Alumnus Football
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| Bill Jones had been the shining star upon his college team. |
| His tackling was ferocious and his bucking was a dream. |
| When husky William took the ball beneath his brawny arm |
| They had two extra men to ring the ambulance alarm. |
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| Bill hit the line and ran the ends like some mad bull amuck. |
| The other team would shiver when they saw him start to buck. |
| And when some rival tackler tried to block his dashing pace, |
| On waking up, he’d ask, “Who drove that truck across my face?” |
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| Bill had the speed-Bill had the weight-Bill never bucked in vain; |
| From goal to goal he whizzed along while fragments, strewed the plain, |
| And there had been a standing bet, which no one tried to call, |
| That he could make his distance through a ten-foot granite wall. |
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| When he wound up his college course each student’s heart was sore. |
| They wept to think bull-throated Bill would sock the line no more. |
| Not so with William – in his dreams he saw the Field of Fame, |
| Where he would buck to glory in the swirl of Life’s big game. |
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| Sweet are the dreams of college life, before our faith is nicked- |
| The world is but a cherry tree that’s waiting to be picked; |
| The world is but an open road-until we find, one day, |
| How far away the goal posts are that called us to the play. |
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| So, with the sheepskin tucked beneath his arm in football style, |
| Bill put on steam and dashed into the thickest of the pile; |
| With eyes ablaze he sprinted where the laureled highway led- |
| When Bill woke up his scalp hung loose and knots adorned his head. |
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| He tried to run the ends of life, but with rib-crushing toss |
| A rent collector tackled him and threw him for a loss. |
| And when he switched his course again and dashed into the line |
| The massive Guard named Failure did a toddle on his spine. |
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| Bill tried to punt out of the rut, but ere he turned the trick |
| Right Tackle Competition scuttled through and blocked the kick. |
| And when he tackled at Success in one long, vicious prod |
| The Fullback Disappointment steered his features in sod. |
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| Bill was no quitter, so he tried a buck in higher gear, |
| But Left Guard Envy broke it up and stood him on his ear. |
| Whereat he aimed a forward pass, but in two vicious bounds |
| Big Center Greed slipped through a hole and rammed him out of bounds. |
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| But one day, when across the Field of Fame the goal seemed dim, |
| The wise old coach, Experience, came up and spoke to him. |
| “Oh Boy,” he said, “the main point now before you win your bout |
| Is keep on bucking Failure till you’ve worn the piker out!” |
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| “And, kid, cut out this fancy stuff – go in there, low and hard; |
| Just keep your eye upon the ball and plug on, yard by yard, |
| And more than all, when you are thrown or tumbled with a crack, |
| Don’t sit there whining-hustle up and keep on coming back; |
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| “Keep coming back with all you’ve got, without an alibi, |
| If Competition trips you up or lands upon your eye, |
| Until at last above the din you hear this sentence spilled: |
| ‘We might as well let this bird through before we all get killed.’ |
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| “You’ll find the road is long and rough, with soft spots far apart, |
| Where only those can make the grade who have the Uphill Heart. |
| And when they stop you with a thud or halt you with a crack, |
| Let Courage call the signals as you keep on coming back. |
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| “Keep coming back, and though the world may romp across your spine, |
| Let every game’s end find you still upon the battling line; |
| For when the One Great Scorer comes to mark against your name, |
| He writes – not that you won or lost – but how you played the Game.” |
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| Written by: Grantland Rice |
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| On This Day In: |
| 2018 |
Nice To Meet You |
| 2017 |
All Nations & Religions |
| 2016 |
Given The Choice |
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Why Is He Wearing Red? |
| 2015 |
Within The System |
| 2014 |
None But… |
| 2013 |
Obviously Longer |
| 2012 |
A Childhood Poem |
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Who Are You Callin’ Leather-Faced? |
| 2011 |
In No Particular Order |
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The Need For Proof |
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