The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-28
FOOTBALL.
g
TEAM IN GOOD SHAPE
Minnesots's Cripples Are Steadily
Improving, but Will Take It
Easy This Week.
Chief Interest Just Now Centers in
Michigan-W Wisconsin Game
at Chicago Saturday.

The gopher football men are in as
good physical condition now as they have
been for some time. Notwithstanding the
hard contest at Iowa City Saturday.
Flynn's knee is still stiff, but worse
than it was before the Iowa game. and
with the next hard game two weeks away,
the Crpples will be allowed to take it easy
this week. Warren was compelled to leave
the Iowa game. but is not seriously in
jured. Irsfields ankle is no worse of
than it was. and O'Brien, unless he re-
ceives further injury. will be able to
go into the Illinois game If he is needed.
Van Valkenburg and Knowlton likewise
will be ready for the contest with the H.
lini
The position Of right halfback seems to
lie between Irsf1eld and OBrien. These
men are so evenly matched that the ques-
ton of physical condition will have a
large part In the selection of right half for
the big games.
So far Minnesota is concerned, inter-
est is centered just now in the Illinois
game Nov. s. If the gophers can win
from the Champaign aggregation. they Will
be conceded a good chance to win from
Wisconsin or Michigan. If they are de-
feated by the Illini, the gophers will be
out Of 1t, and interest In the remaining
games Of the season will languish. Illinois
will be no easy proposition.
Eyes Turned on Chicago.
The Grinnell game Saturday Is not re-
garded seriously. Grinnell averages 149
pounds. and while the team usually plays
a fast snappy game, It can hardly cause
the gophers much trouble. Minnesota
rooters with the rest Of the western foot
ball public are turning their eyes toward
Chicago. The Wisconsin, Michigan contest
Saturday Is Of absorbing interest, because
1T will go a long way toward settling the
western championship, and will show Just
what each team has. Probably Saturday a
game win bring together a bigger crowd
than has ever witnessed a game In the
west. 1t will also draw a greater number
Of football coaches and supposed experts
than has been seen at contest in some
time. Representatives Of every team that
meets either Wisconsin Michigan after
Nov. l will be on hand. Stage OF Chi
Cago. whose team meets both the badgers
and the wolverines, will be there. DR..
Williams Of Minnesota will seize the OPP
portunity to see Minnesota's rivals dis
close their hands. Hollistsr Of Northwest
ern and Knipe of Iowa undoubtedly will be
there, and the coaches Of the. Beloit and
Purdue teams. which play Northwestern
and Chicago respectively this week, will
be in attendance.
While public sentiment favors Mchi-
gan. coaches and old players do not re-
gard the wolverines SO highly. Neither
Michigan probably has less up it's sleeve
than Wisconsin. The pessimistic reports
from Madison are not regarded seriously
by outsiders. These reports are turned
out regularly every year from the badger
stronghold. Correspondents. students and
men directly connected with the team
spread wolf stories broadcast. Then they
disclose their rolls the day Of the game
and seek the cash of guileless strangers.
Michigan has speed, and has a GIT at
variety of otfense as we'll WisconL>'
usually plays only straight, old fashioned
football. with few of the simplest trick
plays. But the team plays that simple
football like lightning Neither team will
have much advantage in weight, and the
victor must win by superior speed Of play
and superior ability to grasp opportunities
quickly. Wisconsin has never been lack
ing in these qualities; Michigan is COM
monty reported to possess them in a high
degree.