Brilliant in his studies and dismissive of athletics, Ronald (Buster Keaton) finishes high school at the top of his class. But in college his uptight attitude doesn't win him any points with his sports-loving classmates, and pretty coed Mary (Anne Cornwall) ignores him in favor of brutish jock Jeff (Harold Goodwin). Hoping to impress Mary, Ronald makes a buffoon of himself at every sport imaginable, usually at Jeff's hand. But Ronald gets a final shot at glory in a big rowing race.