The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-02
TIE FOR THE TITLE
Minnesota and Michigan Both
Promise to Finish the Season
Without Defeat
Chicago Still in the Running
Chances Of the Badgers
Look Slim.

Instead of being ,simplifed, the
western football situation is conpli-
Gated by Saturdays results. It is
probable that the season will end
Thanksgiving day with Minnesota and
Michigan still on even terms in their
contest for the championship.
There are other possible outcorles,
but they are remote. The four unde-
feated western teams now are Chica-
go, Minnesota, Michigan and North
western. Chicago has yet to play
Michigan, while Wisconsin has games
with Minnesota, Michigan and North
western. NOrthW estern plays only
Wisconsin of the big western sextet, |
and Minnesota meets only Illinois and
Wisconsin.
Should Wisconsin beat Michigan
and Michigan beat Chicago, Mime
sofa would have a fairly clear title to
the championship. From the show
ing of the badgers and wolverines,
Saturday, however, Wisconsin's
chances Of downing Yost's machine
look slim. Ano<ler possible outcome
Is for Michigan to beat both Wfscon-
sin and. Chicago, and wisconsin to
defeat Minnesota. This looks as i'm
probable as the other. Northwestern
may middle things still further by
defeating Wisconsin. The purple is
comes the week after the Michigan
Wisconsin battle, McCornack's men
may catch the badgers in crippled
condition.
A fourth result quite possible if not
probable, is for Chicago to defeat
Michigan. Then aside from the re-
suit of any other games, Chicago will
be conceded the championship. If
| Chicago beats Michigan and Wiscon-
sin Hoflo re TO- &c,
team will have a clear title because
it will be the only indicated team
except Minnesota, and will have
beaten the team which tied the
gophers.
Dark Outlook for Wisconsin.
T Of all these contingencies, however,
the first, that Michigan and Mime
sofa will win all their games, is most
probable. Wisconsin, in her game
with Chicago, showed that she had
been overrated in consequence Of her
| big scores against weak teams. The
| badgers show many elements Of
| strength, but they display also serious
weaknesses. They will unquestion-.
ably improve, as their team is COM
posed largely Of green men. That
they will round into good enough
form to defeat Michigan, Nov. IA, Is
hardly probable. That they can de-.
feat Minnesota Thanksgiving day is
stillless likely, on account Of their hard
schedule. Wisconsin plays North
western a week after the Michigan
game, and Northwestern will give
them a stiff argument. The badgers
should win, but Minnesota tackles
them only five days after Northwest
/ ern, and Wisconsin undoubtedly will
! be more or less battered and bruised.
If they met Wisconsin under circun-
stances most favorable to the badgers,
the gophers would be a strong favor
| lite. AS it is, the result OF the game
| seems almost a foregOne conclusion.
Illinois has been overrated as we'll
as Wisconsin. The big scores made
by the men from Champaign in early
/ games caused many to predict that
the team would give the leaders a
hard rub. Now it is apparent that the
Illini will occupy their usual position
Minnesota should win at Champaign
Nov. IA and win quite easily. This
4 will give the gophers a clean record,
and only the defeat Of Michigan by
i Chicago can cancel their claim to at
4 least an equal division of champions
ship honors. & s5
Chicago Not Yet Counted Out.
!. That Chicago will defeat Michigan
4 is not probable, but it is more likely
i than victory for wisconsin over
i either the wolverines or the gophers.
1t is admitted that Stagg has a SPLEEN
/ did bunch of material. He has been
a slow in developing his team, but this
4 is a characteristic of the veteran
coach. Steady Improvement has been
shown by the maroons during the
Epast fortnight, and as their sche du1e
l.from now on is easy, save for the
game with West Point, stagg may be
able to whip his men into shape tic
beat the wolverines. In Eckersall he
has strong punter and drop kicker
81 and his defense Is strong, especially al