Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-10
CHICAGO TEAM The VICTORS
Maroons Have Undisputed Title to Western
Foot Ball Championship.
SCORE is SEVENTEEN TO NOTHING
Contest Has probably Never Bccn
EuunIed on n western Gridiron
--Curtiss Plays = Whirl-
wind Game.

-Curtiss Plays = Whirl-
wind Game.
MADISON, Wis, Dec 9.-The weste. n
foot ball championship goes to Chicago. Be
fore at least 1900 persons the eleven of
the University OF Chicago today defeated
the University of Wisconsin team by score
of II to in game that for desperate play
ing and scientific foot ball has probably
never been equaled on a western gridiron.
No tiukes marred the victory of the sturdy
Chicago players and tonight for the first
time in years the Maroons can lay claim to
an undisputed title to the championship
1t was a game between a team which in
offensive playing was perfect, with weather
and wind in its favor, an eleven whose
dense play up to today had been compact
enough to protect their goal line from all
opposing elevens except Yale. But Chicago s
mass plays were irresistible and though the
Badgers fought until they could fight no
more, through the first half and once in
the second half the Maroon backs plunged
through Wisconsin's line until the ball was
carried over the goal line.
Only once did Wisconsin have chance to
score and that one chance they were unable
to avail themselves of, as with the ball on
their own fifteen-yard line the Chicago
forwards braced so effectively that on four
downs the ball was only showed forward
three yards In this respect the Chicago
players surprised their supporters. Their
defensive play was far stronger than ex-
pected and even when Wisconsin had the
ball, which was seldom, O'Dea was COM
PEELED to kick in most instances.
Throughout the whole game the Badgers
were on the defensive most of the time, with
the ball well into their territory. Chicago
quickly located the weak spots in the Bad
gers defense. They were mostly on the
left side of the line, and in the first half
Shaker, Fell, Hamill and Henry, behind in
reference that was apparently unbreakable,
tore through the tackle and guard for posi-
tions of gain that invariably netted the
distance.
Star of Wisconsin's Team.
On the right side, however, more diff
Guilty was experienced; Curtiss the Wiscon-
sin right tackle, played whrlwnd game
and he tore through Fell time and time again
III time to spoil the play. He was easily
the star of the Wisconsin eleven. The whirl-
ing mass on tackle, the most effective play
of Chicago's was often directed against him,
but it never net5ed more than three yards
it was fairly started.
At the other side of the line it came easier.
Flanagan, Webb and Edredge held their
men safe and when Shaker or Fell were sent
against the line the ball generally found
resting place several yards in advance
OF where it started.
In the second half Comstock, exhausted
and limping, retired in favor of Lerum and
little Trait also went out, Wilmarth taking
his place. But it made little difference
The game had already been won and al
though Lerum made big Flannigan's life a
burden to him for the balance of the game,
the rest of the team was too exhausted to
make effective headway.
During the latter part Of the second half
Chicago played to keep Wisconsin from scor-
ing and once Kennedy adopted the tactics of
Captain Mcbride of Yale and dropped back
interference was far superior to Wisconsin, e
and to this fact more than any other must
be ascribed the victory. Once the ball was
put in play every man en- the team was
pushing, pulling or helping the runner to
keep his feet until the whistle was blown
for down.
Rain Fell During Game.
Even when tackled, the Chicago backs and
tackles, Fell and Webb, being frequently
used, struggled forward until crushed down |
by mass of players. Wisconsins interfer-
ence on the other hand was more easily |
broken up and at no stage of the game
was the ball advanced more than ten yards |
Two hours before the game cold drzzling |
rain began to fall and throughout the game |
showers fell frequently. The rain did not |
have much effect on the field, but it was |
sufficiently heavy to render the ball wet and |
slippery and fumbles by both sides were
frequent.
When the referees whistle was blown for
he end of the game nearly thousand chesr-
ng rooters broke out on the gridiron, hoistel |
he tired but happy champions to their
shoulders and headed by a band marched
out of tho grounds and far up the street
before they allowed their burdens to climb
nto the waiting carriages. The teams lined
I'D as follows: