The Minneapolis journal., 1902-10-25
NEW TEAMS IN RACE
Winner of Chicago-I Illinois Game To-
day Will Be Factor in West
ern Championship.
Geo. w. Woodruff, the Old Pennsly'
vania Coach, Ranks Maroons
Even With Badgers.

The impression is growing that Chicago
and Illinois must be accorded higher
place among the western football teams
this year than they have held during the
last two seasons. Chicago is forging to
the front in public esteem every day. and
her chances for landing the championship
are generally admitted to be only slightly
less than those of Wisconsin and Michi-
gan.
Illinois has never held a very high rank,
or at least has never been prom inent
factor in the championship, although last
year the Champaign eleven, although de-
feated by Northwestern, displayed greater
strength throughout the season than any
team outside the big three. This year
Illinois is unquestionably stronger than
last season
Illinois has small chance for an undis
puted championship playing neither Wis
consln nor Michigan. but should the Illini
defeat Minnesota and Chicago, as they
have a very good chance to do, they will
rank with the winner of the Michigan
Wisconsin game Nov. l.
1t may be that this year. as in the last
two seasons, the championship must be
settled by comparativ scores.
Post Season Games Necessary.
1t is becoming almost an imPOssibility
to settle the title without q post season
game. In 1899 such contest was neces-
between Chicago and Wisconsin. In 1900
Iowa, before that a nonentity, escaped de-
feat and disputed the championship with
Minnesota, although the gOphers were &C
claimed champions by most critics. Last
year Wisconsin and Michigan disputed the
title. This year similar discussion is
possible
But to return to the maroons and IL
lini. George Woodruff, who was referee in
the Wisconsin, Beloit game last Saturday,
and also Officiated in the Chicago Cornell
and Chicago Purdue games, ranks the ma
rooms about even with the badgers, al
though admitting the probability that
King has more up his sleeve than has
Stage. a defeat Of Chicago by Illinois this
afternoon would not discount Woodruff $
opinion. 1t simply would mean that Illi-
nois is stronger than she has been rated,
and that the Champaign team is the third
most important factor in the race. Here
is Woodruff's Judgment:
Teams Rank About Even.
"As referee Of the Wisconsin, Beloit
football game, the question asked
comparison between Wisconsin and Chi
cago. OF course the Beoit team was too
light to, figure in the game otherwise than
asa point of resistance to Wisconsin s
powerful straight attack.
I'm answer to the question Of compari-
in two Chicago games. the first one
against Cornell college Of Iowa In that
game Chicago. played poorly. and com :
pared Withthe cardinals play Of last sa =
urday, would stand no show wha
Coach Stagg and the maroon players
themselves all felt that Chicago's game
that day was the poorest conceivable.
THE second game In which I offlciated
was Oct II, between Chicago and
Purdue. At that time the maroons played
the prettiest game. both in attack and
defense. I have seen for a long time.
Judging from that game, Wisconsin and
Chicago even. If either Of them
played poorer than what 1 have seen of
their best, the other ought to win.
I'm giving an opinion. however, I am
handicapped by not knowing how possible
it may be for Phil King to add to his
powerful straight attack those variations
of tricks and surprise plays which would
make his team IS per cent more effective.
He knows such plays, and could play
them himself but can his team learn
them? In this particular Stages team
Is apparently away ahead. In the Pur-
pretty tricks, one Of them, the same de
layed pass by means Of which Beloit
scored so prettily on Wisconsin, netting
Chicago fifty yards for touchdown.
May Have Reserve Force.
Chicago, however, has given a peep
into it's hand and shown some Of It's strong
cards, while Wisconsin ought to have sew
eral reserve aces and trumps up its sleeve.
At the time of writing this, 1 have heard
the first half only Of the Chicago North
western score. The failure of the maroons
to score in that half surprises me much
as regarded its Purdue form easily ahead
of Northwestern.
"One thing impresses me much about
the frst-class western teams. They play
even cleaner football than eastern elevens
Of the same standing. 1 have officiateC
In three games this fall and never saw
harder or cleaner play. The players de-
serve every credit for this, and it must
be that the coaches insist on it as a fun,
damental. The example to foolish, scrap.
py little teams will be Of great value. Or
the other hand, the players do not know
the. rules as well as they should