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The Boy graduates from high school with interscholastic honors, and as class orator he speaks on "Brains vs. Brawn," demeaning athletics, thereby winning the favor of the pedagogues but not that of the students.

His college sweetheart requires that he become an athlete, so he spends his savings and tries out for all sports and is a perfect flop.  He goes to work to pay his way through school, but every job adds to his blunders.  His rival takes delight in maneuvering The Girl to his place of employment and further humiliating him.

Then the college dean takes an interest in The Boy and insists that the varsity coach give him a chance; through coincidence, he thwarts a plot against him and wins a race.

Learning that his rival has locked The Girl in the dormitory, The Boy goes to the rescue, performing all the athletic feats he dreamed about, and knocks the rival cold; thus the weakling becomes the college idol.