CHAPTER 1
HIGH HOPES
Foxville was anxiously looking forward to football time. Of course, this feeling was an annual occurrence in the small industrial town in the Fox River Valley. This year, however, was going to be different from past years. This was to be their year.
The “Foxes” had not won the conference championship for fourteen seasons. Some of these had been long years for the football team and their fans. The loyal followers of the team were anxious to tell anyone that this year the team had a good chance to win the Southern Valley – Little Eight Conference Championship.
There were many reasons for their confidence. Last year the team won five and lost only two league games. This record had been achieved with eight juniors playing regularly on the team. All eight were returning to play again this year and were naturally expected to do even better than they had done before.
The center of attention was bound to be on the Brown twins, Tim and Tom. They had been outstanding the previous year.
Tom played quarterback, a position he had filled well for the past two years. He broke into the lineup two years ago and played it all of last season. For a sophomore, he did well, but the season had been a dismal failure. Not only had the team lost every game, but they had been unable to score even one touchdown the whole season. The experience gained by the young quarterback was about the only good part of that season.
Tom’s experience last year helped him improve a lot. As a signal caller he demonstrated a fine ability to know what plays would work, and when to call them. He passed well, ran the ball when needed, was a better than average punter, and operated the team well. Some fans felt that Tom was one of the best high school quarterbacks in the state.
Tim Brown was Tom’s identical twin, which meant double trouble for opposing teams. They each carried about 185 pounds on well built bodies six feet two inches tall. They had short light hair. The girls of the school thought they were very handsome. Most of the boys envied their strong bodies which were kept in top form by participating in baseball, basketball and football.
From his position at left-halfback, Tim had become the top scorer on the team with seven touchdowns in his junior year. He was the best running back in the memory of many of the fans. When he went around end on a running play, it was almost certain that he would gain some yardage. Tom liked passing to Tim, and the brother combination connected often in games for long gains.
Although Tim was the better punter of the two, Tom kicked more often than Tim. He had learned to kick on the run. He started toward the sideline and booted the ball for a very effective “quick-kick”. In addition, Tom was a good field-goal kicker. With Tim holding the ball, he had successfully kicked ten of fourteen attempts last year.
The Brown twins were a good reason for the Foxville fans to view the approaching season with eager anticipation. They had both been selected on the league coaches’ all-conference team last year. The loyal boosters could see no reason why they should not be even better this year.
Most of the attention was centered on the twins, but no one forgot that six other regulars from last year’s team were returning too.
Bob Smith, called “Smitty” by his teammates, was returning to his position at right halfback. The coach never felt that he had reached his potential even though he had been a good back. In practice drills he was very good. He ran faster than anyone else on the team, and those who watched him were certain that he could be a great football player.
Teachers may not know much about football, but in Smitty’s case they were convinced that the boy would never become great. His mental ability was short of what it takes to become a great star.
“He is a nice kid,” one of them explained to the coach, “but he just doesn’t think well.”
The line had promise of being a strong asset for the team. Counted among the regulars on the team last year and returning for another year of competition were a guard, two tackles, and two ends.
Wayne Cain was the guard counted on to do a lot of the blocking. His specialty was pulling out of the line and leading the blocks for Tom Brown on his right end runs. He was only five feet, nine inches tall and probably weighed no more than 150 pounds in his football equipment. His speed and blocking ability were second only to his knack for tackling hard and low.
Wayne came from a farm east of town and from a large, poor family. None of the players lived near him nor were they very friendly to him. After practice he usually walked the three miles to his home alone carrying his schoolbooks, which kept him plenty busy after chores were done.
Football was high on the list of important things in the life of the little guard. While he loved to play the game, he thought of it mainly as a means to an end. Through the game he could build himself up physically, and prove that though small in size – he could still play the big boy’s game on their own terms. His “B” squad coach had given him a slogan which he had never forgotten. “It isn’t the size of the dog which counts in a fight as much as the size of the fight in the dog.”
Cain had a reputation as a book-worm among the students of his class. He enjoyed learning as much as he enjoyed football. His ambition was to be a doctor. This may have been unrealistic in relation to his ability, but it was consistent with his personality. He wanted to be the best, and the best vocation he could think of was that of a medical doctor.
The two tackles would probably be the largest in the league again this year. Jerry Small stood six feet three inches and weighed 255 pounds without his uniform on. Once his schoolmates had called him “fatty”, but this had given way to “Tiny” which was more appropriate. Tiny was not fat, he was just big. He had arms and legs twice the size of most boys his age.
No one dared to call him “fatty” any more. No one did, with the possible exception of Ken Whisk, the other tackle. Ken looked down on his teammates from his six foot five inch height. He played center on the basketball team after football season was over, but in the autumn he enjoyed using his 235 pounds to open holes in the opponent’s line or tackle their runners.
Whisk was not only big but he was also rough. Moreover, he was strong-willed. Often he teased his friends by doing things they did not like and then dared them to make him shut up. On the field he was all seriousness about the game. All of his teammates were glad he was on their team, rather than having to play against him.
The seniors who played end were Augie Bent and Jay Roberts. Jay was a tall, quiet, serious boy who did his job as it should be done. He had played right end on offense and defense. The left end was also a tall boy but was as talkative as Jay was quiet.
Augie announced, when he first reported for football at Foxville, “Your worries are over, Coach. I’m going to be your new quarterback.” After a tryout at that position, he was moved to the end position, where he had remained; a good pass catcher and fair blocker.
Several other seniors had won letters but had not played regularly last year, nor were they expected to win starting positions from the juniors this year.
Football practice would begin officially on August 29, which was one full week before school began. Conference rules prohibited any official practice before that date; but that did not prevent the fellows from holding “unofficial” practices.
Cain had called most of the prospective players on the phone and told them to get out for the practices. They began working out about three times a week early in August. They did not work on plays but did some exercises, running and played touch football.
Coach Andrews knew the practice sessions were being held, but did not attend. One evening his curiosity became too strong. He yielded to his desire to see how they were doing. When he drove his car into the parking lot near the field he saw the boys doing calisthenics with Wayne in front of them, calling instructions, and leading them. It was then he decided to make Cain the team captain.
Bob Andrews was looking forward to his first season as varsity coach
. He had come to the school as an English teacher five years ago. His coaching duties had been as an assistant football coach and coach of the junior varsity basketball team. After last season the former football coach was forced to retire because of his health. This gave Mr. Andrews the opportunity to be the head coach, a chance which he accepted with great enthusiasm.
Andrews had been an athlete for as long as he could remember. He played three sports during his high school days. In college he had been on the football team but never made the first team. He would tell anyone who would listen that his college teammates called him “Judge” because he spent so much time on the bench.
Assisting Mr. Andrews in his first year as head coach was Russell Miller. Mr. Miller had just graduated from State College where he played guard on the football team. As the assistant coach his job would be to coach the lineman, a task for which he was well prepared.
Early in the summer Mr. Andrews sent letters to all of the boys in school inviting them to come out for football. He pointed out the values to be gained from participation in the sport. He told the boys to get their physical cards from the school office and have a doctor’s examination showing their fitness.
In his letter Mr. Andrews told of his plan to give every boy a chance to make the team if he was willing to work hard. He also warned the veterans that no one was certain of a position on the team because of their past performance alone. Everyone would be placed on the squad in a position he had earned in practice.
Finally, the letter suggested a summer conditioning schedule for prospective players. He told them to run and exercise. “Everyone”, he wrote,”should be prepared to run a mile in satisfactory time depending on the individual’s weight.” If the boys came to the first practice conditioned well enough to run that far, they would be ready to play football.
Tom and Tim received their letters as they arrived home from a day on the golf course.
“What do you make of this guy, Andrews?” Tom asked. “He sounds like he’s going to be tough.”
“Aw, forget it, Tom;” said Tim from his reclining position on the sofa, “We don’t need to worry. He’ll be glad to have us. He’s gotta win, and he knows we’re his best players. We’ll be playin’”.
The Brown twins were enjoying their summer vacation too much to go out to the field and work out. They played golf most of the time during the day and in the evenings rode around town with their friends. Sometimes when they passed the school where the others boys were practicing, they called to them and laughed at them for working so hard.
The jibes did not go unnoticed by the other team members. The boys who liked to play and wanted to be prepared were the ones who were out on the field practicing. Other years the Brown boys would have been out there, too. This year the fellows were worried about them and their change of attitude.
Mr. Brown had noticed the players one evening as he drove past the school. The next evening at the supper table he asked, “Why don’t you fellows go out and practice with the others this year?”
Tim quickly answered, “What for? We’re in better shape than those guys already. Why, they could practice a month and still not be as good as we are. Right, Tom?”
“Sure, Dad, Tim’s right. We'll go out when the regular practices begin. We’ll be ready.”
“Now look fellows - - - - “ Mr. Brown started. That was as far as he went.
“r-r-r-r-ring” the telephone interrupted.
“Yeah,” barked Tom into the mouth piece. “Oh. Hi. You have? Sure, we’ll go. O.K., see ya.”
“Who was that?” asked Tim.
“Larry. He’s got the car and wants us to go to the drive-in movie with him.” And then to his father he said, “Dad we need some money. Can I have five dollars?”
“Then you’re not going to go to practice tonight either?” Mr. Brown asked in a half questioning tone, yet answering the question for himself.
“Don’t nag the boys, Dear,” scolded Mrs. Brown, “Give them the money and let them enjoy themselves.”
Taking the five dollar bill from his father, Tom departed saying, “Thanks, Dad. Don’t wait up for us, we’ll be late.”
“Yeah, thanks” added Tim, “and don’t worry about us. We’ll make it alright. No use getting all sweated up before we have to.”