The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-21
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Varsity Practices In Country.

Varsity Practices In Country.
Yesterday the varsity squad boarded a
Como car and sailed out into the inter-
urban district for practice. Northrop field
since the warm weather of the last few
days, has been heavy and sticky, and
fast work has been impossible. Inasmuch
as Ferry field at Ann Arbor is reported to
be hard and fast, the necessity of work
upon: a field resembling the Michigan grid
iron was evident. -.
: The team. will leave for Mt. Clemens,
Mich, Saturday evening Immediately after
the varsity-college game. The squad will
remain at Mt Clemens until tho morning
of the game. About thirty men will be
taken, exclusive of the coaches, Trainer
Carciofini, and the helpers and assistants.
The squad will thus be well acclimated by
Thursday.
The officials for the game will be Louis
Hinkey Of Yale, referee, and Laurie Bliss
Of Yale, umpire. The two men are satis-
factory to both teams.
1t is hardly probable that either Davies
or Thorpe will be able to get into the
game next Thursday, and this fact is
regarded as lessening Minnesota's chances
materially. Davies is the best light half
back on the squad, and Thorpe is little be-
hind Van Valkenburg in all-around work.
Van hits the line much harder than any
other man on the squad, but Thorpe also
Is good line plunger, and is better than
Van on defensive work. Van, however, is,
in good condition and for right half back
DR.. Williams can choose between Irsfeld,
Lafans, O'Brien or Bidlake, all pretty good
men, so that Minnesota's cause, is not
altogether hopeless. 81
The Michigan game is the great topic
about town, and Michigan is by no means
the unanimous choice Of the public. The
majority Of the Michigan adherents are
still willing to offer odds of 6 to or to
4 on their favorites, but Minnesota men
think the odds should be bigger. That the
Michigan supporters are not too confident
Of success, however, is shown by the fact
| that one wolverine asks odds of to 2 on
Minnesota.
Two EIevens compared.
Sizing up the two elevens, Michlgan's
line from end to end, will be a trife
stronger than Minnesota's Rogers at left
end Is more than the equal Of Redden,
Michigan's star performer. Gray on his
end play is about as good as Sweeley,
whose strong point is his kicking The
Minnesota man, however, has shown
tendency to get sucked in on end runs,
and Michigan may be able to work fake
plays on him. =. 'r~'
At tackle Minnesota has one veteran
and one green man, while both Michigan's
men are new. Schacht. if he shows as
much improvement as he has shown in
the last two games, ought to hold his own
with Maddox. Roth are good line buck
ers, and fairly strong on defense. Pal
mer, Michigan's other man, is about on a
par with Warren. If Palmer, who has
been called away by the illness of his
mother, does not return in time for the
game; Cole, freshman, will take his
place, and In this case Minnesota will
have a slight advantage at this point in
the line.
At guards Flynn ought to play as we'll
as Carter, his experience offsetting the
Michigan mans great weight McGugin
may outplay Smith little, being an older
man at the game. Smith has been put
ting up a good game, however, and may
fairly hold his own What Strathern will
do with Gregory is problematical. Both
outplayed Show of wisconsin. strathern
has the weight and strength, but is in
clined to be slow and lacks aggressive
ness. If he can be aroused sufficiently to
play the game Of which he is capable
he should show up at least even with
Gregory. l
Weeks and Harris Both Stars.
Behind the line Weeks and Harris are
stars in the position of quarter. Both are
sure tacklers behind the line, both run
their teams with speed, and both show
good generalship. Harris has exhibited
slightly more natural ability as a field
general, while Weeks has had more ex-
perience on the varsity While Weeks
probably will be regarded as Harris sp-
perior by those who have not seen the
little gopher play, the Minnesota rooters
will insist that they be shown where the
Michigan man has the call. &r
Lawrence and Jones, the Michigan full
backs, are both better than Knowlton in
line plunging. On defensive work Knowl-
ton is superior. In kicking, too, Knowl-
ton Is little inferior to Sweeley; in fact,
during the Wisconsin game he punted
slightly better than did Sweeley in Michi-
gan's game with the badgers. Honors
are nearly even on this position, with
Michigan having a shade the better of the
argument. ,..,.. -. -, 49,, ~ ~ ~
Hard to Compare Halfbacks.
It Is difficult to compare the Michigan
halfbacks with Minnesota, because the
style of play of the two teams is SO diff
ferent. Michigan uses her halves for end
runs and open plays, depending upon the
tackles and fullback for the line plunges
Heston and Herrnstein, however, are more
finished players than either Van Valken-
burg or Thorpe, Minnesota's best heavy
men, or Davies and Frsfe1d the best GO
pher halves in open play. 81
So much for individual play, in which
Michigan has q shade tho better of Il.