The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-11-14
VIEWS OF AN EXPERT
6x-CAPTAIN RICHARDS POINTS
OUT GOPHERS' WEAK
SPOTS
ARE NOT STRONG ON oFFENsE
Interesting Discussion by Famous
Badger PIayer-Thinks Min
nesota Is Vulnerable
at Tackle.

MADISON, Wis, Nov. Bone OF the
most interesting opinions on the outcome
of the ACKNOWLEDGMENT game comes
form big" John Richards, of Wisconsin
who played fullback on the Badger teams
every year from 1893 to 1896. inclusive, ana
captained the eleven in his last two years.
He will be long remembered at Wisconsin
as the hardest line bucker the Badgers
ever had and one of their best all-roufu
PLAYERS and captains Richards also row.
ed No. on the 1894 crew. and was on
the track team for your years, Where
he made the record of 10 AS SECONDS IN
the high hurdles. which still stands as the
Western mark in that event.
He has watched Minnesota play two
games this fall. and sizes up the situation
in a letter written Sunday to friend
in Milwaukee. Speaking of the game,
the Badger ex-captain writes:
81 am uncertain as to the outcome, but
[ am sure it will not be fiasco like
the Chicago Wisconsin game of 1899 Min
nesota is confident to a surprising degree.
They are good, but I'm sure they can be
beaten, and contrary tC the general op1n-
ion, think they are weak on offense.
Their defense is fine, except for a fast
play outside of tackle, and they can't
stop that; at least, when 1 have seen
them they did not. Their men are huge
anu KNOW a lou dDOuI LnSlT pOSlIlOtIo-
They charge beautifully, bunch at the
point of attack quickly and pile up
against line plays in great style.
But they tackle around the ears, with
one or two exceptions, and their offense
is numbering. It is slow in forming, and
it seems to me that should our men go
into the game fit and strong, they can,
stop them. Minnesota can stand more
punishment than any team in the coun-
try"
Mr. Richards has not seen Wisconsin
play this fall so he says nothing about
the Badgers, but to anyone who has wit
messed their work the above, from so
competent a critic, is highly relevant.
No man in the West is more competent to
judge a football team than the big ex-
captain. He knows Wisconsin's game
from "a. to H. and played on two teams
that beat the Gophers, the 1894 and 1895
elevens. Besides this, he played in two
losing games against Minnesota, and has
never held them cheap If his estimate of
M1nneSota's play is accurate, it throws a
new light on the situation, for no one
has yet had the temerity to raise ques-
ton as to Minnesota's offense
The Gophers have been regarded as an
aggressive team; an offense team par ex-
cellence. The suggestion that Minnesota
is not strong against fast play outside
OF tackle is encouraging to Wisconsin
partisans, who have seen Cochems' and
Larsons phenomenally fast dashes at
that position. If this condition manifests
itself in the Gophers' play Saturday, the
big crowd will see something that will
make it happy.
On the whole, the opinion given is re-
markably conservative, which accounts
for its being given to the public, as it
came in a personal letter. 1t is encour-
aging, yet Mr.. Richards friends remem-
Der him as an optimist, so his size-up of
the situation will hardly make Wisconsin
very heavy favorite in the betting. 1t
merely emphasizes the admitted closeness
OF the coming contest, and makes one
degree happier the people who have their
business already arranged so that they
can leave it Saturday to go to Madison: