The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-30
FOOTBALL
SQUAD SHOWS VIM
The Squad at the ~" Shows More
Dash Than for Past. Two
F, Years.
Competition for Places Is Spirited
+ Hard Schedule Demands
Top-Notch Team.


The football season at the University of Min.
nesota may be said to be fairly launched, so
that it is possible to form some idea of the
material ut hand and to forecast In a general
way what may be expected Of the boys who
are to represent Minnesota in the football CAM
paign upon which they have just entered
A glance at the schedule shows that Mime
sofa has undertaken a far harder task this year
than she has ever assumed before. Nebraska,
Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan will al,
try out the team TO their utmost. while In
addition to these five state university contests
the strong teams from Ames. Beloit and Grin
nell must be met. Ames, particularly, Of the
last hree named Is dangerous opponent, and
one not to be lightly gagged. Within the past
five years Ames has twice defeated Minnesota
and has tho reputation of always putting up a
plucky fight. In former days they have usually
received but Indifferent coaching, but this year
the Anes team has been IN charge or R1stlne,
one Of the haIfbacks last fall on Harvard's great
eleven With heavy line, nearly equaling in
weight that of Minnesota, and the Harvard plays
for weapon, the Ames team will be fornlida.
bic and the management at the university will do
well to make careful preparation for the game
next Saturday and not undervalue their OPP
ponents.
The contests with the Central high school
ana with Carleton have given the varsity NO
try-out so that until they meet strong and
we'll organized attack it Is uncertain what they
will be able to do when placed upon the de-
fensive. '-
Enough playing has, however, been done to
Justify some criticism and the casting Of 4
horoscope In rough outline.
.. THE PRACTICE THUS FAR.
In watching the practice Of the Minnesota boys
up to the present time there is feature which
has impressed the writer most favorably, anu
that is the spirit and dash with which the pres
ent squad has taken up Its work.
The team this year will be considerably lighter
than 1t has been for two years past but what
1t lacks in weight the present team bids fair
to make up in swiftness and agility. Speed
and generalshiD this year would do much to re-
gain for Minnesota the laurels lost last fall to
Wisconsin.
The line seems to give promise of being fairly
strong, though Fees loss will be severely felt,
and it will be hard to develop man during
the present season who will be as valuable to
the team was Mueller.
At CENTER Strathern, Webster and Pattee are
fighting hard for first place. Strathern has the
advantage Of the other two candidates In strength
and experience, but Webster is more agile man
and plays heady game. Strathern is probably
superior in stopping heavy plays directed at
center, while Webster appears more useful In
Pattee is hard, faithful worker and can al
ways be depended upon to 90 his best, but
not yet hold his own with Webster or Strathern.
FLYNN SHOULD DO GREAT WORK.
Left guard will, of course; be we'll filled by
Flynn, who should this year certainly prove him.
self of the best guards in the west.
To pick the for left tackle is at present
difficult matter. Van Valkenberg Is In some
ways promising man. He has the necessary
weight, strength and speed, but IS lacking in
constancy and reliability, and Is likely to shirk
the heavy grinding work Of the defense in the
line. Waist is n hard earnest player but is
little inclined to become ratified. lose his head
at critical moments and Is, moreover, prone to
high tackling
Bergen, the freshman, and former member Of
the North Side high school is making credit.
BILE showing. but has hardly the weight and
strength required of varsity tackle. Warren,
the freshman who has been tried few times,
has4made arfair showing, but cannot be cons1d
cred In the class with the other three.
Rogers to be the logical man for left
end. though Bergen, in case lie is moved out to
end, Davis, may perhaps give him hard
rub for the place before the end OF the sea-
WHO'LL BE RIGHT GUARDa
Tho right guard position at present is the
most uncertain spot in the line Smith, who 70
doing well and will make hard fight for the
place Olsen and Rand, two freshmen, the lat
ter of whom tips the scales at 200 pounds arc
both promising candidates and may be heard
from the season advances.
At right tackle, Schacht, who played the po-
sition last year, seems the most likely man. La
Fans, however, who has played right halfback
for the past two years, has been showing up
finely at the tackle position during the past
weeks practice, and played hard, steady and
aggressive game against Carleton. La Fans
work this year has shown marked improvement
over anything that he has done in the past. There
is a dash and enthusiasm in his work; jump
and m eagerness to get into the play, which, if
kept up, will make him an invaluable man and
a tower of strength In the team Schacht has
home hard work cut out for him, If be is to re-.
tain his place in the line. Smith is also man
who should not be lost sight of in considering
the candidates for tackle.
At right end, Gray, Tuck and Boeckmann have
up to the present time shown the best form.
although CAM, who dislocated his shoulder last
week and will. therefore, be out Of the game
f<,r do has excellent 1mDreS-
sion. Williams, freshman, who has had con-
siderable experience in this place at the prepar'
atory school, also givess promise of developing
into valuable man, while both Deer1ng and
Haroldson have shown up we'll at end positions
upon the second team.
BEHIND THE LINE.
Behind the line it will be hard to find man
who will be more valuable In the team at quar-
ter than 'Sig" Harris. Knowlton and Gray
should both be considered for this place, though
Knowlton's true position seems to be at full.
buck rather than at quarter. Gray is a man
much like Harris. In spirit and enthusiasm The
great value of each Of these men Is the fire and
dash, and the Inspiration and enthusiasm whic,
they throw into their play. The whole team
seems to feel this and responds in way. which
should make the management think long before
trying heaveG men for the place. Little Nye
quarterback the North Side high school last
fall, is also making an excellent impression by
his work the second team.
T. FIVE MEN FOR RIGHT HALF.
The man who receives right halfback will
get his place only after the hardest kind of a
fight. At the present time five candidates fol
this place figure most prominently. These are
Bidlake, Downing, La Fans O'Brien and Irs
field Each of these has his strong points
and it is hard to say which will prove to be
of the greatest value to the team, as whole
The spirit shown by the men, the earnestness
attention to duty, faithfulness and reliability
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