The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-17
A GRIDIRON STRUGGLE
INDIANA AND ILLINOIS TEAMS In A
BATTLE ROYAL.
Every Preparation Has been Made
for the Game This Afternoon
The Two Teams.

The Indiana-Illinois football players. who
will battle on the Newly Oval this after
noon at 2:30 o'clock, are safely housed in
the city, and now waiting for the referee
to start them off on what promises TO
be one of the best as we'll as closest foot
ball games seen in the middle West this
fall Both elevens are confident The
coaches say that they have done all in
their power to fit out the strongest teams
from the material at their command and
the eleven which meats defeat will have
no excuse to offer, unless there is some
outside influence brought to bear.
The two elevens as a whole in bet
ter shape for this contest than any other
which they have played this fall. While
there two, possibly three, men on
each team who are still suffering from In
juries received in earlier games. and may
be forced out of the contest to-day before
the close of the game, all of the players
have taken advantage of this last week
of practice, and as rule every man has
taken brace.
The players think IL will be one of the
fiercest games of the season. Both elevens
are anxious to win, and the players will
use their heads as we'll as bodies in trying
TO outplay and outwit each other In the
games in which a comparison has been
possible IL looks as though IL would be a
toss-up which team is the stronger, and In
that case it will be largely a question Of
generalship on the part of the captains
which team wins.
Both Captain Foster, of Indiana, and
Captain Hall, of Illinois, are conservative
players, not easily ratified and possessing
excellent football heads. If neither Is
forced out of the game on account OF In
jury their generalshp will be one of the
features of the contest.
The Indiana eleven has improved won
derfully since the game with Notre Dame.
During the last two weeks Coach Horne
has devoted his entire time to getting the
men TO move quickly and running off their
plays in fast time. In the signal practice
yesterday afternoon at Newly oval the
Indiana players gave the finest display OF
fast, sharp team play ever seen in this city.
The eleven moved as one man, and
throughout the twenty minutes OF play
there was not a delay of thirty seconds
The indiana players are also In excellent
physical condition, with the exception CT
the men who have not fully recovered from
recent injuries, but even they can stand
the lightning pace for full half hour.
On paper, the two elevens appear TO be
most evenly matched. While this is true
they play an entirely different style OF
game Illinois has always played a more
open game, depending largely on speedy
ends and fast backs making gains by rea-
son of long runs behind well-developed in
reference, and kicking with the ends we'll
down the field.
Indiana plays more of a line game and
is content with shorter but surer gains.
The tackles and guards used TO hit
the opposing line with terrific force, while
the ends are saved for occasional end runs.
There is more variety in the Indiana game
and II is the heavier style of football.
This kind of game, however, is wearing on
the men, and unless they are in the best
of condition they cannot stand the strain
of the grinding, crunching line plays for
the two halves. The Indiana men have,
however. been trained for this kind of
game and il is thought on line plays will
have big advantage. The players of
both elevens attracted much attention last
night at the hotels and many old college
men called on them.
The special train bearing the Bloomington
delegation will leave that city at $50 this
morning. Coach Horne says that fully 500
people will be in the party, and that they
are coming TO root for Indiana from the
time they reach the Union Station until
the close of the contest. The indications
now are that the biggest crowd that ever
witnessed an athletic contest in Indian
apolis will see the game this afternoon
Play will begin at 2;3G O'Clock This will
permit the game TO be finished before
dark Ii will be played no matter what
the weather conditions are The officials
will be: Branch. of Williams, umpire
BOyce, of Princeton, referee