The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-17
WAS no SURPRISE
Michigan's Defeat Of Chicago Had
Been Anticipated by the Foot
-.. ball Public.
Chicago Writer Gives Minnesota
Credit for Her Victory Over ~
the Badgers. &r%..,

Chicago, Nov: 17.-There seems to be
wide diversity Of opinion concerning the
Chicago Michigan football game, which
was played last Saturday. This in itself
is not startling, but some OF the comment
on the game is.
This morning a number of statements
were made in regard to the game which
We're certainly surprising. One paper says
that Chicagos offense was slow and not
nearly so effective as Wisconsin's against
Michigan. Another announces that the
maroons We're outplayed in. every depart
ment of the game. third says that the
score should really have been about 6 to 0.
All these criticisms are altogether
wrong. To begin with, the maroon Of
Tense was fast and was superior to Wis
consin's. A comparative table Of distance
gained by the two would show that
Stages men did the better work. And be
it remembered that Michigan had all the
gain. Judging solely on the Wisconsin,
Michigan and the Chicago Michigan
games, I should think that the maroons
ought to defeat the badgers. To take up
the second criticism: I do not believe that
Chicago was outplayed in every depart
ment Of the game. On defense, outside
| the ends. think Chicago was the strong
er. However, the eleven OF the Midway
school was up against an attack that is
probably better than that of any other
football team in the country.
That the score should have been 6 to o
do not believe, either. The whole argu-
! mert that it should be is based on the fact
| that ten of Michigan's points were made
on place kicks. and that one of the VOL
verines' touchdowns was the result of a
| long run. But place kicks and long runs
count in the game Of football. Chicago
| twice tried to score on place kick, but
! could not connect; Michigan was able to
| score from the field twice in six trials.
This shows two things: First, that Michi-
gan was able to get close enough to make
| place kick possible, and, second, the
wolverines were able to make one in three
| trials on the average. Why should their
ability in this style Of scoring be dis
counted?
Chicago has nothing to be ashamed Of in
its defeat; quite to the contrary. There
| is absolutely no reason why it should be
so generally conceded that the maroons
| will be defeated by Wisconsin. If Chi
| cago can improve at the rate it has beer
recently. it looks to me as If Wisconsin
| would run against another beating or
Thanksgiving Day.
Wisconsin, by the way, went up agains
it's second defeat Of the season Saturday
at Minneapolis. Beforehand it looked a:
if the game would be won by Minnesota
in the second half unless the badgers were
able to secure a good lead in the first
This was exactly the case. The gophers
battering tactics probably weakened thu
cardinal plays greatly, and the latter coult
not hold the pace in the second period O.
the play.
Minnesota certainly has great clever
this season. I thought that, although thu
game last Saturday was about a toss-up
| Wisconsin would win. By the previou!
games the gophers had played this yea
it seemed as if Wisconsin would be able
to score against them. However, thu
badgers were not able to make enough
ground to do any scoring.
ALL through the first half Wisconsin
fought hard and effectively, but in thu
second the team from Madison was prob
ably worn out and unable to continue tn
work 1T had done earlier in the game.
Outside the two games already men
toned there were couple of rather start
ling results in western football. To begil
with, Illinois could do no better than til
with the Ohio state team; in the secont
place, Northwestern won from Beloit.
Illinois game was a surprise all round
except to enthusiastic Ohio men. The lat
ter believed their eleven had a grea
chance.
So far as the Northwestern game is con
cerned we offer greetings. Whether it /
the mere fact that the students at tn
Evanston university announced that the
would stop knocking their team, or tina
the players really tried to win, is hard t
say. or course, be it remembered tina
Coach HOLSTER, who has been working a
; hard as a man. can for the Northwestern
eleven, must get no credit.