The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-03-17
FOOTBALL SCOUT
RUSHED BY FRAT
OF A MINNESOTA
MAN AT CHICAGO "U."
How Francis A. Donaldson, Jr., Went
Down to Chicago Before the Great
Minnesota Chicago Game Of 1900
to Got a Line on Stages Mem and
Got Crushed" as a New Student.

Football Is war, scouts are neces-
sary in war, therefore scouts are nee
essary in football This bit of logic
is given by way Of Introduction to the
story of q piece Of good luck football
scouting and some unexpected con-
comitants, recalled by the announce
ment in the social columns of Th e
j o u rna of the approaching mar
riage of Francis Adams Donaldson,
Jr., Of Philadelphia, who, as assistant
coach, did so much toward the max
ing of the champion gopher team Of
1900. It is not felt that any con-
hdence is being violated by telling the
story at this late date.
Mr.. Donaldson had been one of the
| stars of a Pennsylvania university
team and knew the game FROM A. to
z. He could watch a team Of oppo-
nents thu knothole block away
and go away and diagram every play
from memory. Consequently, when
the day for the great game with the
Chicago "U'' drew near, it was thought
| advisable to have Mr.. Donaldson go
| down to Chicago and get. a line on
Stages strategy; it would not do for
the gophers to meet it unprepared.
| So few days before the Chicago
| Purdue game, which was week be-
fore the Minnesota Chicago game, Mr..
Donaldson took train for Chicago, ex-
pecting to put in the afternoons pre-
ceding the Chfcago-Purdue game
watching the Chicagoans at open
| practice.
The first afternoon, Mr.: Donald
son sailed forth to see the football
| sights on Marshall field. But disap-
pointment met him at the field; the
gates were barred and guards were
| mounted to keep away all not needed
inside Of the fence. Mr.. Donaldson
could not get near a knothole even.
| Seeing that to try would mean to de-
clare himself at once as a scout, he
pushed his hands into his pockets and
sauntered along like some grind. out
for an afternoon breath Of fresh air.
He; looked the part Of a student
and his face not being familiar to a
group Of frat. men who came along
ne was taken. for a new one: The
term was yet young, and the fraters
were looking for "rushing' material
Why not make the. acquaintance OF
this new man? The suggestion was
at once acted upon. ~-- r.. :. =
ga new student?" inquired one OF
the group, approaching Minnesota's as
sistant coach.
The assistant coach was quick ..tc
take the cue. II was looking the
| ground over,'' was his wholly truth
full reply .:.... -; ~, 1850
After that the fraters-they were
Phi Kappa Psis, to be explic1t-en'
| deavored to do everything in theil
power to make Mr.. Donaldson a
home at the "U." He must come
| to the chapter house to meet the 9th
err members Of the chapter, he mus
! take drives, and go to the theatel
and do many other things which the
lrusher imposes upon the rushee
Must" is, used advisedly; for Mr.. Don
aTdson used every. art in his power stt
escape imposing upon the young men
/ but without avail he simply had t.
submit to some high-class rushing.
But he gained his point. SO far a
q getting information about Mr.. Stage
heroes was concerned. The. Phi ,Ps
boys were up on all the plays Of tn
Chicago team, and were delighted t.
: air their knowledge. to a new man
So by the time the game with Purdu
was done, the Minnesota assistan
coach, with what he had seen in tn
, game and what he had learned b.
catechising the Chicago rushers, wa
loaded. He was able to put tn
gophers on, and the tying Of Stage
invincibles a week later, PRACTICAL
= defeating them, was the result. =
I l. The rushing tactics Of the frat
y men were to be continued followin
:. the Purdue game, but a Journal ma
0 who had gone down to Chicago It
: size up the Chicago team turned u
o as an "old friend from Pittsburg
and rescued Mr.. Donaldson from tn
r hands Of the frat men by inVitin
e him down town to dinner. ->- .