Steve's surprise lay in the fact that he was not promoted to the second squad, Tom's to the even more startling circumstance that he survived the cut! Eric Sawyer had been relieved from his superintendence of the awkward squad and had gone to his old position of right guard on the first team.
The third squad was now under the care of a youth named Marvin, a substitute quarter-back on last year's second team.

He was a cheerful, hardworking little chap and the "rookies" took to him at once.

He was quick to find fault, but equally quick to applaud good work, and under his charge the third squad, composed now of some fourteen candidates, began to smooth out.

A half-hour session with the tackling dummy was now part of the daily routine and many a fellow who had thought rather well of himself suffered humiliation in the pit.

Steve was one of these.
Tackling proved to be a weak point with him.