The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-09
Am / Right !?

~" universities IN the HlIuule
west apparently trying to
boycott Minnesota, several alumni OF
the North Star state institution are
agitating the question of an eastern
football game for the gopher eleven
next fall. The situation in the west Is
this: Michigan, it is said by men who
claim to have inside information, has
definitely refused to play Minnesota IN
1904. Chicago has not yet returned
final answer to Minnesota's request Tor
a game, but it is not thought lkely
that Stage will accept the proposition.
Wisconsin, the only other western in
stitution which has been able to main
tain al high standing in football year
in and year out, is disgruntled, and
there is a certain party at Madison
which is anxious to see Wisconsin
break with Minnesota.
The theory Of men who have studied
the political side of athletics in this
section, is that. Michigan and Chicago
want to make themselves joint dicta-
tors. By refusing games to Minnesota
they think they can practically el1ml-
nate her from the championship race.
If Wisconsin also can be induced to
discard the gophers, the latter will
have no opportunity Of proving their
right to be considered in champion
ship figuring. Minnesota will be able
! to schedule games only with such
teams as Northwestern, Iowa, Illinois,
and Nebraska. Victories over these
elevens will do her little good. Thus
the championship race will be mar
rowed down to three teams, instead OF
four, and Michigan, Chicago and Wis
consin, like Yale, Princeton and Har-
ward in the east, will be alone in the
front rank. 4..-....sg.,
I That this is the purpose of Michigan
and Chicago in refusing to schedule
! games with Minnesota this year is, OF
course, mere superstition. AS pointed
out by several men in@close touch with
the situation, however, the two institu.
tons named must have some weighty
inducements Minnesota has to offer
|. Undoubtedly both Yost and Stage re.
I alize that Minnesota must always be {
formida BILE factor in the championship
race, and feel that their places as die
tators of. western football affairs viii
be more secure when!the gophers ar
eliminated from consideration.
DY scheduling game with one 0
- the strong eastern teams, Min
nesota would d o much to offse
4 | =. -
: this plan, and would keep her. nam
prominently before tie football worl,
asa whole, regardless Of the action o
Chicago and Michigan. One wei
known football manssahas suggeste
that Minnesota might easily make us
, Of her strong Yale affiliations t
5 schedule an annual game with TIL
: Ellis. Such a game <sytaul dsnecessaril
! be played before s.ssNooX 81, ssfor Val
! would not agree to game whic
2 would interfere With her 3Princeto
y and HARVARD contests the second an
third week in November, nor woul
the Ellis consent to schedule a gam
after the close of the eastern season
+ TO getasteam on edge for hard gam
so early in the season would be a try
ing task for DR.. Williams and til
$ other Minnesota coaches, but it is
task which has been undertaken +
other western coaches, and successful
= ~ accomplished.
II such contest could be arrange
and made an annual feature. it won
be impossible for any combination
crowd out Minnesota from champio,
l. ship consideration. 1t will be remen
bered that Michigan and Visions
. boycotted Chicago in 1899, yet Oh
II Cages great record against sue
\ strong eastern teams as Pennsylvani
Brown and Cornell induced Visions
to break the boycott and schedule
post-season game with the maroon
u because in no other way had II
badgers a chance to establish clai
to the championship.
in -HES ATTEMPT Of certain sperso
&c in Ann Arbors to attribute tt
ne death Of Cecil Gooding, rig
Id guard of the Michigan football teal
a. to injuries received in the gar
he against Minnesota, on Northrop fe
of Oct. 81, is as ridiculous as it is u
11% ,