The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-27


west-a period covering some thirteen or
fourteen years-perhaps 200 players have
been alluded to great performers In
their respective positions. Indeed the
misuse of this adjective is even more COM
mon than the perfectly elegant Of the
school girl.
In the epoch alluded to there have been
less than a dozen players who have truly
earned the right to be called great. To
rightly deserve the title. something more
than year or two of sensational play is
necessary. In the following summary of
the players who have made records above
the ordinary, only those are classed among
the elite who stood at the top In their
respective positions for a period Of at least
three years. In at least one or two in
stances, men could be named whose work
has exceeded in briliancy that of the
players selected, but these latter men did
not continue in the game long enough to
justify naming them.
Among the great players Of the west,
there should be classed Madigan of Min
nesota, center; Harding of Minnesota,
guard; Curtis OF Wisconsin and Henninger
Of Michigan, tackles; Snow Of Michigan.
end; Lyman of Wisconsin and Kennedy OF
Chicago quarterbacks; Karel Of Wiscon
sin and Leary of Minnesota, halfbacks:
Herschberger of Chicago and Richards of
Wisconsin fullbacks.
storm of criticism Exception will be
taken to some of the men selected, and
partizans Of other players will maintain
that they should be accorded places.
Nevertheless. in the opinion Of the writer.
the above list contains the names of the
men who have been the real stars Of
western football.
MadIean Without Rival.
Madigan. the great center rush of three
championship Minnesota teams, should
unquestionably have a place. At no time
during his career on the gridiron did he
find his equal, although repeatedly pitted
against men who outweighed him by
thirty, forty, or even fifty pounds. He
tipped the scales at only 1865 pounds but
was strong, wiry and postmaster in all the
tricks Of the game. At a time when Min
nesota outclassed all other western teams,
he was one Of the men who did the most
to keep tn gophers in the lead.
Kull of Wisconsin was supreme for two
years in this position after Madigan's
retirement from the game and doubtless
many will think that he should be ranked
with the Minnesota man, but in view Of
the fact that Madigan clearly proved him
self KulIs master in 1898, the badger can
hardly be given a place. Moreover. Kul
found his match in at least one center
Fulton Of Minnesota in 1895. Cunningham
of Michigan. is another man who just
missed earning the title of great.
Harding of Minnesota Is the only guard
who SO clearly outranked his competitors,
that he may be classed among the bright
est stars Of the game. During his six
years upon the gridiron, Harding was
recognized as head and shoulders above
his opponents, and he enjoyed a reputation
in the west similar to that of his great
contemporary, Heffelfinger in the east.
His great weight, strength, and activity
made him easily superior to all guards
Of the time, although in point of science
and knowledge of the fine points of the
game he was not the equal of Madgan.
The fashion Of selecting all-Western
elevens did not become popular until 1891,
when Harding was unanimously chosen to
fill one guard position, being admitted to
be the best man in that place on any
western team. In 1895 he was kept out
of the game by injuries, but in 1896 he
was selected as guard on the all-western
team, Finlayson his team mate. being
chosen for the other position. In the four
years preceding 1894 Harding even more
clearly overtopped the other guards in the
west, Jacobs Of Wisconsin being his near
est competitor Hall of Michigan made
quite as good a record as these two during
one year. - ,y.,Er-' ...&s-
Among the tackles; should be named
Curtis of Wisconsin and Henninger: OF
Michigan. The former, although not q
hes Sy man for the position, was for three
years clearly the best man in that posi-
ton.
Hsw Curtis Won His Spurs.
His fame was assured by his superb
work in the wisconsin Chicago game OF
1899, when sinslehanded he stopped the
terrific mass plays Of the maroo,ls, plays
which no team in the west was able tt
successfully withstand, The term single
handed is used adviseGIy for during the
last half of the game all the Wisconsin
backs were shifted. to the left side of tn,
line, leaving Curtis alone to stop thu
plunges of the heavy Chicago Jacks at mi
position. Yet all through the contest tn
maroons found this place invincible. -.
The fame gained in this season wa
maintained and even augmented by tn
splendid work of Curtis in the two sue
ceeding years, and in all three season
the stocky badger player was recognized
as the best man in this territory. An IN
vincible defensive player, a strong groun
gamer, well versed in all the fine point
of the game, he fairly earned his plac
among the chosen few. -.. ~ e..
PA" Henninger Of Michigan was
man who would ordinarily be considere
pretty heavy for a guard. Weighing
about $780, strong and beefy, but wonder
fully active he was one of the creates
ground gamers ever seen in, his position il
the country while his defensive work ais
was above par. He was a member of tn
wonderful Michigan team of 1895, whic
outranked all the, western teams Of tn
year. and was surpassed only by one O
two of the eastern elevens. On this as o
preceding and succeeding Michigan eleven
Henninger was one of theb rightest stars
Other tackles might be named who az
proach in; brilliancy the two men jus
named. Villa, who played on the oppc
site side Of the line from Henninger g
Michigan, was practically as good as h
contemporary during his last two year
Dalrymple of Minnesota, Atkinson Of Be
lott and Wisconsin,, were stars, but the
short terms of service hardly justify ir
GLIDING them in the same class with Gu
It's and Villa.
Snow the Only Great End.
Among the western ends Snow of Micf
igan stands without a peer during tt
whole history of football in this terri
tory. He is one of the only two wester
:, players who was ever accorded a place {
an all. American eleven, Herschberger
Chicago being the other. In breaking l
interference and tackling the brillianc
of his work exceeded that of any 9th,
end ever seen In the west, while his O.
fensive work and ground gaining wei
quite as remarkable.
There have been no other men who ha,
played this position for more than a YET
or two so consistently as to warrant the
Inclusion. Brewer Of Wisconsin,, Sent