The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-11-09
STIFF PRACTICE
FOR THE VARSITY
HOLIDAY GAVE TIME FOR ROUND
ING UP TEAM.
Bear Stories Coming Out of Madison
Would Appear to Be Based Upon a
Desire to Get Odds in Betting-Of-
ficials Finally Chosen for the Satur-
day Game.
BY O'LoughIIn.

As yesterday something Of holiday at
the university, DR.. Williams took advantage of
the time to put the gophers thru course of
sprouts in preparation for the Wisconsin game.
Every man the team was out in the morning
for light work and in the afternoon second
matinee held. The gophers working
with good spirit and result the team Is
showing some Of the improvement which will be
necessary If Wisconsin is to be humbled in Sat-
urdays contest.
All of the prellminaries have been settled for
the Wisconsin contest The strained relations"
which some Madison mischlefmaker telegraphed
broadcast failed to materialize and the work OF
selecting officials was as peaceful and harmo-
NOUS mothers meeting in country church.
Ralph Hammill of Chicago will act referee.
Clyde Williams of Iowa will be umpire and
Coach Ristine of the Ames team will be the
head linesman. These men are thoroly expert
enced In football competent to act and there
can be question to their fairness and abil-
ity. There not the slightest hitch in the
proceedings once, and that was when Lieu
tenant Hackett desired by both Minnesota and
Wisconsin, could not accept the invitation to
act.
Scrub Is Faithful.
There is feature Minnesota football
which Is pleasing to all who following the
progress of tn team That Is the faithful
work of the the second and third teams
Much of the credit, if Minnesota wins, should
be bestowed upon these lads When the big
games are on the scrubs not seen and
not thought Of. The stands cheer the members
of the first team with loyal frenzy but no one
ever heard a cheer for the patient, toing scrub.
THESE boys go In day after day and help to make
the first team They are battered. bruised and
lose pints of blood from bumped noses, but sell
dom does one get discouraged and quit.
They realize that the coach has eye the
scrub all of the time, andsthat If one of their
number gets to going in good shape he will be
given a trial. They loyal to the varsity and
loyal to the team They get out and fight like
tigers, and this is just what Is needed to make
the varsity eleven fighting and scoring ma
chine Minnesota has scrub team which is en-
Titled to great credit They stand around in the
stand on play days in citizens clothing The
people look at their skinned faces and blackened
eyes and wonder who "those tough looking fell
lows are They are the fellows who have
made possible the smashing ofrense and "stone-
val defense; Their activity has shown up the
weak places In the first team that they might
be braced. All the glory for winning games goes
to the stars Of the first team. It's all wrong
Half OF the honor goes. to the scrub. and each
year that there has been winning team the
athletic association should do something If it is
only the giving of bronze button, to recognize
Ine lads VINO are necessary to make team and
who get so little notice Or credit.
Tickets Going Fast
All the troubles over the tickets for the badger
gopher game have cleared away and the seat
sale started this morning. Long lines stood in
the drilling rain to buy the pasteboards for the
last game of the year at Northrop field. If pres
ent indications are not wrong the attendance is
going to run close to that of the epoch ma rkjng
Michigan game Of last year.
Already the bear story Is becoming to come
from Madison. This morning Remp has tonsi1i-
tbs and tho absence of number of "regulars''
from the scr1mmage of yesterday is noted. The
cat is let out of the bag rather clumsy style
When 1t is announced modestly yet pertinently
that the badgers who will come to Minnesota
In special-train style Saturday morning are want
Ing gopher followers to give odds in betting
Their greed evidently exceeds their Judgment,
To-day the only bet is even money on the result
OF the game, and placing cold cash on scores
VIII be nothing less than an evidence of pare.
sis at any time Wisconsin is bet If
there ever was one, and any enthusiast who
posts better than even money is allowing his
confidence to get the better of him.
A further hinge upon which the Madison con
tingent is asking odds is upon the poor showing
made against Beloit Saturday. Experienced bet
tiers do not usually place their money in accord
ance with the showing made by number Of
substitutes. The reported confidence of Min
nesota' Is more talk than truth. Around football
Headquarters one cannot find player who viii
60 on record as saying. that Minnesota will win
goes There is feeling Of intense as riValry be
tween the gophers and badgers and 1t is generall,
recognized that Curtis men will fight harde
on their schedule. All of these things go t,
make up the final score of football game ant
the candid advice of the writer to the better
would be to lay odds Monday morning at 1,
o'clock.
Talking of Score.
There has been some talk that Minnesota
should win by scoring at least two touchdowns
II Minnesota can batter the Wisconsin line 70
lWo louCnuOWnS, Iney can get thru for I
is not at all Improbable that the first half will
go without a touchdown. Condition is going t
tell in the fight and coaching will play no unim
portant figure Mfnnesota's, offense is superio
to that of Wisconsin. but the defense is not a
good When Wisconsin has the ball there will b
line bucking that will make the blood run col
when the heavy badgers get to carrying O.
the Tart Of Wisconsin the game will be a sc
ries of stubborn stands and mighty smashes
Minnesota's style Of play calls at times 70
smashing tactics and at other times for light
ninglike speed and accuracy. Minnesota has
more varied offense than Wisconsin, but It wi
be met by the stiffest defense seen at Northro
field thruout the year. These ideas were game
thru watching Wisconsin last Saturday, and til
gopher work of last week. improvements or re
versals in form SINCE that time WILL of course
put them badly 'off side
Wisconsin. say the press dispatches, has tn
Minnesota formations Assistant Coach Cochem
watched Minnesota against Lawrence Saturda
and went home with an eyeful Of play. He ha
taught these plays to the Wisconsin scrub an
the big badgers have played against Minnesot
style of play all week. How successful the
It'll HD t. 1,,1,,