Tom got on the substitutes' bench, which was something, if not much.

Then practice began in earnest, for the college was to play a game against Roxley, another college, on a Saturday, ten days later.
"I hope you win, Dick," said Sam, "And it's a pity you didn't get on the gridiron, Tom," he continued.
"Oh, I'll get on, sooner or later," answered Tom with a grin.
"Football is no baby play, and somebody is bound to get hurt." "You're not wishing that, are you ?" asked Songbird.
"No, indeed! But I know how it goes.

Haven't I been hurt myself, more than once ?" The football game was to take place at Brill, on the athletic field, and the college students were privileged to invite a certain number of their friends.

The Rovers promptly invited Dora, Nellie and Grace, and it was arranged that Sam should see to it that the girls got there.
"Sam will have as good a time as anybody," said Tom.

"He'll have the three girls all to himself." "Well, you can't have everything in this world," replied the youngest Rover with a grin.