Way Back When

[Wayne23]

11/27: At 1-1 Incoherent Word. They can score outside, especially at SF. We are much stronger in rebounding.

11/28: Up 1 after 10 in a very close game. 33-35 at halftime. Our bench is -10. Mack and Cary lead us, as usual. They have 6 threes, we have none but we're
+22 in the paint. We need more from our bench. We go on a big run and we're up 18 with 10 to go.

81-71. Cris Mack had a career best 36 with 15 RBs. 17, 3, 5 for Cary. Our bench was -16. +12 RBs, and an amazing +42 inside.

Mack and Cary are our winning formula. They both average more than 20 points.

11/30: A real challenge next. We're at #10 Oregon, 6-1. We wanted a couple of real challenges in the schedule and this is certainly one of them. They are a very good team and we will have our hands full!

12/1: Down 6 after 10. They are much better than anyone we've played this season. 33-38 at the half. 9 for Cary, 8 for Mack but the latter has 3 fouls. Their bench is +8. We have a terrible 13 TOs. They take a 10 point lead with 10 to play.

74-79. We were competitive against a top 10 team. I consider this to be very good news! 26, 3 for Cary, 12, 2, 5 for Jack. Cris Mack had 10 and 10 but fouled out in 18 minutes. His man had 21 and 10. The bench was -12. Sadly, we had a season high 19 turnovers. -10 in the paint. Still, we were competitive.

I will miss the camaraderie and the delicious food at the boarding house. There are drawbacks to living here but there are advantages as well.

[Wayne23]

12/4: 5-1 DePaul is here. They are not ranked but they are very good. We think we're better but we'll need to play well.

12/5: We take a lead quickly. We're holding a 10 point or so lead for most of the half. 37-28 at the break. 14 for Cary.+9 RBs. Up 11 with 10 to play.

68-48. Excellent D! Art Cary continues to play very well, 25 points tonight and he held his man scoreless. 10, 11 for Mack, 14, 1, 6 for Jack. Those three have provided most of our offense. +11 RBs.

We're 6-1 with 4 to play before we go to Conf. P play.

The weather is a bit chilly but Alma, Arthur, and I still go for walks whenever we can. My schedule makes that difficult at times but I try to fit it in.

[Wayne23]

12/12: A week off and then we're at 1-6 NJIT. They give up 10 1/2 more than they score.

12/13: It takes us a while to get going. Up 5 after 10. A late run puts us up 42-32 at the half. 12, 3, 4 for Cary, 8, 10 for Mack. Those two are our stalwarts, very steady! They make a run at us but we get the lead back to 10 with 10 to go.

88-75. All 5 starters had 10 or more led by Cary with 22, 3, 9, 5 steals, 3 blocks. Mack had 12 and 17, King 13 and 10. Our 6th man, Davy Hank, had 11 and 5. +13 RBs.

We have another week off between games.

I am more and more convinced every day that Alma will make a very fine wife. I am considering not waiting very much longer to ask for her hand.

As to living arrangements I suspect that we will live in the Atwood home. It has 5 bedrooms so there is sufficient room, and if we moved elsewhere Alma would be abandoning Arthur, who, at least until and unless he marries, is well content to reside with his sister.

[Wayne23]

12/18: At 0-8 ST Francis of PA. It is always a bit scary to face a team in desperate need of a win. On the other hand they really are not very good.

12/19: They're definitely playing like they need a win. We're down 6 after 10. We heat up a little and lead 36-27 at the half. Cary picked up 2 quick fouls and I sat him so he wouldn't get #3. He has 7 points. We come out strong and quickly build a 20 point lead.

90-63. Big game for Cris Mack, 22, 15. 19, 5 for Fly York, who starts at SF and has been quiet all season. Cary played only 13 minutes due to fouls but others picked up the slack. +16 RBs, +18 in the paint.

We have another week off before our next game. I wish these breaks could happen in January and February instead of in December. That's when teams need them.

12/20: I'm reading this but I do not believe it. It is reported that two brothers, Orville and Wilbur Wright, managed to fly an aeroplane the length of a football field or more. I think it must be some sort of publicity stunt, magic trick, or illusion. I don't believe such a thing is possible!

12/23: Arthur occasionally leaves us alone in the parlor. Tonight he did so.

"Alma, I am hoping you will be agreeable to my asking Arthur for your hand in marriage."

(She smiles and has a tear in her eye. She is unable to speak for a moment)

"Nothing could make me happier, Jacob."

"That is wonderful news. Shall I ask him as soon as he returns to the room?"

"Please do."

I did.

"I am delighted, Jake. Nothing would make me happier than having you as my brother-in-law. Alma and I are a family of two, as you know. We have discussed this possibility and we are in agreement that you would be a wonderful addition to our little family."

We discussed details for some time. We decided upon an early June wedding. My job becomes busy with recruiting at the end of June so early June works, and allows the time for a honeymoon.

As I expected Arthur would like to remain in the house, and we all agreed to that.

"If you eventually fill all of the bedrooms with children I will move, of course."

"It is my hope, brother, that you will find a bride long before that."

"I can put you in touch with Mrs. O'Brien from the boarding house. There's nothing she enjoys more than match making."

We discussed whether Alma would continue working after the wedding. Neither she nor I had strong feelings about it but Arthur did.

"It is not appropriate for the wife of a prominent man to work a menial job. Alma must end her employment once she is married. In addition, caring for two men, and presumably before long a child and then children, will be more than enough to occupy her time."

We agreed.

"If you should manage to have free time, Alma, I know how much you love to read, and the library is on the next street."

[Wayne23]

12/25:5-4 Western Kentucky is here. They're a good team, Conf H, having a mediocre season. We seem to be much better inside.

12/26: We take the lead early and build it to 11 with 10 minutes played. Cary has picked up 2 quick fouls again. 40-25 at halftime. Mack has 8 and 7, and PG Deon Jack has 10. We have only 2 TOs. We take complete control.

76-57. We led by as many as 30. 21, 15 for Mack, who has ben on fire recently. 16, 2, 5 for Jack. Cary had only 9. Foul trouble for 2 games in a row. We will speak about this! 11, 7 for Hank. 7 turnovers, +16 inside.

Evidently the reports of the Wright brothers' flight are indeed accurate. What is the world coming to!

"I am so pleased to hear of your forthcoming marriage, Mr. Last."

"Thank you, Mrs. O'Brien. I have never been happier."

"That is wonderful. And Mr. Atwood. Is he courting anyone?"

"He is not."

"He must be approaching 30. It is high time he settled down."

"I believe he feels that way as well although he says he is in no hurry. I know that he does hope to marry eventually."

"I would be happy to introduce him to some lovely young ladies."

"I will ask him."

[Wayne23]

1/1/1904: Another new year. Where does the time go!

Our last pre-conference game is at 5-5 Coppin ST. They score inside but they are poor rebounders and they do not take good care of the ball.

1/2: It is a close game. We are down 2 after 10 minutes. 46-46 at halftime. We are not playing defense! 11, 6 for York, 9 for Cary, 11 for #3 guard Tim Eshe.
We are allowing them to shoot 53.1%.

"You need to play better defense!"

We trail by 1 with 10 minutes left.

89-81 but it was tied with just under 2 minutes to play. 19, 0, 6, 4 for Cary, 18, 9 for Mack, 17, 7 for York who has really woken up. 12, 4 for hank, and 13 for Eshe. Sloppy game, we had 20 TOs to their 22.

We end pre-conference play at 10-1, NET #36.

+12.3 PPG; we're #1 in scoring. +8.4 RBs, -2.1 TOs. Too many though, 13.1.

19.5 for Mack, 19.4 for Cary. Mack leads in RBs with a very respectable 11.9. Jack gets 6.3 assists.

They're building one of those underground trolleys in New York City. Evidently it will run past almost every street in the city. I am not certain that I would be comfortable travelling underground. It does not seem very safe.

[Wayne23]

1/8: We open Conference P play with 3-7 Jacksonville ST here. Their starting SF has an ankle fracture. He is a very good player. We think we are much the better team.

1/9: We trail early. Down 6 after 10. 34-35 at the half. +14 in the paint, but this one is close, lots of lead changes and ties. We take the lead early in the 2nd. Then we get it to 10.

82-61. Great start to conference play! 23, 6 for Mack, 16, 7, 4, 3 for Cary. +28 in the paint.

My relationship with Alma has gone to a different stage now that we are engaged to be married. We're given more time alone together, most of which we spend discussing wedding plans... Alma's wedding plans. I'm just the groom!

The first very popular new song of 1904 is "Sweet Adeline." I love the harmonies. The Smithfield Barbershop Quartet does a great job with this one!

1/11: At 6-6 Lehigh. Their starting C is out but his replacement is doing better than he was! They give up 4.7 more than they score. Their strength is outside. First of 3 straight on the road.

1/12: They start fast then we catch up and go ahead. Up 3 after 10. 40-30 at halftime. 10 for Cary, 8 for Mack. +14 in the paint. Up 5 with 10 to go.

76-68. We led most of the way but they were never quite out of it until very late.

20, 9 for Mack but 6 TOs, 19, 3, 4 for Cary, but 5 TOs. 21 TOs in all; not5 good! +22 in the paint.

My last winter in the boarding house. As always in winter it is too cold to do anything in my room except to sleep. Alma and Arthur's house has fireplaces in all the bedrooms. That will be very nice. There is also a fireplace in the room I will use for an office.

[Wayne23]

1/15: At 5-8 Robert Morris. They give up 7 more than they score. They don't rebound very well.

1/16: Early lead. 37-25 at the break. We're doing it outside.

77-62. 17, 16 for Mack, 16, 2, 6 for Cary. +18 in the paint.

1/18: At 6-8, 3-0 Central Michigan. They play well inside, and we'll need to be at our best.

Another situation where we're on the train practically from the end of our last game until the start of the next one.

1/19: Up 8 after 10. 47-36 at the half. 21 for Cary, 9, 6, 3, 3 for Mack. They're tough inside but Cary is on fire.

94-68. 30, 3, 6, 5 steals for Cary. 17, 7, 5, 6 for Mack, 14, 6, 3, 4 for York, 12, 8 for King. +14 in the paint.

We swept the 3 game road trip. 14-1, 3-0, NET #34

1/21: A lovely walk with Alma. It was a cold night, but an invigorating kind of cold.

[Wayne23]

1/22: 9-6, 3-1 Youngstown ST is here. They give up a lot of points.

1/23: We take the lead after as few minutes. Up 3 after 10. 49-38 at halftime. 16 for Cary, 14 for Mack. We're running away with it in the 2nd half.

99-68. Cary is on fire right now, 28, 5, 5. 24, 7 for Mack. Those two give us an edge over nearly everyone. 18, 5 for York. 11 TOs to 21. +20 inside.

We're alone in 1st place.

Evidently the Wright brothers did it again, with a few dozen witnesses. Their flying machine went quite some distance. This publicity stunt is surely capturing the interest of the public. I can't see that it will ever have any practical value.

1/25: A long train ride to 9-7, 3-2 Texas ST. They have trouble scoring and rebounding.

This was not a smooth ride. Most trains give you a ride where the motion lulls you to sleep. This one didn't. It seemed to be a bumpy, jerky ride and none of us slept well. We get to Texas very tired.

1/26: We jump out to an immediate lead. 45-25 at the half; they are giving us no trouble at all. 14 for Cary, 13 for Mack. +9 RBs.

85-73 but it wasn't that close; they gained some ground in garbage time.

28 for Cary who has 86 in his last 3 games. 25, 6 for Mack.

2 game lead after 6. Evidently we didn't jump up to a high enough conference.

Art Cary: I was hoping for this kind of season. Cris Mack graduates in the Spring so I feel like this is the year for us to really do some great things and at least so far, we are doing them.

[Wayne23]

1/29: 6-11, 2-4 South Dakota is here. Another pretty weak team. Conf. P hasn't impressed us so far.

1/30: Up 6 after 10. 48-26 at the half. 21 for Cary, who couldn't get any hotter.

95-65 and another blowout. 23, 11 for Mack, 24, 2, 4 for Cary. +14 for the bench. 8 TOs, +24 down low.

2/1: At 12-6, 3-4 James Madison. They do some things well and they only lost to then #19 Memphis by 3 there. They're a pretty good team.

2/2: Up 7 after 10. 44-33. Cary is scoreless; he played only 5 minutes due to fouls. 13 for Mack, 10 for Davy Hank, who has been quiet.

89-74. We thought this team might challenge us but the outcome was never in doubt. 19, 5 for Mack. A strong 2nd half got Cary to 18 points. 11, 2, 7 for Eshe, 10, 4 for Hank. +19 for the bench.

2/5: We're ranked! #25. We're 18-1, 8-0, NET #28.

Only Youngstown ST is 2 games back at the halfway mark and we beat them by 31.

Ted Baer just raised my salary to $1,300, $25 per week. That's great, and it will really help Alma and me!

"I figured a married man needed a little more income."