The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-10-28
THE ELEvBNs COMPARED.
Minnesota Seems to Have the Better
of Michigan in Some Points.

Minneapolis, Oct. 2S.-The Mime
sofa team this year is unouestionably
the strongest ever turned out by this
institution: the offense is faster than it
has been in years. Dr. Williams has
not, as popularity supposed, sacrificed
weight for speed. He has been for
tunate in acquiring speed without los
ing much weight. for this years eleven
will average heavier than the average
university team: the average, in fact.
is we'll over 1870 pounds.
With a remarkably fast and powerful
offense. the team combines good de-
Tense. "Pudge" Heffelfinger, the old
Yale player. who has been assisting in
the coaching. says that the line is
strong. 1t looked weak in the Ames
game. but has shown great improve
menI since The real strength of the
defense. however, is in the back field.
Irsheld, Current and Davies, who con-
all hard and sure tacklers. heady plav-
ers who spot the direction of a play
quickly and nail any back with unfail-
ing accuracy If the line fails to hold.
On the offensive Minnesota has eight
good men to carry the ball. Irsfield
and Davies, unquestionably the best
pair Of halves Minnesota has ever had
are good ground gamers on plays
around end or outside tackles. Schacht,
Thorpe and Current are strong line
buckers, as is 8urdick, the green end
who today looks every bit as strong as
Captain Rogers. The latter is a good
running end. and behind the strong in
reference put up by Minnesota is
sure ground gamer O'Brien, at quar-
ter, is one of the finds of the year and
men who have seen him play say he is
a more valuable man than EckersaIl
In carrying the ball from scrimunage
O'Brien is a wonder and the strength
OF his general play is attested by the
fact that he has displaced Harris, the
quarter of last years team, who was
considered a star.
MinnoSOta,S aIxnoec &c -
punts. O'Brien does not catch with any
certainty, and his fumbles may prove
costly in the Michigan game but he has
improved greatly in the last fortnight.
What football Minnesota knows she will
play as well as Michigan, or at least
as we'll as Michigan played last year
But Michigan (again judging from the
form shown by the 1902 Wolverine elev-
en- in two games witnessed by the wri-
ter) will know and play more football
than Minnesota. The Gophers are not
strong in the kicking department. Their
offense Will be as fast as was Michi-
cams last year. Their defense will be
strong. except perhaps at left end. but
in the finer points of the game Yost's
men Will excel, and this promises to give
them the victory. But it is not more
than 10 to shot. Michigan must be
at least as strong as last year to win.
Comparing the two teams individually,
there is little to choose between them,
Michigan. At center, Strathern and
Gregory are evenly matched. Thorpe
will outplay Shuttle at guard, and War
rem will hold Golding even. Maddox
and Schacht will outplay their oppon-
ents. Webster and Curtis. Rogers will
beat Longman, and Burdick will nearly
hold Redden even, admitting the strength
of the latter. O'Brien is far ahead of
James or Norcross at quarter. In the
back field aside from this position,
Michigan has the better of it, but the
margin of difference is slight. Hammond
has the advantage over Current in
weight, but in weight only. Heston is
slightly better than Irefield, and Graver
has something on Davies Apparently,
however, Minnesota's substitute backs
are better than those of Michigan. The
Wolverines must win by superior team
work, if they do win. The statistics of
the Minnesota team follow: