The record-union., 1899-12-31
MONDAYS FOOTBALL GAME.
HARD BATTLE ON THE GRID.
IRON EXPECTED.
The Chico Cardinal and Sacra-
mento Purple and White to
Grove1 in the Mud.

Once more New Years Day is nearly
here and the stalwarts of the Chico
| Normal School and Sacramento stand
ready to do battle on the gridiron for
| their respective cities, each confident in
| its own strength, yet fearful of the
| other fellows.
| With the finishing touches already on
and only the last few words of advice
or warning to be spoken, the two
elevens, representing the pick Of the
youth, Drawn and muscle and skill of
the respective communities, are await
ing the minute when the referees whis-
tie shall announce that the semi annual
struggle is to commence.
The day will decide the question of
football supremacy Of the two teams,
who have met twice before, last year in
Sacramento, when the Chico boys were
defeated by a score of 16 to 5, and in
Chico on last Thanksgiving Day, when
the Sacramentans lost to their op-
ponents by the close score of 6 to 5.
The Chico team, in it's seasons work.
has succeeded in developing it's eleven
much earlier than the Sacramentans,
and has in consequence shown better
form throughout the year. On the
much later in getting together, but
retrospect of the practice games since
Thanksgiving Day shows that they
have done better team work, have a
stronger defense and more speed gen.
orally than could have then been ex-
pected.
Undoubtedly the youths from the
normal school have improved mater
tally since their last appearance. Just
how much advancement has been made
by each can only be determined by the
game on New Years Day. The play
ers of both teams are reserved, not over
confident, not at all boastful but full
of grim determination, and there will
not be gutter on either side.
The coaches for both sides have
worked earnestly with their elevenS,
trying to get every member into every
play, and they have succeeded wonder
fully in this particular. There is the
required confidence of one player in
another, and therefore the men are
stimulated by knowing that every
member will do his share of the work.
Both teams are so evenly matched that
an interesting contest will certainly re-
suit. 1t is needless to say that the
adherents of the rival crews are worked
up to a high pitch of enthusiasm.
Tomorrow morning there will be
few minutes of hard practice by the
home team, and then everything will
be done to keep the men quiet and un-
disturbed till the game opens. The
thoughts of the men must be centeFed
on the struggle before them, and not
diverted by outside matters.
Yesterday the team lined up against
the second eleven, the latter on the Of
fensive. There was no tackling nor
buclxing, but sort of sham lineup, the
second eleven forming for play and the
first taking the defensive formation for
each attack The practice proved
mainly a study in football strategy.
Later in the day the fullbacks were
put at punting and drop kicking, and
the halves at handling punts. Then the
whole team ran through the signals for
twenty minutes
In the evening the men were kept to-
gether for two hours. and a full expo
sition of each play was gone through
with. The general style of play to be
used against the Chico cardinals was
outlined, and also the trick plays that
might be feared.
The Chico team will arrive here this
morning and take things easy till time
to line up. They look for hard game,
to be won by the most determined
team. 1t will be a contest of grit and
tenacity.
Coach Harrison of the purple-and-
white said last night: 1.-THE game on
Monday will be hard one, but we
are determined to win it. We do not
undervalue our opponents, but fully
realize that we have to fight against
a dangerous foe, who will struggle des-
perately. and will not quit until the last
whistle blows. In the words of our
Captain, They will come at US awfully
hard, but we must come back harder
Harder is the word that describes the
situation The team that plays the
harder will win"