The Saga of Sidat-Singh

by Grantland Rice

(As it looked to the keen eyes of John S. Martin, writter, golfer, wild turkey and woodcock shot, and was told to Grantland Rice.)

The sons of Syracuse may now yell
 at a new, exotic saga,
Of a magic spell that entranced Cornell
 in the vale of the Onandaga.

The shades of night were falling fast
 and the score was 10 to zero,
When Sidat-Singh, the wizard, passed
 six times to become a hero.

(Note: From this point on Mr. Martin presents a very graphic description of the situation as it stood between Syracuse and Cornell, when Sidat-Singh loosed his devastating attack—Continueing——)

By some mysterious, dervish art
 he could rifle a pigskin bullet
From the scrimmage heart or a spinner's start
 to the runner left free to pull it.

Then Wilmeth Sidat-Singh, in sooth,
just thrice did loose his missile,
To Heer, to Balmer, then to Ruth,
and they heard the touchdown whistle.

That made the score stand six to ten,
 but Fullback Brown like lightning,
Soon struck again through the Orangemen
 with a field-length run that was frightening.

But there stood Sidat-Singh once more,
 cool as a cobra striking,
In place of Ruth he made Allen score
 with a pass through Peck, the Viking.

So on Piety Hill the great chimes ring
 —they peal in ancient splendor,
For the sorcerous wing of Sidat-Singh
 —black-artful bitterender.

But in Ithaca now the sad boys ring
 their change on a bitter theme-
“Did you see that thing? That's Sidat-Singh
 — the Syracuse Walking Dream.”

Saga of Sidat-Singh, by Grantland Rice (or perhaps John S. Martin), Omega Bulletin, Ω Ψ Φ, December 1938, Vol. XVII, No. 7, edited by Theodore R. Fortson.

See Also: On the Sports Front, by Harold Jackson, The Afro-American, July 10, 1943, Page 19.

And: Third District History and Archives, Monday Pearl, 3/4/19 – Oh Nellie!, Third District Ω Ψ Φ Fraternity.