men
and timekeeper hurried forward, and the great stands were
almost stilled.
Erskine had the ball and the west goal. Stowell poised the pigskin to
his liking and drew back. Devoe shouted a last word of caution. The
referee, a well-known football player and coach, raised his whistle.
"Are you ready, Erskine? All ready, Robinson?"
Then the whistle shrilled, the timekeeper's watch clicked, the ball sped
away, and the game had begun.
The brown-clad skirmishers leaped forward to oppose the invaders, while
the pigskin, slowly revolving, arched in long flight toward the west
goal. It struck near the ten-yard line and the wily Robinson left half
let it go; but instead of rolling over the goal-line it bumped
erratically against the left post and bobbed back to near the first
white line. The left half was on it then like a flash, but the Erskine
forwards were almost upon him and his run was only six yards long, and
it was Robinson's ball on her ten-yard line. The north stand was
applauding vociferously this stroke of fortune. If Erskine could get
possession of the ball now she might be able to score; but her coaches,
watching intently from the side-line, knew that only the veriest fluke
could give the pigskin to the Purple. And meanwhile, with hearts beating
a little faster than usual, they awaited the first practical test of the
"antidote."
Robinson lined up quickly. Left tackle dropped from the line, and taking
a position between full-back and right half, formed the center of the
tandem that faced the tackle-guard hole on the right. Left half stood
well back, behind quarter, ready to oppose any Erskine players who
managed to get around the left of their line. The full-back who headed
the tandem was a notable line-bucker, although his weight was but 172
pounds. The left tackle, Balcom, tipped the scales at 187, while the
third member of the trio was twenty pounds lighter. Together they
represented 525 pounds.
Opposed to them were Gillam and Mason, whose combined weight was 312
pounds. Gillam stood between left-guard and tackle, with Mason, his
hands on the other's shoulders, close behind.
The Robinson quarter stared for an instant with interest at the opposing
formation, and the full-back, crouched forward ready to plunge across
the little space that divided him from the opponents' territory, looked
uneasy. Then the quarter stooped behind the big center.
"_Signal!_" he called. "_12--21--212!_"
The ball came back to him. At the same instant the tandem moved forward,
the Erskine guard and tackle engaged the opposing guard and tackle, and
Gillam and Mason shot through the hole, the former with head down and a
padded shoulder presented to the enemy, and the latter steadying him and
hurling him forward. Then two things happened at the same moment; the
ball passed from quarter to tackle, and Gillam and the leader of the
tandem came together.
The shock of that collision was plainly heard on the side-lines. For an
instant the tandem stopped short. Then superior weight told, and it
moved forward again, reenforced by quarter and right end; but
simultaneously the Erskine quarter and left half made themselves felt
back of Mason and Gillam, and then chaos reigned. The entire forces of
each side were in the play, and for nearly half a minute the swaying
mass moved inch by inch, first forward, then backward, the Robinson left
tackle refusing to believe that their famous play was for once a failure
and so clinging desperately to the ball, the center of a veritable
maelstrom of panting, struggling players. Then the whistle sounded and
the dust of battle cleared away. Robinson had gained half a yard.
The north stand cheered delightedly. It had only seen the Robinson
tandem stopped in its tracks, and did not know that in the struggle just
passed Erskine had used a new and novel defense for the first time on
any football field, had vindicated her coaches' faith in it, and brought
surprise and dismay to the brown-clad warriors and their adherents. If
it had known as much as Mills and Jones and Sydney about the "antidote"
it would have shouted itself hoarse.
Gillam trotted back to his place. His extra-padded head-harness and
heavy shoulder-pads had brought him forth unscathed. On the side-line
the Erskine coaches talked softly to each other, trying hard to look
unconcerned, but nevertheless showing their pleasure. Sydney Burr,
rather pale, was among them, and was, perhaps, the happiest of all. The
bench whereon the substitutes sat was one long grin from end to end. But
Robinson was far from being beaten, and the game went on.
Again the tandem was hurled at the same point, and again Gillam met the
shock of it. This time the defense worked better, and Robinson lost the
half-yard of gain and another half-yard on top of that.
"Six yards to gain," said the score-board. And the purple-decked stand
voiced its triumph.
Robinson wisely decided to yield possession of the ball and get away
from such a dangerous locality. On the next play she punted and Paul was
brought to earth on Robinson's fifty yards. Now was the time for Erskine
to test her offensive powers. On the first play, using the
close-formation, Gillam slashed a hole between the opposing center and
right-guard and Mason went through for two yards. The next play netted
them another yard in the same place. Then Paul was given the pigskin for
a try outside of right tackle and reeled off four yards more before he
was downed. It was quick starting and fast running, and for the moment
Robinson was taken off her feet; but the next try ended dismally, for in
an attempt to get through the left of the line between guard and tackle
Mason was caught and thrown back for a two-yard loss. Another try
outside of tackle on that side of the line netted but a bare three feet,
and Foster dropped back for a kick. His effort was not very successful,
and the ball was Robinson's on her twenty-seven yards.
Now she tried the tackle-tandem on the other side of center, hurling
right tackle, followed by left half with the ball, and full-back at the
guard-tackle hole. Paul led the defense this time, and again Robinson
was brought up all standing. Another try at the same point with like
results, and Robinson changed her tactics. With the tandem formation,
the ball went to full-back, and with left end and tackle interfering he
skirted Erskine's right for seven yards and brought the wearers of the
brown to their feet shouting wildly. Perhaps no one was more surprised
than Bob Devoe, for it was his end that had been circled. Certainly no
one was more thoroughly disgusted than he. The Robinson left end had put
him out of the play as neatly as though he had been the veriest tyro.
Devoe sized up that youth, set his lips together, and kept his
eyes open.
Robinson now had the ball near her thirty-five yards and returned to the
tackle-tandem. In two plays she gained two yards, the result of faster
playing. Then another try outside of right tackle brought her five
yards. Tackle-tandem again, one yard; again, two yards; a try outside of
tackle, one yard; Erskine's ball on Robinson's forty-three yards. The
pigskin went to Gillam, who got safely away outside Robinson's right end
and reeled off ten yards before he was caught. Again he was given the
ball for a plunge through right tackle and barely gained a yard. Mason
found another yard between left-guard and tackle and Foster kicked. It
was poorly done, and the leather went into touch at the twenty-five
yards, and once more Robinson set her feet toward the Erskine goal.
So far the playing had all been done in her territory and her coaches
were looking anxious. Erskine's defense was totally unlooked for, both
as regarded style and effectiveness, and the problem that confronted
them was serious. Their team had been perfected in the tackle-tandem
play to the neglecting of almost all else. Their backs were heavy and
consequently slow when compared with their opponents. To be sure, thus
far runs outside of tackle and end had been successful, but the coaches
well knew that as soon as Erskine found that such plays were to be
expected she would promptly spoil them. Kicking was not a strong point
with Robinson this year; at that game her enemy could undoubtedly beat
her. Therefore, if the tackle-back play didn't work what was to be done?
There was only one answer: Make it! There was no time or opportunity now
to teach new tricks; Robinson must stand or fall by tackle-tandem. And
while the coaches were arriving at this conclusion, White, their captain
and quarter-back, had already reached it.
He placed the head of the tandem nearer the line, put the tackle at the
head of it, and hammered away again. Mills, seeing the move, silently
applauded. It was the one way to strengthen the tandem play, for by
starting nearer the line the tandem could possibly reach it before the
charging opponents got into the play. Momentum was sacrificed and an
instant of time gained, and, as it proved, that instant of time meant a
difference of fully a yard on each play. Had the two Erskine warriors
whose duty it was to hurl themselves against the tandem been of heavier
weight it is doubtful if the change made would have greatly benefited
their opponents; but, as it was, the two forces met about on Robinson's
line, and after the first recoil the Brown was able to gain, sometimes a
bare eighteen inches, sometimes a yard, once or twice three or four.
And now Robinson took up her march steadily toward the Purple's goal.
The backs plowed through for short distances; Gillam and Paul bore the
brunt of the terrific assaults heroically; the Erskine line fell back
foot by foot, yard by yard; and presently Robinson crossed the
fifty-five-yard line and emerged into Erskine territory. Here there was
a momentary pause in her conquering invasion. A fumble by the full-back
allowed Devoe to get through and fall on the ball.
Erskine now knifed the Brown's line here and there and shot Gillam and
Paul through for short gains and made her distance. Then, with the
pigskin back in Robinson territory, Erskine was caught holding and
Robinson once more took up her advance. Carey at right tackle weakened
and the Brown piled her backs through him. On Erskine's thirty-two yards
he gave place to Jewell and the tandem moved its attack to the other
side of the line. Paul and Gillam, both pretty well punished, still held
out stubbornly. Yard by yard the remaining distance was covered. On her
fifteen yards, almost under the shadow of her goal-posts, Erskine was
given ten yards for off-side play, and the waning hopes of the
breathless watchers on the north stand revived.
But from the twenty-five-yard line the steady rushes went on again, back
over the lost ground, and soon, with the half almost gone, Robinson
placed the ball on Erskine's five yards. Twice the tandem was met
desperately and hurled back, but on the third down, with her whole
back-field behind the ball, Robinson literally mowed her way through,
sweeping Paul and Mason, and Gillam and Foster before her, and threw
Bond over between the posts with the ball close snuggled beneath him.
The south stand leaped to its feet, blue flags and streamers fluttered
and waved, and cheers for Robinson rent the air until long after the
Brown's left half had kicked a goal. Then the two teams faced each other
again and the Robinson left end got the kick-off and ran it back fifteen
yards. Again the battering of the tackle-tandem began, and Paul and
Gillam, nearly spent, were unable to withstand it after the first half
dozen plays. Mason went into the van of the defense in place of Gillam,
but the Brown's advance continued; one yard, two yards, three yards were
left behind.
Mills, watching, glanced almost impatiently at the timekeeper, who, with
his watch in hand, followed the battle along the side-line. The time was
almost up, but Robinson was back on Erskine's thirty-five yards. But now
the timekeeper walked on to the gridiron, his eyes fixed intently on the
dial, and ere the ball went again into play he had called time. The
lines broke up and the two teams trotted away.
The score-board proclaimed:
Erskine 0, Opponents 6.