The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-05
SPORTING NEWS.
1t Now Seems as If Yost Was
"On Easy Street,
Stages Eleven Only One Be-
tween the Coveted Goal.
MAROONS CHANCE SLIM
Odds Favor Michigan Strongly
Chicago Not Feared.
Wolverines Have to Meet Iowa
Before Illinois Game.

Chicago, Nov. 5.-The News says:
Michigan's defeat Of the Badgers Satur-
day at Marshall field leaves the VOL
verines the probable champions of the
west of 1902 There is only one rival
remaining and the odds are so strongly
IN favor of the Ann Arbor team that
this single opponent is scarcely regard
ed as dangerous. This is Stages eleven
at the University of Chicago.
Stages Maroons have not yet tasted
of the bitters Of defeat this season
Against Beloit with a line of substitutes,
they were victorious and next Saturday,
Indiana, easily beaten by Illinois last
Saturday, will be the opponent of the
Midway squad. This game ought to be
an easy victory for the MarOOns, and
then comes the battle with Michigan.
Stagg has about ten days more in Which
to prepare his men for the struggle and
It will take much work on his part and
of the players themselves to get into
condition and develop sufficient speeA
on Oftense and strong enough defense
to hold YOsts men down to anything
like the score made against Wisconsin,.
Yost's men are undoubtedly the fast
est in the west in getting away with the
snap of the ball. 1t seems almost IN
credible the way they start and are up
against the scrimmage line almost by
the time the quarterback gets the pig
skin to pass it to the man who is to
carry it. The heavy line of forwards
are equally fast in their positions and
got the charge almost every time on
Kings men, especially during the first
half of the game If the Ann Arborites
are fast enough to get the jump on the
Badgers there is little likelihood that
Stage can develop sufficient speed in
his beefy men to hold the maize and
light blue forwards.
Michigan has to meet the Iowa team
before playing Chicago but the Hawk
eyes have not displayed any football
this season that is liable to cause Yost's
men any worry. A repetition of the
1900 game is unlikely But to make GOOD
the championship of the west the VOL
Verines must meet and defeat the
GOphers on Thanksgiving day. Dr.
Williams, since the defeat of Mime
sofas team by Nebraska, has been
working hard over his men and the way
they ran up the score against Grinnen
last Saturday gives evidence that he has
developed wonderful speed in those
heavy men. If they can increase and
hold throughout a game such speed
against Michigan YOst's men may find
an offense that win give their defense
something to think about. Should the
Cophers, having been defeated. whip
the Wolverines and Chicago lose to
Michigan on November Is. but be beaten
by Wisconsin on Thanksgiving day, the
championship of the west would be in a
muddled condition. Michigan Mime
sofa and Wisconsin. each with one de-
feat registered against them, would all
clamOr to be recognized as the leaders.
Such condition is not probable, but it
is possible.
Although defeated, the Badgers were
not diSgraCed by the Michigan eleven.
One touchdown and goal kicked is not
great victory for a team that was ex-
pected, by every one who thought it
would win. to make at least eighteen
or tWenty-fOur points. During the first
eight minutes Of play the Wolverines
took the Madison boys by surprise with
the Vehemenee of their attack and car
ried the ball over the goal line in a
hurry. A big score was then anticipat ted
by every one. But the way the Badgers
braced and held the Wolverines after
that was surprise and the admiration
of the followers of each team On the
side of the defeated team Captain Ju-
neau and Allan Abbott were the stars
of first magnitude, while Captain
Weeks, Heston, Jones and Lawrence
the victors.
Captain Weeks demonstrated his clev-
erness time and again during the game
as quarterback and captain. He tried
the various positions of the Wisconsin
line, then seeing that the left side
through Long and Berthke was the
weakest spot, directed most of his plays
against that position. A few trials
against Haumerson and Lerum were
enough, for the gains We're usually
turned into losses. Five attempts to
kick goals from place kicks were made
three of which were made from almost
should have been easy goals.
Michigan's backfeld were all anxious to
carry the ball and struck Wfsconsin,s line
hard, but Boss Weeks stuck to his
policy of hammering one spot with the
same man and the consequence was that
Long and Berthxe received the bruut of
the assault, while Jones was called UP to
do the offensive work. Before the first half
was over Jones was worn out and Law
renee who was held in reserve for lust
such an occasion. was substituted and
again the hammering began. BY this time.
however, the Badgers had fully awaken
ed to the damage done during the first
few minutes of play and they held the
Wolverines well, frequently piling them up
and taking the ball away on downs.
Owing to the fact that Michigan held
Wisconsins line at all stages of the game.
the Badgers were compelled to kick fire.
quently. Sweeley kicked only three times
for eighty-nine yards, an average of
thirty yards. Hammerson out-kicled the
Michigan punters five yards on every
punt. During the second half when
Driver was in the game. Sweeley did bet
ter work with his toe, and kicked three
times, each kick for q forty-five-yarc
punt. Driver booted the pigslrin nine times
for 2S6 yards, an average of thrty-twc
yards a punt. The Badger fullback lost
thirteen yards on every exchange
During the coming week King will at
tempt to get his men in condition to meet
Northwestern, which, luckily for the Car.
dinals, will probably be an easy game fol-
the Badgers. The following week come:
Minnesota, and hard battle is antici
pated owing to the speed which tht