The Minneapolis journal., 1905-10-11
INCLINED TO LOAF
In The PRACTICE
Gopher Linemen Evidently Hold
Ames a Triae Too
Cheaply.
BY O'Loughlln.

Minnesota's football delegates assembled yes
Z terday afternoon for the usual convention on
: Northrop field, and while the air was keen
3 and bracing, ideal football weather in fact, the
work was not Of nature to please those who
desire to see Minnesota again at the top In
western football. Most of the bad part OF the
work was that of the Inemen. Some of them
loafed shamelessly. They failed to get into the
plays and lodged piling up plays directed against
them. One or two acted tho they had never
had thought in their lives This feature con-
stitutes the weakness of the team, and 1t seems
to be born of belief that Minnesota will al
ways prevail on play day In some way or other.
10 get down to brass tacks, this sort of thing
will lead to Minnesota getting good licking
one of these days The men get out on the
days when they meet teams from other schools
and play with great vigor. They dash into
every play, and do not hesitate to throw them
selves In the way Of heavy masses directed at
the gopher line. They run we'll and work we'll,
: but on the practice some Of them are too much
inclined to loaf Football games are really won
by the practice scrimmage and steady consist
T ent and continued good play against worthy op-
is not possible for team where there are
men who are inclined to take it easy in the
practice work 1t is the gravest fault of
few of the gophers, and now is the time to
s check it.
Season Moves Along. ...
At this season of the year the gophers should
be devotng their full time to finishing OF their
play. If individual players retard the work Of
the coaches by dilatory and loafng tactics In
the practice, the Nebraska, Wisconsin, Iowa and
S
as the teams meet. The team has lost heavily
thru the loss of such men as Case, Irsfeld,
= Hunter, Harmon and Kicker, and to win without
these men will call for the putting forth Of
the best every gopher has in his makeup.
There Is hard work ahead Of the Minnesota
team this fall, and If a cog Of the machine
fails to turn at the proper time there will be
trouble. Every man the squad is anxious
that Minnesota should win again, but leasing
up practice days such as that of some Of
the men last night is reprehensble. 1t is an
injustice to the team, to. the coaches, to the
university. The offending doing them
selves an injustice which might lead to regret
later in the season.
To win the schedule this year and gain an
+ 'M'' in 1905 will mean to Minnesota
man than an "M'' gained in any other year
in the history of football in the university.
There have been great football victories before,
but gained under more favorable circumstances.
The followers of the game have blind and
sometimes unreasoning faith in the ability of
DR.. Williams, and this confidence is well re-
posed: He Is a master of the strategy of the
game and has always been successful in i'm
parting his knowledge to the players. Further
than this he cannot go: After the play is
planned and worked out its execution rests sole
ly with the men. # they will follow the coach
and work earnestly they will win. If they
slight their work in practice, making themselves
IN playing against other teams, the work of
the year suffers. If Minnesota wins this year
IN the face Of her bad luck with players and
the early-season curtailment of the material by
years victory in the history Of the game in
Minnesota. This is worth striving for and with
such goal in view every varsity, college and
scrub team player should buckle into the work
with the "never-quit' idea foremost at all
times.
., Want Championship.
This may sound like preaching from an out
side pulpit, but it is born Of friendship for
the team. The city and the state rooters are
interested in the football team and want to
see them another western championship.
Everything has been done to help the men on
the squad and the years history making is in
their hands. page two is turning at every
practice. The team should be full Of fire and
ginger at every scrimmage at this time of the
year When Sights the practice. he is
holding back his progress and that of every
man on the team. 1t Is an injustice to all
concerned, and those who have loafed should
start today to make amends
<> Irsfeld Resting Easily.
, Jimmy Irsfeld is resting easily at St. Mary's
hospital today, and is reported as having had a
good night. The thousands of football enthu-
siasts all over the city deeply interested in
the progress of his case, and If we'll -wishers
could perform the miracle Jimmy would be
out of the hospital and in his moleskins at the
practice this afternoon. Kremer, Schuchnecht,
cutting and Weitzel are playing the halfback
positions. Kremer may be shifted to the right
side, his old position, and the task of filling
"Hunky" Davies old place will be on.
Ames is showing more confidence of a low
score against the gophers and will bring the
largest team Of the year to Northrop field Sat-
urday. The men will be almost on par
with the gophers weight, and there is not
fatty on the squad. They are big sturdy
nawkeye farmer boys, and to reach the score
OF last year the gophers going to have to
hustle from kickoff to touchdown