“Just before the Spanish War Stacy became ill.  Orders were issued that regiments should send officers to the different cities for the purpose of recruiting.  He was at this time not fit for field service, so was assigned to this duty.  He protested so strongly that in some way he was able to join his regiment in time to go to Cuba with his men.  He participated in all the work down there; and when it was over, even he had to give in.  He was sent to Montauk Point in very bad shape.  He rallied for a time and obtained sick leave.  He went to his old home in Maine, where he died.  It was his old football grit that kept him going in Cuba until the fighting was over.

“No mention of West Point’s football would be complete without the name of Dennis Michie.  He is usually referred to as the Father of Football at the Academy.  He was captain of the first two teams we ever had.  He played throughout the Navy game in ’91 with ten boils on his back and neck.  He was a backfield man and one of West Point’s main line backers.  He was most popular as a cadet and officer and was killed in action at San Juan, Cuba.

“One of the longest runs when both yards and time are considered ever pulled off on a football field, was made by Duncan, ’95, in our Princeton game of ’93.  Duncan got the ball on his 5-yard line on a fumble, and was well under way before he was discovered.  Lott, ’96, later a captain of Cavalry, followed Duncan to interfere from behind.  The only Princeton man who sensed trouble was Doggy Trenchard.  He set sail in pursuit.  He soon caught up with Lott and would have caught Duncan, but for the latter’s interference.  Duncan finally scored the touchdown, having made the 105 yards in what would have been fast time for a Wefers.

“We at West Point often speak of Balliet’s being obliged to call on Phil King to back him up that day, as Ames, one of our greatest centres, was outplaying him, and of the rage of Phil King, because on every point, Nolan, ’96, tackled him at once and prevented King from making those phenomenal runs which characterized his playing.”

Harmon Graves of Yale is a coach who has contributed much to West Point’s football.

“Harmon Graves is too well known now as coach to need our praise,” says a West Pointer, “but it is not only as a successful coach, but as a personal friend that he lives in the heart of every member of the team and indeed the entire corps.  There will always be a sunny spot at West Point for Graves.”

In a recent talk with Harmon Graves he showed me a beautifully engraved watch presented to him by the Cadet Corps of West Point, a treasure prized.

Of the privileged days spent at West Point Graves writes, as follows: 

“Every civilian who has the privilege of working with the officers and cadets at West Point to accomplish some worthy object comes away a far better man than when he went there.  I was fortunate enough to be asked by them to help in the establishment of football at the Academy and for many years I gave the best I had and still feel greatly their debtor.