The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-21
TRAINER PROBLEM
Much Unoalled For Criticism of Con-
dition Of Minnesota in Mich
igan Game.
Nelson's Work Has Been Satisfac-
tory-Most of the Men In
Good Shape.

Considerable talk, meaningless and
otherwise, in regard to the Importance
of engaging a better trainer for the
Minnesota football team followed the
Minnesota Michigan game. The fact
that Michigan went thru the Wnole
game with only one man being forced
to retire. and that one player VINO
had been out Of scrimmages most of
the time during the fortnight before
the contest, while Minnesota was
forced to use four substitutes, called
forth much criticism Of the training
methods In vogue here. 1t was pointed
tout that Burdlck and O'Brien We're
disabled by injuries in the week before
the game, and were unable to play:
that Thorpe was also injured and was
unable to help In the line-buoking.
and that time was taken out frequent
ly by Minnesota players. while Mich
Iigan men seldom delayed the game In
this way.
Most of this talk is accustomed by
a failure to understand the real oon-
Idttions. The truth is that with the
exception of Schacht, Harris and
Thorpe, every one of the Minnesota
men who started in the game was In
splendid physical condition. Sohacht
tore a cartilage in his rib three weeks
before the game, and was out of prac-
Itice for two weeks, and only able to
get into two or three scrimmages the
week before the game. The big tackle
has had a hard time keeping down to
weight this fall. and his enforced rest
made it impossible for him to get on
edge He was forced to wear heavy
sheepskin jacket to protect his injured
side, and the heat of this garment. 1t
was thought, would exhaust him, and
make it necessary for him to retire
before the end of the game. Accord
ingly time was taken out by the Min
L., r111y rs
Schacht That the plan was effective
is shown by the fact that Schacht fin
iished the game.
Harris dislocated his elbow early In
the season, and was unable to get into
many scrimmages before the game. He
LASTED thru the contest, however, and
played a game which elected praise
from all the Michigan men. Thorpe
sustained a muscle bruise shortly be-
fore the game, and was ordered to see
that the injured spot was properly
protected by a pad before he went into
another scrimmage. He neglected
again. While he was able to play
most of the game, he could not do the
line bucking which had been expected
= of him.
Burdick. like Thorpe, neglected a
slight injury, with the result that 1t
ideVelODeQ INTO SOIIleLnlHS ScIlOuS
enough to keep him out of the game.
Had he informed Trainer Nelson or
DR. williams of his hurt, 1t would
have been properly cared for, and he
would have been able to get into the
game.
Irsfeld, Davies and Current were In
good shape when the battle opened,
but they wore themselves out in stop
ping Michigan's heavy plays. The
double line defense used by Minnesota,
while it is believed to be more effec-
tive than the single line, is more wear
ing upon the backs. Subjected to this
Ihammering, and having in addition
to do most Of the work on offensive,
the backs gave out early in the second
half, and were replaced. 1t was just
before Irsfield and Davies retired that
Michigan made the gains which re-
suited in her touchdown. After Kre-
mer, Burgan and Boeckmann took the
places of the first set of backs, the
tide turned again, and Minnesota
scored.
While it Is not thought that Mel
son Is the best man who could pc Sc
cured for trainer, he is the best that
could have been secured after Saka-
gani was discharged, and his WORK
has been quite satisfactory. He has
studied medicine, and has also good
TX
as are peculiar to football. Still 9
more experienced man could have
discovered the injuries Of Thorpe and
Burdick. and made sure that they
did not go into the scrimnage withou,
being protected against further In.
juries. He might have brought these
two men into the game in shape tc
help in bucking the Michigan line
of some of their work in carrying the
This would have relieved the back:
ball, and would have left them more
strength to put into the defense II
the second half. It would have addec
materially to Minnesota's chances
and probably would have given he
the victory.
The Minnesota management is anx
ious to get man for trainer Wh'
will become a. permanent part Of TIN
athletics of the university, and viii
feel personal interest in the success
of the various teams; one who WI
become so closely identified with tn
university as Mike Murphy witt
Yale, Robinson with Princeton, Keen
Fitzpatrick with Michigan, or And
O'Dea with Wisconsin. It Is hard t
secure the right man for the place
and no especial criticism attaches t
the management for the condition
this year. The coaches were greatl
pleased with the work of Sakagam
and If he could have been retained,
is felt that the Minnesota team woul
, have gone thru the season In splendi
shape, except for those injuries wh1c
no trainer could possibly avert.
1t is unfortunate that Wisconsi
should have allowed herself to be pu
In the position of upholding Michiga
in the latter's babyish beef" abou
rough playing by Minnesota in tn
game on Northrop field Oct. 81. Th
statements emanating from Ann Al
Dor to the effect that future game
between Minnesota and Wisconsi
would depend upon Minnesota's cor
duct in the contest at Madiso
Thanksgiving Day, appear to be ii
tended as q foundation for excuses
case of defeat. Or possibly they al
intended to frighten the gophers OF
of playing with their usual vim. {
to prejudice the officials in advanc
1t is hard to tell which is the NOR
tiresome, Michigan's complaints {
Wisconsin's exhibition of crying b,
fore she is hurt. So far as the trut
of Michigans charges Is concerne
they are refuted by every unprej,
diced observer who saw the gam
DIR. Williams has received letters frol
Hamill, halfback, on Chicago's chan
pionship 1899 team. Both men wei
present at the game, and say tn;
they saw nothing but clean, hal
football. They say that they will /
glad to have DR.. Williams call upo
them for testimony to this effect.
~ The writer met three players of til
Central high school team of this eli
the day after that team PLAYED Mort