The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-11-20
ERROR OF THE REFEREE
Gave Eugene the Football Game
Some Exciting Features.

Three hundred waters soaked III
dividuals saw the Oregon Agricul
tural College football team los
the first game of the champion
ship series, last. Saturday through
a wrong decision of the referee
The score is, officially, Eugene s
J O. A. G. 4. 1t is, rightfully, Eu
gene 4, o. A. G. 4.
And the rain fell. 1t more thar
fell. IL was hurtled down in sheets
The signal flags ON the college
tower prophesied rain followed by
more rain. and the weather mar
was right. The Indians say that {
sure sign of rain is 'sclondy al
'round and coming down in the
middle" The sign was in evi
dence. but the enthusiasts needed
not the storm. They ran around
the lines in he water and yelled
There was no dam2ening of the
trdor of PLAYERS or spectators and
there were several exhibitit.rs ol
the manly art OF self preservation
during the game. 1t was quite All
exciting and interesting afternoon,
although there was decided def
Cheney of right good football play
ing. But considering the storm, it
was all that could be expected.
To avoid Il constant repetition oi
the term '.fumble," it will be. .neces
sary to refrain pmsglescribing. the
game in detail. There were more
fumbles than anything: else, and
fumbles ON both sides, but the
state university boys generally
gathered s'onto' the ball. In this
respect they were superior to the
Farmers. Much of the college
fimbling could have been avoided
by the exercise OF more frmness
and less sentiment. A. Simpson
is faithful and earnest player.
but he positively cannot play quar-
ter back. The game was lost.
officially, throguh the fear oi
wounding his feelings. Had slit
tie Casino" Cunmins been substi-
tuted, the Dudes would never have
been near enough to the Farmers
goal line, to give the referee Il
chance to make them a present of
a touch down. The o. A. @. backs
seldom failed to make gains when.
ever they were given the ball, but
the quarterback usually failed to
deliver. 1t is but fair to say that
EMre Simpson played a strong effec-
tive defensive game. Bruce Bur-
nett, of course, played quarter to
perfection while he lasted, and
used excellent generalship, but he
was hurt early in the first half
Eugene made the first touch
down near the end of the first half.
1t was well earned. No goal was
kicked and the half ended, 4 to o
in favor of Eugene.
Early in the second half Brady
Burnett, by brilliant run and Ell
fective dodging, secured a touch
down, but the Farmers failed, to
kick goal. Then came a lot OF
sickening fumbles and Eugene was
soon near the Farmers goal line.
They. pushed the ball sover, but
dropped it before making a down.
Osburn, of the U. A. O., dropped
Of it and il Eugene man dropped
on him. Referee Burkhart gave
Osburn the ball. Osburn got up
and Burkhart sai'' it was Eugene's
ball, thereby presenting them with
Ffour5points. Kelsay, of the Farm.
ers' team, and Burkhart had some
words, during which "Pat" accused
the referee of unfairness in strong
language. The referee replied in
equally strong language and told
Pat" that he lied, and "PatD
knocked him down. Kelsay was
ruled off the field. :
1t is not thought that the referee
was Intentionally unfair, but that
he believed Osburn was a Eugene
man.. He gave the ball to Osburn
while he was lying on the ground
and did not know to which team he
belonged. When Osburn got up,
Burkhart said it was Eugene's ball.
The fstic episode is generally re-
gretted although somewhat excusa
BILE, for such arguments do not tend
to commend the game. But, how
aver honest the error, it keeps the
college boys out of further chance
for the championship and they can
hardly be blamed for some un
kind remarks.
Eugene made nearly all its gains
over left tackle. Thurston was
puzzled by the tandem play and did
not know how to stopi it. Eugene's
interference seemed good. but ran
across the field without making
gains when end runs were attempt
ed. On the other hand the Far
mers' interference, while apparent.
ly more ragged" always succeed
ed in plotting the halls for good
end runs.
Both o. A. @. full, backs, Bright
hop and Owens, played a strong
game. Brighthop's line bucking
was a feature of the game, but his
failures at punting contributed
largely to the Farmers defeat.
Owens punting was splendid.
Their attempts to catch the ball on