Life, 1924-11-13 · page 5 of 42
Life — November 13, 1924 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes early 1900s college football culture. "The Varsity Eleven" lists players with humorous "credit lines" explaining how each joined the team—poking fun at recruitment practices. The main cartoon below depicts a social gathering where a parent asks about their son's position on the team. The son's vague response—"I think he is the one that makes the touchdowns"—satirizes parental ignorance about football and the sport's growing prominence in college life. The overall message critiques how football dominated collegiate institutions and how families invested social prestige in their sons' athletic roles, often without understanding the game itself. This reflects Progressive Era anxieties about commercialization and priorities in American higher education.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
e758 The ’Varsity Eleven (With the Proper Acknowledgments) NAME Position Crenit Line NAME Position DJINKS RE. Merritt, ‘04, knows a sure Ortelly LT. D ‘varsity man even when he sees him in the gloom of his Gresserley coal mines. Caughtwell, '99, deferred a trip to Europe to convince this player there was no future in stevedoring. Toosune Might still have been driving a grocery wagon but for Fen- wick, “11 Edgarfeldt Rustberg L. H: B. Torrid c. Matriculated of his own ac- cord. Mutz F.B Fortune L.G. The subway crowds at Times Square aren't being dled as they were before Easton, Crenit Line Compliments of the boys of Phi Phi Phi. Saved from doom at fresh- water college by Maxten, "19, who ‘wished to do some- thing for his Alma Mater after a flier in the market Application on file et “Best Wishes froma Legacy from Edgarfeldt, ‘ Thompkins, ‘07, watches his younger factory hands for a good open-field runner. Donated by Psi Chapter, Gam- ma Damma Gamma. James K. McGuinness. ‘03, persuaded this one to IRST AUTHOR: Yes, truth is stranger than fiction. become educated. Srconp Autuor: Ah, but it doesn’t sell as well. “AND WHAT POSITION DOES YOUR SON PLAY ON THE TEAM?” “YM NOT SURE, BUT 1 THINK HE 1S THE ONE THAT MAKES THE TOUCHDOWNS.” comicbooks.com