According to the story, the Pittsburgh A.C. was in need of a replacement at center, due to their regular player being injured.

Then Pittsburgh captain Charley Aull reportedly ran into an old friend named "Stayer".

Although no one could prove that Read actually had been paid, and Aull had not tried to present him as a Pittsburgh A.C. member, the incident raised tensions between both clubs.

Allegheny then hired, under the table, Pudge Heffelfinger, a college star formerly from Yale, for $500, to play for the club in a November 21 rematch.

Read played against the Pittsburgh A.C. on November 5, 1892, when Penn State defeated the club 16–0.