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Mulany, John V. (ed.) / The Wisconsin literary magazine
Vol. V, No. 2 (November 1907)
Swenson, Edith
"Peter MacDonald - center", pp. 52-58
Page 52
" PETER MACDONALD-CENTER" Edith Swenson HE Macdonalds had always been a "football" family. Mr. and Mrs. Macdonald were as crazy over football as any undergrads. Bill still insists that his father is prouder of him because of the end-run he made in the Wis- consin-Chicago game in '95, than he is of his success in banking. When Peter came along they all thought it was going to be Bill over again. He was on the high school team, and when he entered college he was one of the biggest freshmen they'd ever seen. But, although Peter was as big as all out- doors, he was notso awfullyfast. He played on the freshman team the first season, and because Peter was young they all were sure he would make good his next year. Bill talked football to Peter every time he saw him, until the poor boy was dizzy. "Say, kid," he'd say to his sister Sue when he walked home from school with her, "Say, kid, there's no use talking, I've got to make the team. I've got to!" Whereupon Sue would squeeze his hand hard, for she knew just how he felt about it. Sue used to go out on the fieid to watch them practice, and she was nearly as tired as Peter when they got through. Once the coach-the great Macutchins-stopped near her and said: "That big soph has got the stuff in him if he'd only get a hustle on." She told Peter after dinner and he banged his fist down hard on the arm of his chair and said: "'By Jove, Sue, I'll hustle if it kills me!" and in about a week later he told the family he was going to play center on the 'Varsity next day. [53]
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