The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-01
SPORTS
CAMPS USUAL; BIAS
Eastern Writer Displays His Custo-
mary Ignorance of Western Foot
ball Teams and Players
Manager Fitzpatrick Of Wisconsin
Discusses Past and Future OF
.-- Games in the West.

Spalding's official football guide, just issued
contains much interesting matter The records
of the various teams for last season are quite
complete, and cuts of all the leading teams anu
q number of Others are given.
The guide is edited by Walter Camp, ana
those portions of it written by Camp himself
display his usual bias with regard to east vs..
west, and his customary ignorance OF western
teams and players For example, he gives no
western man place on the all-Amer1can hrst or
second teams, and only one (lieston or Mlchl-
gam on the third eleven. lie considers one
western end as worthy of mention, Redden of
Michigan. No further comment Is necessary
than to state the fact that Camp classes Heston
Snow.
The following summary of western football by
Manager c. H. Fitzpatrick of Wisconsin Is inter-
esring: -
The football of 1901 ended in the west
as in the previous year. with the question OF
the two nehe
OF them being able to substantate their claims
On ndH but tine o eba%
pionship title each to his own satisfaction ny
the use of comparative scores. 10 the non
partizan follower of the sport-if that claim can
Ibe made by anyone-sslch method does not meet
with favor and any fair-minded person knows
consin. by defeating Minnesota and Chicago by
decisive scores, was natural claimant for the
ponents in easy fashion. having had the best
team In the history Of the institution, and she
was likewise as strong claimant IAN, as WIS,
did not meet either Minnesota or Wisconsin and
thus settle the much mooted championship ques-
ton.
1t will be gratifying to know that the schedule
of games for the coming season has been so
ARRANGED that all of the strong teams of the
west will meet each other and the uncertainty
las to the bestowal of first honors at the end
of the will. be removed.
One of the most notice BILE things in the west
ern football history of the past year Is that
the general progress of western teams toward
cfn 1ar ri ofn tnnoH anil
while the average western team is probably not
as we'll versed in the science of tho game as the
teams in the east, 1t is safe to say that had
either Michigan Wisconsin been able to meet
Iany of the strong teams in the east, they would
have proved themselves in no wise inferior, The
'contests between eastern and western elevers
of the past five years has demonstrated that the
much Wanted supremacy of the east is more
Imagined than real. The barrier of sentiment
separating the east and the west is gradually
breaking down and the day is not far distant
when there will be at least one big game each
season by which lines can be drawn i'll a general
way comparing the east anu west.
Along this same line it is to be noticed that
the game is being played more scientifically each
year by the smaller colleges of the west. due
largely to the fact that more attention is being
paid to the sport and men hired to coach who
have served their terms under the greatest foot
S of the t. ne good t Example of
represented Nebraska last year. Nebraska had
never done anything particularly worthy of note
charge and. with excellent material typical of
the west developed a team that gave Wiscon-
Sin tnelr nurQeSt game OF the season.
In the style of play used in the west during
the past season. the tendency toward the straight
consistent football Of the old school has been
very marked. and it is safe to assume that within
the next few years all Of the large teams Of the
west will be playing practically the style
of game. the system of the various coaches
differing only in the minor details. Trick plays
and fancy formations that work beautifully or
paper have gradually been abandoned, and in
stead of lying awake nights figuring out new
plays the up.to-date coach spends his time II
perfecting old ones end teaching each man how
to play his position scientifically. This move
ment is certainly along the right lines. as 1t II
placing the game scientific basis where
head work counts more than mere strength. ant
removes the Objectionable feature of the game
game that the east is ahead of the west. witt
plenty of money to spend for coaching, corp
of efficient graduate coaches is in charge of al
eastern team, with the result that each men,
the fine points of the game by past grant
master in the sport. In the west the nstruc
ton of the whole team is left mostly to one man
with the result that he has little time to in
struct each in the work of his own posi-
ton; trusting to the experience of the smalle
games to prepare each individual in the worl
of his own position for the championship con
tests. -
The system of graduate coaching has been trie,
by several OF the larger western institutions
but with disastrous effect. We have in tn
west to-day more men with national reputatio
rs players and coaches, and their advent ha
proven conclusively that we are not yet read
for the graduate system.
The season which is about to open promises t
be a most interesting one. From present indi
cations. all Of the large institutions will be rep
resented by strong teams, and the results o
these games will he awaited with interest
May the best team win.
The Minnesota football eleven leaves TO
Woclnough's, Lake Mnnetonka, at 5 oclocl
this afternoon to begin the preliminary practic
of the year. Ir. II. l.. Williams coach, As
sistant Coach Dobie and Manager NJ. j. Lub
Will accompany the team.