STL All Sports

The American Indian has been well represented in the field of sports
in the United States. The Carlisle School, now only a memory, turned
out famous athletes in track, baseball and football by the score. The
Carlisle Indian football team left not only an indelible impression in the
minds of all sports fans, but also a flock of stories that will never be
forgotten.

When Glen "Pop" Warner was coach of the Carlisle Indians, he had
an assistant by the name of Bunny Larkin, one-time college star. It was
Larkin's job to explain the principles of football to the new candidates
for the eleven. When the boys turned out for their first day of practice,
Larkin lined them up before him. His explanation was brief and to the
point.

"Boys," he said, "football is like this: When white man has ball,
knock down white man. When Indian has ball, knock down white man."

One year, the Carlisle Indians fielded a football team whose only
fault was over-confidence and just a touch of laziness. The worst of these
offenders was the big powerful guard, Black Bear. When aroused, Black
Bear was the most devastating lineman ever seen on the gridiron. When
let alone, he was the most good-natured, easygoing of men.

Carlisle's quarterback was Gus Welch, in the minds of many old-timers
the greatest of them all. And Black Bear was his problem. Carlisle took
the field against a strong fast Pennsylvania eleven. In no time at all,
Welch was beside himself with rage as the big Penn backs began to tear
great holes in the Carlisle line. Welch diagnosed the situation quickly.
Black Bear was only going through the motions of playing football. Mter
each big gain through him, Black Bear rose from the turf with a grin
on his face as though nothing had happened.

It was more than Gus Welch could stand. On the next scrimmage,
Black Bear was, as usual, at the bottom of a heap of players. Welch crept
up behind the unsuspecting Black Bear and smashed him right on the ear.

Black Bear came to his feet with a roar. "Who hit me? Who hit me?"
he yelled. Welch pointed silently at the Penn players and walked away.

For the rest of the afternoon, the aroused Black Bear played like a
demon possessed. He ripped the Penn line to shreds. Carlisle went on to
victory.

Having learned how to get the best out of Black Bear, Welch never
let up. In the next game-against Harvard-Gus managed to sink his
teeth deep into the big guard's leg. That was the end of Harvard. Next
time it was a well-placed kick. Then a punch. Then another punch. And
so it went, right through the season.

Welch and Black Bear graduated from the Carlisle School together.
On the last day there, the two teammates fell to talking about their experiences.
Finally, Gus Welch asked, "Well, Black Bear, did you enjoy
playing football?"

"Oh, sure," replied Black Bear, but then his face clouded. "But you
know, Gus, I never once played in a game that some white man didn't
play me dirty by sneaking in a punch or a bite in scrimmage!"