The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-05
FOOTBALL
GOPHERSWORK HARD
special Secret Practice Is Begun in
Preparation for Illinois
8 III. #5a
Game Nov. IA.
Michigan Completes Her Breakdown
-Redden Apologies for Charges
Against the Gophers.

The fact that special secret practice
was again inaugurated at Northrop
field yesterday, indicates that DR.. Will
liamS considers the coming games
with Illinois and Wisconsin more inn
portant than the rooters have regard
ed them. While Illinois is known to
have a strong team, and one which is
capable of giving the gophers a, hard
rub, most outsiders have imagined
that the gophers would be able to de-
feat them on straight football. Still
the team will probably leave for
Champaign Wednesday night, which
b leaves only five more days of practice,
including to-day, before the contest
with Woodruff's men. Under these
circumstances DR.. Williams seems to
be wise in taking no chances with a
team which has always played re-
markably good football for Its weight,
and which has a reputation turnout
the west for dying hard. The obitu-
aries OF men and teams who have I'M
derestimated the strength Of an oppo-
nent would fill several large volumes.
1t is pGobable that much time will
be spent during the next ten days in
the attempt to develop good field
goal kicker and to bring out another
first-class punter besides Harris. The
value of a good drop or place kicker
to a team was effectively shown Sat
urday in the Chicago-Wisconsin game
when only the good right leg Of Eek
ersall saved the maroons from defeat.
no an eleven like Minnesota, which
possesses strong offense, the goal
kicking department is not of such i'm
portance as to a team like Stages,
which has practically no attack, but
In tight game five points scored by
the air line are just as good as five
scored In any other way.
At present Harris is the only first
class punter on the team, and so far
as the public knows, 1t is not yet GER
tain whether Harris or O'Brien will
play in the Illinois and Wisconsin
games. Marshall has shown fair
ability. but if Burdick is in shape,
Marshall is not likely to get a chance
to play in the succeeding games.
Thorpe and O'Brien are both below
standard, and Rogers, tho a fair place
and drop kicker, is not a strong punt
er. DR.. Williams certainly has not
overlooked the Importance Of provid-
ing man who can boot the ball eff
fectively When Harris is not in the
lineup.
Michigan has completed her back
down. Evidently the heads of athlet-
ic affairs at the wolverine institution
have realized the asininity of their
charges Of rough play by Minnesota,
for, following on the heels Of Yost's
disclaimer, comes the following apol-
ogy from Captain Redeem:
The Michigan team regrets the publica-
ton by newspapers Of articles in which
members Of that team are alleged to have
accused the Minnesota team of unneceS-
sary roughness. While some of us felt
that the game was unnecessarily rough
and unpleasant. the stories printed are
greatly eXaggera ted and many of them en-
tirely unfounded.
1t was the intention of our team to re-
frain from making any sta tements Of the
Kind. We have at no time had any desire
10 detract from the credit of the Minnesota
team for the splendid game it played That
team Is one of the best we ever met
Curtis G. Redden. Captain
1t is to be hoped that this unpleas-
ant affair is now closed permanently.
Wisconsin is another team which is
working hard to strengthen it's kick
ing department. Abbott and Perry
are being tried in practice, and both
are doing poor work. The badgers are
not strong enough in other respects
to neglect the kicking department.
While Wisconsin is working on her
kickers, Chicago is striving to develop
an effective attack. The maroons
have not made single touchdown
on straight plunges in their three big
games this fall Stage wants badly
to win his game with Michigan, but
he realizes tnat TINS IS practically inn
possible unless his men can learn to
carry the ball straight down the field
for fifty yards or more at a stretch
Stage says he will put in his best
men against the Haskell Indians Sat
urday, and keep them in until they
learn to advance the ball consistently
The elimination Of the Amateur
Athletic union from participation in
the control of western college athlet-
les was completed by the statements
from West Point and Michigan that
neither institution would protest
against Chicago's playing Eckersall
who was expelled by the A. A. U. Cas-
par Whitney predicted that West Point
would refuse to play against Ecker
sail, but the soldiers, as well as Mich
igan, have taken the position that Chi
cago is competent to manage her own
affairs. Michigan's position is set
forth in the following statement by
Manager Baird:
II do not remember an instance
where Michigan protested the eligibil.
ity of any member of football team
representing one Of the western con.