Few men got more work out of a team than did Jim Robinson.  There was always a time for play and a time for work with Jim.

Mike Murphy

Mike Murphy was the dean of trainers.

Bob Torrey, one of the most remarkable center-rushes that Pennsylvania ever had, is perhaps one of the greatest admirers of Mike Murphy during his latter years.  Torrey can tell it better than I can.

“Murphy’s sense of system was wonderful; he was a keen observer and had a remarkable memory; he seemed to do very little in the way of bookkeeping, but his mind was carefully pigeon-holed and was a perfect card index.

“He could have thirty men on the field at once and carry on conversations with visitors and graduates; issue orders to workmen and never lose sight of a single one of his men.  He was popular wherever he went.  His fame was not only known here, but abroad.  His charm of manner and his cheerful courage will be remembered by all who knew him, but only those who knew him well realize what an influence he had on the boys with whom he worked, and how high were his ideals of manhood.  The amount of good done by Mike Murphy in steering boys into the right track can never be estimated.”

Prep’ School boys athletically inclined followed Murphy.  Many a man went to college in order to get Murphy’s training.  He was an athletic magnet.

“The Old Mike”

The town of Natick, Mass., boasts of Mike Murphy’s early days.  Wonderful athletic traditions centered there.  His early days were eventful for his athletic success, as he won all kinds of professional prizes for short distance running.  Boyhood friends of Mike Murphy tell of the comradeship among Mike Murphy, Keene Fitzpatrick, Pooch and Piper Donovan—­all Natick boys.  They give glowing accounts of the “truck team” consisting of this clever quartet, each of whom were “ten-second” men in the sprinting game.

If that great event which was run off at the Marlboro Fair and Cattle Show could be witnessed to-day, thousands of admirers would love to see in action those trainers, see them as the Natick Hose truck defeated the Westboro team that day, and sent the Westboro contingent home with shattered hopes and empty pocketbooks.

“In connection with Army-Navy games,” writes Crolius of Dartmouth, “I’ll never forget Mike Murphy’s wonderful ability to read men’s condition by their ‘mental attitude.’  He was nearly infallible in his diagnosis.”

Once we questioned Mike.  He said, “Go get last year’s money back, you’re going to lick them!” And true to his uncanny understanding he was right.  Was it any wonder that men gave Murphy the credit due him?

Mike Murphy had a strong influence over the players.  He was their ever-present friend.  He could talk to a man, and his personality could reach farther than any of the coaches.  The teams that Murphy talked to between the halves, both at Yale and Pennsylvania, were always inspired.  Mike Murphy always gave a man something of himself.