The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-03
FOOT'|BAL :.
AN ALL.STAR ELEVEN.
Four MINI. Players Have Earned
Their Places on the All
Western Team.
Flynn Far Above Any Other Guard
Rogers, Knowlton and Van
Valkenburg Named.
ALL.wEsrERN ELEVEN.

ALL.wEsrERN ELEVEN.
y Center, Ellsworth OF Chicago.
Guards, Flynn of" Minnesota and Lerum OF
a." Tackles, Maddox of Michigan and Davidson Of
Purdue. 49, = i-s5 -,E.~t
Ends. Rogers Of Minnesota and Cook of ILL.
nois. ,-...... IL. - -
Quarter, Weeks of Michigan. :.
Ealfbacks. Heston Of Michigan and Van Walk
enburg of Minnesota. n - -
Fullback, knowlton Of Minnesota.
, SECOND ELEVEN.
Center Gregory of Michigan.
Guards, AcGugn of Michigan and Ahlswede OF
Chicago. ~ ]" : : -:.'.<...''f - -
Tackles, schacht Of Minnesota and Farr of
Ends, Abbott Of Wisconsin and Redden of
Quarter Harris of Minnesota.
Halfbacks, Hcrnstein of Michigan and Wander
boon of Wisconsin. So :" -
Fullback, Jones Of Michigan .J' -.t= ;
In these modern days no football rooter
can be considered the ''real thing, unless
he makes up his own all-Western eleven.
The practice Of thus selecting a star team
at the end of each season has been cr1t1-
cizcd on the ground that no team or 1ndl-.
vidual stars, however brilliant, could hope
to defeat an eleven in which team work
was developed to such a degree Of perfec-
ton as in the Michigan aggregation of
1902. r.. .y.
These criticisms overlook the fact that
the all-star teams are not designed to be
anything but paper aggregations.r They
are intended simply as a, recognition Of
| the men who have played the best football
in their individual positions. They serve
that purpose, and are intended to do no
more. II -. = .~...,. .... -.
|. Keeping this purpose carefully In mind,
the above eleven has been selected. Ex-
ception will be taken to many Of the .selec-
lions, for in several positions number of
players were so evenly matched that few
| would agree upon the~best men. ,
With view of awarding credit to the
| most deserving players, moreover, no men
have been named who have not played the
positions for which they are selected in a.
majority of the big games of the season.
No theories have been advanced in regard
to what certain men might do in positions
| other than those which they actually filled.
Stahl of Illinois might reasonably be ex
pected to make as good a showing at
guard as Lerun1. Again, Stahl, in the
| opinion of enany critics, would make an
ideal fullback, combining good defensive
play with great ability in line smashing,
| and being also punter of more than av-
erage skill. Inasmuch as Stahl played
neither fullback nor guard, however, he is
barred from consideration for either of
| these positions. - -..r&
The elevens named above have been Sc
| lected entirely from men whose teams
We're members Of the "big nine." At least
two deserving players have been left out
on this account. Reference to their rec
ords will be made below. /: -
-: Ellsworth the Best Center n.
Ellsworth of Chicago is, clearly entitled
to the place at center He has easily out
played Show of Wisconsin and Gregory
Of Michigan and inasmuch as Gregory
had slightly the better of Strathern in
the Michigan Minnesota game, Ellsworth
stands practically without a rival. Ellis
worth, ina addition to stopping. plays di-
rected at center, has also been called upon
i to back UP the Whole line, and has fire.
Quently broken up plays sent at the ends.
! Ellsworth's ability as a punter adds to the
arguments in his favor, although on an
Il all-star team the 7lnemen are not sup
!: posed to be selected with regard to any
thing except their ability in their own
: places. -
Flynn and ,Lerum for Guards. "
Flynn. Of Minnesota easily. stands head
snd shoulders above the other guards. In
fact, he is the only guard Of the year who
has attracted much attention by his indi-
vidual work. Lerum McGugin, Ahlswede
of: Chicago and Baird Of Northwestern
have all filled their positions creditably
but have done. little beyond defending
their own points in the line. Flynn, or
Tie OLHcI IldNu Has SHOWN remarkable
ability. In breaking through and gettine
down the field on kicks, in blocking punts
and in backing up the whole line. He il
also an effective ground gamer whel
called upon, In every game Of the yea
he has, repeatedly got down on punts be
lore the. Minnesota ends could arrive OF
the scene Of action. 80 ~
Between Lerum of Wisconsin and Nc
Gugin of Michigan, the choice is difficult
Lerun,- however, has shown good abilit,
in breaking through and tackling the run
ner behind the line. His performance ha
been fully as good as that Of McGugir
and since the latter was backed up by
better team, Lerum deserves more credit
Rothgeb Of Illinois, like Stahl, Nigh
: have done quite as good. work as any c
the quartet named for the first and secon
Ielevens, had he played at guard through
work has been done at end or tackle. how
ever it Is hardly justifiable to tlleorize
regard to what he would have done i
another place. Baird of Northwester
+ ! might have made the place had he bee
D connected with a team which could gi,
him opportunity to show his real strength
Maddox a Star Line. Bucker.s
Maddox Of Michigan is one of the mo-
powerful line plungerst Of the year, al
an invaluable man in leading interfe
ence.- Inasmuch as the tackle back pla
with a tackle to run with the ball, or ope
a hole for back, is one of the stronge
offensive plays Of every modern tear
these points must be given equal consi,
Grafton with defensive play. in >selecti1
the all-western players for this posftio
Maddox, however! has also shown abi]
ty in stopping plunges at his side Of tt
line He unquestionably5 leads the tackl
Of the year. f. =z>;5s.<E
Davidson of Purdue, though playing {
a third-rate team, made a great -reco
+ in breaking through on punts, and d
Tended his position splendidly. He cor
4 bines great weight with remargable agi
I ty. Schacht of Minnesota is little behil
=, Maddox as a line plunger, while Farr
s Chicago is probably the best defensi
tackle Of the year.
Four Ends Evenly Matched.
Four ends-Abbott, Rogers, Cook al
Redden-are so evenly matched that lit
chance for mparison is offered. Roge
( is a remarkably heady player, a go
ground -gainer and strong defensi
h player. Few gains have been made arou1
- his end this year, and nearly all of the
have been due to poor support from
y halfback and tackle. Cook of Illinois
a fast man on following down punts, al
v. at boxing tackle he has no superior
the west. Abbott of Wisconsin and Re
den of Michigan are SO nearly equal
& Cook and Rogers that it seems q. pity n
y to put all four on the first eleven.
Weeks Of Michigan has fairly earn
u the position Of captain and quarterba
[.of the star team. He has shown. go