orused to |
|the Navy line to hold. And the line did its best, |
|but its best was not good enough to throw back the |
|Army's battering attack. Oliphant jammed his way two|
|yards and on the next play drove through the |
|desperately fighting Navy line within a few feet of |
|the goal line. |
| |
|Here the Navy showed a flash of power that sent the |
|midshipmen to frenzied shouting. Oliphant on his |
|third smash into the line was hurled back for a yard|
|loss. The next try made the fourth down and with the|
|cadet band blaring and the cadets shouting |
|themselves hoarse Oliphant made his fourth drive |
|against the Navy forwards. |
| |
|It was a lunge that carried the concentrated power |
|of the Army eleven yards behind it and it spelled a |
|touchdown for the cadets. Oliphant with several Navy|
|players clutching him stormed well over the line for|
|the first score of the game. He promptly kicked the |
|goal from touchdown and the scoreboard read: Army 7,|
|Navy 0. |
| |
|This was the signal for the Army to break into the |
|song, "Good Night, Navy." They were still singing |
|when Coffin kicked off for the Army....[28] |

[28] Joseph J. O'Neil in the _New York World_,
November 28, 1915.

This story may be examined critically--and imitated--for its excellence
in centering the reader's interest upon the football hero, Oliphant,--a
stroke which gives the article almost a short story unity of impression.
The writer's shift from the game and the crowd to Oliphant is somewhat
rough--note, for instance, "We are as loyal a Democrat as anybody else,
but NO,"--but otherwise the story is good.

=239. Getting Players' Names.=--When reporting a football game, one can
best follow and take notes on the plays by knowing the players by
number. In big games this is made easy by the numerals on the football
men's backs. On the smaller elevens this is not done, a difficulty which
the reporter can overcome, however, by numbering the positions
according to the regulation lineup. Thus:

5.LE R