"We never needed them more," said White. "I could easily be a pessimist on the football situation, Fred. We've never started off with a bigger handicap."
"Oh, the fellows will turn out when they know they're really needed," said Gene comfortably. "You always have to coax them a bit."
"I wasn't thinking so much of getting material," answered White gravely. "What's bothering me--or would bother me if I let it--is the indifference. No one, except a dozen or two of us who play, cares much this year whether we have a team or don't have one."
"You'll see them begin to sit up when you get started," said Gene. "I'll grant that football has rather soured at Parkinson, but any sort of a fairly decent team will find support."
"We've got to find support," said Captain Lyons grimly. "We haven't enough money to print tickets for next week's game. We need at least two hundred and fifty dollars to get to the Kenwood game. After that we'll be able to clear up our debts."
"Can't you get tick for things until then?" asked Gene.
"Yes, but if we do we end the season the way we did last year. There were only twelve hundred and odd admissions to the game last year and our share was a bit over five hundred after expenses were paid. And when we had settled all our bills, most of which had run all season, we had ninety-something left. Spring expenses took about sixty and we began this Fall with about thirty dollars in the treasury. We've already spent it and a few dollars more. Lowell is advancing money from his own pocket for next week's tickets. I've dug down once myself. The worst of it was that everything had given out together. Usually we start the season with half a dozen good balls and head harnesses and so on, but this year we were short on every blessed thing. The balls we're using now aren't fit to play with. I tried to get the Athletic Association to make us a donation, but Mr. Tasser said there was almost no money on hand, and what there was would be needed for other sports. I suppose he's right, but when you consider that until last year football has always paid for itself and everything else, except baseball, it seems sort of tough."
"Wouldn't the students stand a small assessment?" asked Ira.