Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-09-03
FOOL Ball N ONb
Interest in the Game This Year
Promises to Exceed That Of
Previous Years.
The Sport Come to Be Regarded
More Pavorably by Press
and People.
Status Of the Various Colleges as
the Season 0pens-The
Schedules
Special to Times-Republican

Ux0Ss =
Special to Times Republican.
Grinnell, Sept. s.-Within few days
the doors of Iowa's educational insti-
3tutions will swing open. The pursuit of
knowledge will be on once more as we'll
as the pursuing of the pigskin. Books
Will receive rougher usage than has
been their lot for the past three
months; but in the wild scramble for
culture the foot ball will not be left
entirely out of the reckoning. Ever and
anon as some youthful aspirant for
tame immortal fractures rib or dislo-
Gates q shoulder the pessimists will
mutter on the brutality of the sport and
in the next breath, with ill-concealed
interest, inquired whether "lle will be
able to get into the game next Satur-
day. And most generally the pessimist
will be there. The fact of the case is he
would have a hard time in staying
away. Foot ball has passed the stage
of fad:sm. It has come to stay. 1t has
withstood the assaults of the press and
probably has SUFFICIENT wind left to
tackle the pulpit for round or two If
that institution develops disposition
to be quarrelsome.
In point of interest Iowa is no excep-
ton TO the rule. Those who have
watched the trend Of foot ball in this
state during the past two; years must
realize that not only is the public at
large taking more interest in the annual
sport, but that more colleges are each
year failing captive to its charms. Co.'s
leges that but a short time ago re-
garded it with indifference have been
developing a surprisingly good quality
of bali and it is safe to say there is not
a community in the statesthat has not a
high school team or two itching for an
opportunity to lick all creation. The old
saying about the star of empire has
been equally true of foot ball NoSlong-
effete east gaze with towering disdain
upon his brother from the wild and
woody plains. He is not only compelled
TO admit that the western article is
practically on an equality with that
which was nurtured in a more cultured
environment, but his sleep must be oc-
casionally haunted with the nightmare
of none too distant superiority. Chi
cago has humbled Brown and Cornell;
Wisconsin gave Yale practice game
that made the sons of Eli gasp, and
Michigan played Pennsylvania to a
lstandssill. altho defeated by the mar
rowest kind of n margin. The superb
Ority If the east in foot ball has been
I one of quality rather than quantity of
material Its foot bail education has
been more complete and therein lies the
story of its success as we'll as the aus
curry of western ascendancy. Chicago,
Wisconsin and Michigan are playing
foot ball today that compares more fa-
vorably with the east than that of a
few years back, partly because of
more skilled and systematic coaching
but chiefly because foot ball has taken
I a prominent place latterly in hundreds
of western academies. high schools and
colleges. The day of the raw recruit
has not passed entirely, but his chances
of making western university teams are
slim indeed as compared with those Of
q few years back. Not until last year
did Iowa give promise of keeping pace
with the progress made With other
western schools; then our own State
University came to the front with a
record which all Iowa devotees of the
game regarded with pride. It is proba-
bly, too much TO expect that the Iowa
institutions shall. with their present
limited enrolment, play as good ball as
Michigan and Wisconsin with their o.
900 or 5000 students or Chicago with its
"A. Alonzo Stage and othersadvantages,
but evidence is plenty that the interest
lis flourishing: this, with the rapidly
attendance, lends hope that
| in few years Iowa teams will occupy
much more prominent position If they
are not on an equality with other west
erns elevenS.
Naturally all eyes will be on the State
University this fall. When the season
Of 1899 opened with a heavy shutout
ESQ for the State Normal School the
event excited no large amount of COM
ment. A few weeks later, when Chi
cago was played to a tie, the cranks be-
gan to open their eyes bit. but even
then had no suspicion of the strength
which the old gold developed later on.
Sufficient to say that only once. for a
any slump in its progress. and the sea
son ClOSeu Will Nei = 6o<At 41AnC 81 u II
touched, while Its opponents had
amassed total OF but five points. The
season opened none too promising for
the university and its previous modest
demeanor in western foot ball left lite
opponents unprepared for the ava
Ilanche that seemed to gather weight
and strength with every week that
passed. The work OF the eleven was
placed on level with that of Chicago
by no less an authority than Casper w.
Whitney, and in recognition of its rec
ord, doubtless, Iowa was admitted to
the big Seven" composed of the uni
versities Of Chicago, Michigan. Wiscon-
sin, Illinois, Northwestern, Minnesota
and Indiana. AS practical recognition
of the fact that 1t was to be considered
a factor in the western championship
hereafter it was given date with
Michigan in addition TO the usual con-
test with Chicago.-enough honor to
satisfy the most ambitious.
BY way of preparing themselves for
the heaviest schedule an Iowa team has
ever carried the candidates are now
encamped onstte Iowa river short dis
lance from Iowa City. Here they hope
to obtain sufficient wholesome exercise
and good air TO put them in trim for
hard work when school opens. altho lit
tile will be done in the way OF actual
practice. The management Is not dis
posed to regard the chances bright for
repetition OF last years record. How
ever, eight Of the '99 eleven will report