The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-19
THEIR PLACES SAFE
Minnesota Football Veterans Are
Not Likely to Be Displaced
by New Men.
Eight Players Are Believed to Have
Cinched Their Places Out
look Is Good.

Tie TO eDllSnlen, the general HpuDllcs IN re-
gard to the makeup or the probable
strength Of the 1908 Minnesota football
team. In the daily practice the players
have been shifted SO frequently that an
accurate for the vacant positions has been
dates for the vacant positions has been;
impossible. DIR. Williams has been as COM
Indicative as usual in regard to his plans
that is to say, he has told absolutely
nothing. Isl *
1t is evident however, that Rogers,
Warren, Schacht, Strathern, Harris, Irs-
field, Davies and Thorpe will play on the
first team. The only one in regard to
whom there is much doubt is Thorpe.
Captain Rogers, of course, has no COM
petition; at left end. Schacht has been
playing a faster game than he exhibited
last year at this time, and Warren not a
snowy player, but one whose reliability
has been proven, is not seriously. threat
ened by any of the new candidates.
Strathern will retain his place at center.
Last year he fairly held his own after
meeting all the best western centers ex-
cept Ellsworth Of Chicago. None of the
is of varsity calibre.
O'Brien has done good work at quarter,
but it is not likely that he will displace
Sig Harris, whose generalship and all
around play have been tested in a full
season on the varsity. Irsfield and Davies
| have done better work at half than any of
the new men. O'Brien might push one of
them were he played regularly in the posi-
| ton, but If he is used at quarter he will
have little chance to display his ability in
the other place. Burdick, Kremer and
Gleason have all done good work at full
back-altho the latter has played more
often at half - but Thorpe, with his
strength in line bucking and defensive
play has the call, aside from his two
wears experience on the varsity
The weak point about a backfeld COM
posed of Harris, Irsf1eld, Davies and
Thorpe will be the lack of first-class
punter. Thorpe, Harris and Rogers are
all fair kickers. but none is up to the
standard that, will be required this year.
Gleason has done well in kicking, and has
shown up strong in all-around play also,
but has been given little chance on the
first team.
Marshall. the colored high school player,
is the most prominent candidate for right
end just now. He has done good work
both In ground gaining and defensive play.
/ His weak point has always been a ten
dency to be drawn in on trick plays. Ber-
gen, Tuck, Cans, and Luce have done good
work in this position also.
| The guards are the hardest problem In
selecting the team, and these positions
! bid fair to be the weakest spots on the
/ team. Burdick, Hoyt, Kicker, Pattee,
Benson and Big Smith have done the best
work. Burdick in al probability will be
| one of the men chosen. 7a#2 f'
The growing opinion that Michigan will
be forced to develop team from green
material has given Minnesota stock a
boom. 1t is the general impression now
that the gophers have quite fair chance
to win all their games. Tom Shevlin, the
Yale end, who assisted in the early coach
ing, both last year and this fall, said be-
fore leaving for New Haven a week ago
that Minnesota was fully % per cent
stronger than q year ago at this time.
There are other points which give Min
nesota an advantage over Michigan, pro-
vided the reports in regard to the defec-
ton Of the old men; Of the latter team are
true. The Minnesota backs and linemen
are less evenly balanced than last year
| This, While it seems a, disadvantage on
the face Of it, is benefit in many ways
With seven or eight men who have good
lead for their places, the team will be
practically picked within fortnight, and
the time which last year was spent in
trying out the various candidates can be
employed in coaching the first team men
| and developing team work.
Michigan, with fewer regulars on hand
must spend more time in the trying out
process. It looks now as If Yost will
have a harder time whipping his eleven
into shape for a championship contest by
Oct. 81, than will DR.. Williams The early
date of the Michigan game, so far from
being a handicap to Minnesota, promises
to be a distinct advantage.
This afternoons game with the Cen.