Jim Thorpe - All-American Page #5

Jim, how many times do I have to tell you.

Get back inside and take off those clothes.

I'm coming out for the team.

Oh, so you're coming out for the team.

No matter what I say?

All right.

What do you know about drop-kicking?

- Nothing. But I can learn.

- Get over there with those men.

I thought you were saving him for track.

Just because he's on the squad

doesn't mean I'm gonna let him play.

Miss Miller.

- Miss Miller.

- Oh, hello, Mr. Thorpe.

- Do you mind if I walk with you?

- Why, no, not at all.

Miss Miller,

there's something I'd like to tell you.

Yes?

I think I'm in love with you.

You're what?

I think I'm in love with you.

I can't be sure because

I've never been in love before, but...

Well, I thought you ought to know.

In our opening games that year,

we got past Lafayette,

Bucknell and Dickinson.

But Jim was still warming the bench

and he didn't like it.

And then we ran up against Harvard.

We used a checkerboard field at that time

because a forward pass

could only be thrown

directly over the line of scrimmage.

The scoring was a little different, too.

A touchdown counted five points

and a field goal, four points.

The emphasis was on the word "foot".

Water boy.

What a job for a man of talent.

Quit complaining.

You've seen more action than I have.

46, 27, 98, 32, 46.

It was late in the game.

Carlisle was trailing.

The boys were plenty used up.

Big Wolfe.

Thorpe.

- Yes, sir?

- Four points will tie up this game.

You've been practicing field goals

for months.

- Think you can kick one?

- Yes, sir, I think so.

Get in there.

And don't carry the ball, just kick!

Make it good, Jim. Make it good!

- Thorpe for Big Bear.

- Big Bear, out.

- Pop sent me in to try a drop-kick.

- What?

Time out!

- You think you can do it, Bright Path?

- Just give me that ball.

All right. Let's go!

46, 93, 98, 42.

That was a big help!

Let me take the ball again.

I'll get it off this time.

48, 26, 32, 97, 41.

Attaboy, Jim. Attaboy!

Once he made the varsity,

Carlisle began to roll.

America suddenly took notice

of a bunch of young Indians

led by a twisting, hard-running,

flash of fire named Thorpe.

He didn't stop at track and football.

Anything Jim tried,

he quickly mastered with ease,

and won his letter in baseball, too.

After the last baseball game of the season,

we were heading back to Carlisle

for the start of summer vacation.

- Time to turn in, Jim.

- In a little while, Pop.

What's on your mind?

- Oh, just thinking.

- About next season?

No.

- I was thinking about me, Pop.

- What about you?

Do you remember you once told me that,

that sooner or later I'd find out

what I wanted most in life?

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