Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-15
SPORTING GOSSIP OF WEEK
Hsbraska'S FOst Ball Team TAX" on New
Life sHd Vigor.
GREAT IMPROVEMENT IH'vARslN SHOWING

INV HNAhhohA ABOUT settAeu ana
Back Field ROunding Into shape
Fast Enough 20 satisfy
Coach Booth,
~ The hopes OF the followers OF Booths
Cornhuskers are running high nowadays
Fand II the coming conflict at Ann Arbor
a week from Saturday witnesses the un-
doing Of Nebraska by a one-sided score
the camp Of Booth will be filed with
sorry-looking lot of prophets. While lack
ing In the hnrdihood to predict a victory
over Yost's sterling aggregation, the form
and Improvement displayed by Booths
men during the last week of practice have
inspired a hope almost amounting to
conviction that Michigan. in facing Ne
braska, lie destined to encounter one OF
the stiffest struggles of the entire wolver-
Inc schedule. Booths squad, surely has
been going at a fast and furious pace.
The fumbling OF a week ago, which was
so frequent as to be distressing, has been
almost entirely eliminated, and a steady
betterment is daily noticeable in every
other department OF the practice. Those
of the old guard in the ranks of the Me-
braska rooters have never in years wit
messed Cornhusker team make greater
Improvement, nor one which has forged to
week ago Assistant Coach Westover's
scrub team was able to force the varsity
TO the limit In the achievement by the
latter OF a touchdown, but in the last
few days the scrubs have been as so many
pysmies. Beginning with the overcoming
OF the tendency 20 tumble, the regulars
have unfolded an offense which the scrubs
have been utterly unable to stay. The de-
fensive play has been I'm keeping with the
~ Of he.
of which Booths cup of JOY seems full
10 the point OF flowing over. He makes
no boast Of having turned loose a bunch
OF world heaters. but he Is unable 10 con
ceal his belief that the Cornhuskers have
II In them to force the Wolverines and
every other team they face this season to
do lot of hustling to march OF with the
honors
When the season began the line situation
presented much to discourage the Nebraska
coach. He feared he was short of varsity
material for at least one guard and one
tackle, while one OF the ends was also in
doubt. But there has been something of
transformation In the intervening six
weeks, during which time Booth has con-
: verted Weller from a halfback into tackle
D and has discovered in that player one of
the strongest tackles he has yet developed
in his six years at the Cornhusker instltu-
tion. For a time Nelson, a husky South
Dakotan. appeared to be the most avail
able left guard candidate, but Rice,
player Of unknown quality, has practically
crowded Nelson into the sub list and has
all the earmarks of the high-grade guard
Densiow. a substitute end last season, has
exhibited a surprising improvement, until
1t Is grave question whether Booth will
consider 1t good tactics to give ex-Captain
Benedict his old place at right end. The
other line positions are seemingly filled to
Booths satisfaction. for he has permitted
himself to be quoted as saying that Ne
braskas line ought to be the best he has
yet developed. Captain Borg at center.
Johnson at left end. Taylor at right guard
and Cotton at right tackle are showing
much better foot ball than last year. and
their proficiency is a decided boost TO Me-
braska's chances for a successful season.
One OF the most encouraging phases OF
the practice last week has been the fierce
charging of Cotton and Taylor in the
plunges through the scrub line. Both are
forwards, but 1t is apparently a part of
Booths tactics to make use Of one OF this
pair when Nebraska is hard pressed and
is forced to charge straight ahead. 1t is
plunses will prove less effective, but Booth
Is confident that Cotton and Taylor are
made of the stun which should cause heart
aches in opposing lines. The department Of
Wilson, Schmidt, Little and Mason as backs
Is also highly satisfactory, and in fact the
quarterback situation is giving Booth his
greatest bother Eager and Morse are both
new at passing the ball and are not yet
getting rid of the oval with the desired
speed Upon the success or failure of teach
ing either of them this trick hinges much
OF Nebrasks's chances for the year. While
Manager Morrison was compelled to aban-
don the plan to run excursion to Ann
Arhor for October q, his failure in that
direction is more than compensated by an
announcement that cut rates have been Sc
cured for the accommodation Of Nebraska
rooters for the Minnesota and Creighton
games The Minneapolis rate for Novem-
Der IS is So. and fully 5000 are expected to
make the trip.
w w. Coe, the famous shot putter and
the man who so declsively defeated Ralph
Rose this summer at the Oregon exposition,
has entered the University OF Michigan as
a freshman and is doing the regular work
of the literary department. Although II
was widely published during last summer
and fall that Rose was to re-enter the
University OF Michigan the rumor has been
proved incorrect. He has again been
turned down." the claim being made by
the faculty that he was undesirable, and
that the reputation and welfare OF the
university would be prejudiced by his re-
turn. Schultz. Longman and Weeks OF last
years varsity foot ball team will in all
probability not be able to help the uni
versity this year. This unfortunate state
OF affairs is the outcome OF hard luck and
the stern conduct OF the faculty Is said
20 have had a great deal TO do with re-
suits Schultz and Weeks are being held
up by conditions. Longmsn. the star full
back Of last year has so wrenched his knee
In practice that Il Is question whethei
he win even be able TO play in the Chicago
game at the close OF the season. Ton
Hammond. however. is taking care OF tn,