Cactus Jack And His Kokomos

Curtice walked back to the sidelines and did an exaggerated doubletake when he saw the youngsters.

"All right, gentlemen," he said very sternly. "There is no reason why you can't report on time like every one else. Take 20 laps apiece."

The boys scrambled to their feet.

"But..." said the smaller of the two.

"Now!" said Curtice, and the little one began to trot around the field. The older boy said, "We're little leaguers, sir."

Curtice grinned and whistled at the youngster trotting away.

"I'm sorry, gentlemen," he said. "I felt sure you were on my team."

The youngsters trudged away thankfully, and Curtice returned to watching his practice.

"I'm offense-minded," he said with relish. "Now this team has good speed and agility. We can go wide and we can pass. We hit for long scores. We're not a ball-controlled team, but we can play ball control when we want to. And we can do it passing, not hitting for four yards in a cloud of dust like the split-T teams. We can do it on quick passes—sidelines and hooks. We got a fine passer in Lee Grosscup, and Stuart Vaughan, he's a great receiver. He's got tremendous hands and a great knack of getting loose. And he's got quickness and balance."

This was the last practice Curtice called before his game with Brigham Young. He gave the team the next day—Friday—off. Thursday night he took his family to dinner at the sumptuous Fort Douglas Club and to a play at the university theater afterward. He enjoyed the play thoroughly (Witness for the Prosecution, with Basil Rathbone).