The San Francisco call., 1897-10-23

The chang es in the Reliance team since
its Al game week ago with California
are: Erskine instead OF Mid ilemas at
left tackle, man over fifteen pounds
heavier than Middlemas, but not quite
the equal OF Sexton, who played the posi-
ZION Two weeks ago when Stanford won
Ga; Wells al center In place of OK Bur-
nett, whose weight is nearly twenty
hounds less than Wells. who opposed
Stanford in the hrst game; Wycoff instead
OF Piatt at quarter, good catcher and
skillful left-foot punter, probably a con-
sidera bic improvement on PIatI in the
position, but not the general strength to
the team in interference, accurate
handling OF the ball and generalship that
Code was when he opposed Stanford two
weeks ago; and Morse and Arlett behind
the line from the first, instead of being
put in after the first half, as they were
against California last Saturday.
This Reliance team is stronger and
fully fifteen pounds heavier than the
team that faced California a week ago.
All its backs can punt, and the spectac-
ular kick ng game, so interesting to spec
tators, will pro babiv be prominent feat
ure of their play. Wycoff is an oId-timer
with Reliance. Until very recently he
was a freshman at Stan ford, but returned
10 Oakland with his wife. He is good at
catching punts, and with him behind the
line no such distressing and costly FUN
bling as occurred last Saturday should
mar the game Reliance puts up to-day.
Stanford will have neither of her Var
sity ends, 10th Smith and Jeffs being laid
up TEN porarily. But DAILY, VINO is almost
conceded place behind the line, will ap-
pear Tor the first time, having recovered
from the injury that kept him out of the
earlier match with Reliance, In which his
experience and defense behind left tackle
were sadly missed and poorly substituted
by the light weight and inexperience OF
Jeffs, the clever Varsity end, who was a
stranger to the duties of halfDack
This Stanford team is perhaps no
stronger than the team that met and out
scored Reliance two weeks ago, but it
has had that two weeks more training.
Murphy has just recovered from a lame
neck and Rice's hand. are crippled from
the constant ba;tering his position re-
ceived in the first game. Fisher to-day,
however. will probably show that he, too,
knows how to punt, and the contest will
be made that much more interesting, for
there will undoubtedly be some pretty ex-
change punts, with the advantage In ia
vor of Stanford.
The contest promises to be hard and
close and fast and furious and full of
brilliant changes.
Upon the result rests the greatest pros
pect Reliance cherishes. If Reliance is
defeated to-day an expected Eastern tour
now being planned and almost settled
upon will be abandoned. The plan IS for
Reliance to make trip to Chicago. play
ing on the way the Multnomah Club of
Portland, the Butte team at Butte (for
that club expects soon to be reinstated in
amateur ranks), the Denver Athletic
Club at Denver, some athletic club or
Western college team at Kansas City and
the Chicago Athletic Club at Chicago.
with possibly some other games in the
Middle West.
Stanford team work has greatly i'm
proved during this week, but the tackling
is still absurdly high.
Carrie is doing sensational work at
guard, both in Undertaking and in run
ming with ball, and Coach Brooke looks
upon him as one of the greatest guards in
the country. Fisher, too, is developing
as line -bucker, but like most of STAN
lords halfbacks lately has done less
effective work on the defensive. Levitt,
who plays end to-day, is a quick, sure
tackler, who has had four years expert
ence on the second eleven. Burnett. the
center, is steadily improving, but his
great weakness is passing for kicks.
The annual intercollegiate freshman
m atch will take place in this city, on the
Etghth-street grounds, next Saturday aft
ernoon, at the same time that the STAN
lord Varsity and Reliance eleven will
meet In San Jose In their third contest, a
special match arranged 10 crafty the en-
tLusiasts of San Jose
Something of the relative ability of the
Stanford and California freshman teams
may be figured out from the following
records OF their games this season:
California Freshman. .lS ST. Matthew's scbool q
California Freshman 6lHoitt,s school a
California Freshman. 6 YMC Ltrhtweight n
California Freshman % Lowell Hirh School *
California Fresh man 10 Lowell Hiqh choo a
California Freshman - piversitv OF Pacific =
Stanford Freshman . Belmont school n
Stanford Freshman :. OlStauford Sonhomore l .
Stanford Freshman. 4lYMC \ Iiphtweieht &
Stanford Freshman. . o. st Matthew'S School n
Stanford Freshman 10 lowell HIGH School a