The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-31
WALTER ECKERsALL
ON FOOT BALL PLAY
Famous Quarterback Thinks the
Game Is All Right at
Present.
By Waiter RI. EckersaII.

Despite the many attacks upon foot
ball, the season of 1905 was remarkably
successful for the big university teams
Of the country. The play was more sci
entifc than in 1904 in both east and
west, the games as a whole were clean
Ger and there were no serious accidents
in any of the big games: Zone Of the
most pleasing things of the season to
; the true loverzof football was the end
ing Of the schedules with an undis-
puted championship in each section. T.
In the west the dispute over the
championship between Michigan and
Minnesota was broken, with Chicago
securing premier honors. Chicago Sc
cured a clearer title thatn did Yale in
the east by defeating every Big Nine
team with the exception of Minnesota,
and the gophers fell before Wisconsin.
In the east Yale finished it's season
with victories over all opponents in
decisive manner. Pennsylvania was not
defeated, but was tied, to 8, by La
Fayette, and won over Brown and Car
Isle by narrow margins. :
" Interest in West. :: = i
; There was more interest in. football
in the west during the fall, .,as" was
shown by the unprecedented j: attend
ance at all games, and especially the
four big ones-the Chicago Wisconsin,
Wisconsin Minnesota, Wisconsin Michi
gan, and Chicago Michigan contests
Every one of these games warranted
support, for each was hard fought and
4. closely contested One was won by
twelve points, one by four points and
one by two, yet every one was remark:
able for the clean play and good sports
manship between the rival teams.
The fact that there were no serious
Injuries in any one Of these big con-
tests, which were as desperately fought,
as any in the. history Of the
game, stands in argument for the re-
;tention Of the present game as it is
played in the west. 1t shows that the
present rules are suited for the larger
college teams. ->
Injuries and Their Causes.
Injuries, during the season are said
almost entirely from lack of condition
and lack of physical examinations of
the PLAYERS. It is not to be expected
that the players who have neither train
ing nor understanding of the rules of
the game can take part in the contests
without receiving injuries. When the
death and injury record Of the season
is carefully examined, it shows that
there is little necessity for changes in
the college rules, and Mr.. Stages plan
for a separate code for the minor col
lege and high school teams is the best
solution Of the alleged football bru.
tality. .. E 'e.-.... II r.
The 1905 season should proveza= great
thing for football, especially in the
west. It was essential to the welfare
of football that the long string Of Mich
igan victories should be broken, no
matter what team should accomplish it.
Of course am glad that it fell to Chi.
cago's lot to takegthe championship
Chicago, Michigan, Wisconsin and Min
nesota need not be ashamed of the past
season. Purdue and Indians had their
most successful teams in years. N ortll.
western, Illinois and Iowa had little
material and the year was disastrous
Z for each as result.