The Topeka state journal., 1900-11-08
WASHBURN FOOTBALL.
Manager George Huron Explains a
Few Things.


Manager George B. Huron, OF the
Washburn football team, does not feel
that his team has been properly repre-
sented, and makes the following state
ment:
To the Editor of the state Journal:
On account of the criticism which has
been published in the daily papers in re
gard to the football situation at w ASH
burn, / feel that it is only fair TO US
that some statement be made TO rne
public in regard to last Saturdays game
with the Haskell Indians We have
been severely censured for losing the
game, and statements have been made
to the effect that the ardor of our sup
porters had cooled and that no rurtner
attempts would be made to bring the
Denver Athletic club team to Iopeka-
Suffice 1T to say, SO far as we know the
censure and criticism have been made
by persons who have refused TO support
the team in any way, financially or
otherwise, and have never shown any
more than a passing interest IN our sue
cess.
AS to the Haskell game, our defeat
at Lawrence was wholly on account OF
lack of practice by our team. That our
team is much stronger than the 1ndlan
team was shown by the fact that we
went through the Haskell line and
around their ends at will, making
touchdown in less than three minutes
after play commenced. AS to our team
taking out time at the end of every
play, it is an absolute fact that wash
burn only delayed the play once during
the entire game, when Gill was hurt, and
that Haskell repeatedly called for time
out, and at one time used the full two
minutes, a thing which has not been
done before in any game WaShburn has
played this season. WaShburn'S rally
at the close of the game was a magnln-
cent show of pluck and energy. The
ball was taken clear across the field to
the three yard line, and the next play,
which was already decided upon, being
ff.re7 e-r11~ n
other touchdown was assured and the
score tied But the Haskell supporters
could not see victory slip from their
grasp, and at this juncture a hooting
crowd of little less than hoodlumS
SWarmed on the field and stopped the
play The Haskell team seized the ball
and left the field while WaShbu was
on Haskell's three yard line with IL sec
onds yet to play BY authority of the
rule book, the referee should have
awarded the game to WashbuI'n on two
counts: First, the crowd interrupted
the play: second, Haskell left the field
before time was called, and refused to
finish the game. The referee was
knocked down by the mob and prevent
ed from making any decision In the
matter.
The Washburn team arrived from Col
orado at five o'clock on the "Wednesday
evening before the game. A heaVy ram
was falling and the team did not at
tempt any practice that day On Inurs-
day the ground was soft and as very
few of the second eleven were out, the
practice was necessarily light. On Fri
day only signal practice was held. Inc
team was away week on the Denver
trip, so they went into saturdays game
with practically no practice for over ten
days.
Washburn's showing in all her games,
excepting that of last Saturday, has
placed her far in the lead of any team
in the middle west, and if the citizens
of Topeka will give us their support IN
<@f+ +T,efr- a a
when we most need support, we will yet
be able to prove the unquest1oned su-
periority of our team, and give an ex-
hibition of the fastest, snappieSt foot
ball ever seen in the west.
GEO. B. HURON.
Manager Huron perhaps does not
know of all who have criticised the
team The football enthusiasts in To-
peka, were glad of an opportunity to
support a winning team at Washburn
and when the eleven went to Denver
delegation of ElkS accompanied the
team and backed the Washburn blue in
the game as it never was backed before:
Part of the same delegation witnessed
the defeat of Washburn by Haskell.
The members of the party which went
to Denver and Lawrence have subscribed
literally to the team and have taken tar
more than a passing interest IN the sue
cess of the team and still they are among
those who severely criticised the wash
burn team in Saturdays game Ihe
Washburn team went through the In
dian line, to be sure, for a TOUCHDOWN
in three minutes after play commenced.
It was a pretty exhibition of football
but the Indians took their turn and did
the very same thing in five minutes
more in just as perfect an eXhlbltlon OF
football The Topeka rOoters who saw
the game We're of the belief that 1T had
been played fairly and could see no rea-
son why it should be given to Washburn
by the score of to 0 any more than it
should have been given to the Indians
when Washburn insisted on playing
owen, the coach, at quarter and delayed
the game over an hour. A game given
by the decision of the umpire is not
good, clean victory by any means.
There is a large number of enthusiasts
who have supported Washburn during
the season and whose ardor was not
lessened by the D. A. G. victory and who
will continue to be in the ranks OF
Washburn rooters so long as the team
shows appreciation by honest playing
TWO BIG MINES JOINED