The problem of finding a man for the position of left half in place of Neil had finally been solved by moving Paul over there from the other side and giving his place to Gillam, a last year substitute.  Paul’s style of play was very similar to Neil’s.  He was sure on his feet, a hard, fast runner, and his line-plunging was often brilliant and effective.  The chief fault with him was that he was erratic.  One day he played finely, the next so listlessly as to cause the coaches to shake their heads.  His goal-kicking left something to be desired, but as yet he was as good in that line as any save Neil.  Gillam, although light, was a hard line-bucker and a hurdler that was afraid of nothing.  In fact he gave every indication of excelling Paul by the time the Robinson game arrived.

One cause of Paul’s uneven playing was the fact that he was worried about his studies.  He was taking only the required courses, seven in all, making necessary an attendance of sixteen hours each week; but Greek and mathematics were stumbling-blocks, and he was in daily fear lest he find himself forbidden to play football.  He knew well enough where the trouble lay; he simply didn’t give enough time to study.  But, somehow, what with the all-absorbing subject of making the varsity and the hundred and one things that took up his time, the hours remaining for “grinding” were all too few.  He wondered how Neil, who seemed quite as busy as himself, managed to give so much time to books.

In one of his weekly evening talks to the football men Mills had strongly counseled attention to study.  There was no excuse, he had asserted, for any of the candidates shirking lessons.

“On the contrary, the fact that you are in training, that you are living with proper regard for sleep, good food, fresh air, and plenty of hard physical work, should and does make you able to study better.  In my experience, I am glad to say, I have known not one football captain who did not stand among the first few in his class; and that same experience has proved to me that, almost without exception, students who go in for athletics are the best scholars.  Healthful exercise and sensible living go hand in hand with scholarly attainment.  I don’t mean to say that every successful student has been an athlete, but I do say that almost every athlete has been a successful student.  And now that we understand each other in this matter, none of you need feel any surprise if, should you get into difficulties with the faculty over your studies, I refuse, as I shall, to intercede in your behalf.  I want men to deal with who are honest, hard-working athletes, and honest, hard-working students.  My own experience and that of other coachers with whom I have talked, proves that the brilliant football player or crew man who sacrifices class standing for his athletic work may do for a while, but in the end is a losing investment.”

And on top of that warning Paul had received one afternoon a printed postal card, filled in here and there with the pen, which was as follows: