en from the larger score. He was
disappointed in the team's defense, and realized that a wonderful
improvement was necessary if Robinson was to be defeated.
And so the Erskine players were plainly given to understand the next day
that they had not acquired all the glory they thought they had. The
advance guard of the assistant coaches put in an appearance in the shape
of Jones and Preston, both old Erskine football men, and took hold with
a vim. Jones, a former guard, a big man with bristling black hair, took
the line men under his wing and made them jump. Neil, Paul, and several
others were taken in hand by Preston, and were daily put through a
vigorous course of punting and kicking. Neil was fast acquiring speed
and certainty in the art of kicking goals from drop and placement, while
Paul promised to turn out a fair second choice.
Jones, as every one soon learned, was far from satisfied with the line
of material at his disposal. He wanted more weight, especially in the
center trio, and was soon pleading with Mills to have Cowan reinstated.
The head coach ultimately relented, and Devoe was given to understand
that if Cowan expressed himself decently regretful and determined to do
good work he could go back into the second. The big sophomore, who, by
his frequent avowals, was in college for no other purpose than to play
football, had simply been lost since his dismissal, and, upon hearing
Devoe's message, eagerly came off his high horse and made a visit to
Mills. What he said and what Mills said is not known; but Cowan went
back into the second team at right-guard, and on Saturday was given a
try at that position in the game with Erstham. He did so well that Jones
was highly pleased, and Mills found it in his heart to forgive. The
results of the Erstham game were both unexpected and important.
Instead of the comparatively easy victory anticipated, Erskine barely
managed to save herself from being played to a standstill, and the final
figures were 6-0 in her favor. The score was made in the last eight
minutes of the second half by fierce line-bucking, but not before half
of the purple line had given place to substitutes, and one of the
back-field had been carried bodily off the gridiron.
With the ball on Erstham's twenty-six yards, where it had been
desperately carried by the relentless plunging and hurdling of Neil,
Smith, and Mason, Erstham twice successfully repelled the onslaught, and
it was Erskine's third do
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