Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-05
GOSSIP FROM THE CRIDIRON
Ysls Rounds To First Of the Big F'ur with
Tremendous Line,
COACHES AND TRAINERS GETTING RUSHED
Preparations for Hard Games Are
Going Forward at All schools
and Outlook e. Good
for the sport.

Going FORWARD nj All SchoOl
and Outlook e. Good
for the sport.
With the general average OF two practice
games behiLd them the country over, the
condition of foot ball teams is still entirely
A. problematio one. in fact, the entire
month Of October will in very few cases
demonstrate the proper rank of elevens.
The brown month is very plainly to be one
OF predictions, which IL will take November
10 verify or disqualify. A good guess is
better than a sure thing, and from the
minor contests thus far played it is hard
10 resist q comparison OF the teams in the
different classes. with all a little slower
than usual on material, the early October
games have seen great wads OF substitutes
paraded through each short contest, but
still It is possible to deduct a general aver
age OF strength and figure somewhat on
the possibilities in development to come
during the next three weeks. For it Is not
till November 1 that the seasoned, balanced
team is expected.
Tho first Saturday I'm October finds three
of the Big -Four teams with two preliminary
games already to their credit, while the
fourth. Princeton, was content to play its
own second eleven on September q. and
only entered into mimic warfare with q
foreign elan yesterday. From results thus
far Yale has clearly the lead on all around
material, and the Blues also had a very
good start in training. Il now appears
that there will emanate from New Haven
a rush line with a central quintet weighing
over half a ton. The five men who Will
bulwark for this eleven will present a solid
front OF more than 1000 pounds OF trained
humanity, This news is very encouraging
to the rooters who have every hope that
Hsrvard's victory last season will be
avenged, and it also suggests a substantial
nucleus round which to build the rest Of
the team. 1t is the first time in many
years, too. that Yale has had promise OF
such an impregnable line OF forwards. Three
Of the positions are already certain, Holt at
center, Glass at leftguard and Goss al right
guard. All are old and experienced men.
with the tackles some difficulty Will be
experienced, and they will not be up to
that central trio standard. However, Ham,
lin, Hogan. Kinney and Shevlln are all
good lockers and good actors to date, each
with the myriad faults OF inexperience OF
a change OF position yet to be conquered.
CONN. and Moorehead will probably play
the ends, without a great many likely
Substitutes to push them, and the back
field is yet so much of a toss up affair
that 1t is unsafe to forecast much about it
There. is, however. much material OF a
fair, quality, with Eve good kickers in the
llst.'e' '-.tt
In semes against weaker teams. only Yale
has showed great promise. Harvard and
H--t..ao ko-. hnth tdioa pnnfutpd fhail
supporters as to early season matches
Neither has shown itself a fast scoring
team, while Yale has already crossed the
goal more times in its first game thar
both the others in two games each. Har'
wards greatest trouble seems the end de
tense, neither backs nor ends having shown
any strength at judging and handling plays
The Quakers, meanwhile have not thu
dashing offense expected from long pre-
Hmlnary training. their rush line being too
light. Both teams are still changing theii
men around constantly and trying new
ones, especially Harvard, and neither seemi
as far on the road to a solid eleven as Yale
At Princeton the coaches have determined
to take the bull by the horns and attemp
With all their heart and nerve the wei
Known appalling task. the development OF
good team from new material in one season
The Tigers have a great squad to pick from
SUIT most OF II is pitiably green. The,
have the weight. however and Will try I
do the business from a very small basil
OF old men leaven. as a steadying innuencs
CORNELL and Columbia universities are twl
which are always reckoned in connection
With the Big Four in base ball, aquati
and track sports, and not in~frequently the,
have earned a similar distinction in grid
from matters. Though handicapped b
Smaller attendance, and therefore les
ahoice of foot ball material, these two col
leges have every. now and again in year
past put out teams that have created sensa
lions by defeating the elevens Of thei
hrouder neighbors. True, this has usual
occurred when the bigger school had a
especially weak team, yet It has won foe
ball recognition for Cornell and Columbi'
So they are being watched this season, bu
TO date neither has shown. any promise {
q remarkable team. Cornell is far belo'
its tandard Of last year to all appear
snces. Columbia is stronger than a yea
ago, but it was weak then, and has not-Xt
sufficient degree of Improvement 70 max
Il a big factor in the eastern games
1902. '.'' -' s..'s'
h One big surprise has been developed 1
Big Nine territory, Aside from that tn
situation unrolls itself in continuation
predictions of a week ago. The eye-opent
Va Knox college. which seems to have pr
a much stronger eleven than was expeete
out for play this early. II should be r.
Hembered that Knox was good last yea
and kept most OF It's better old men, y,
oven that does not explain fully the his
standard the Galesburg boys have alread
set. This is Of interest to Nebraskans.
the Cornhuskers will meet the Knox me
for the frat time this season.
Little change in the situation can