The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-11-20
STAGES APOLOGY
POurs a Little Soothing Syrup
Out for Western Teams.
MIchigan's Eleven Only Shadow
Of Its Former Glory.
WOLVERINES OFF YEAR
MaroOn's Leader Says MinnesO-
Ia, Too, Was Not in Form.
Special Plays in Nebraska Game
for Eckie's Benefit.

Chicago, Nov. 20.-Director Stage
poured a little soothing syrup on the
vests tender feelings. wrought by the
defeats Of Michigan and Minnesota at
the hands of eastern foes, yesterday. He
advised a light consideration of the
showing Of the western representatives,
said that the two games offered no COM
parisOn between east and west, and
suggested that the Michigan team this
year is only a shadow of former VOL
VERNE elevens.
''Bagatelle' was the word employed
by the maroon chieftain in contrasting
the 1906 Michigan eleven with the team
OF last year and the few years preced-
ing. In pointing out further the relative
weakness OF this years YOSt produce,
he said it was only a circumstance. ~
His criticism Of the Wolverine team
was done in friendly spirit, and was
in the nature of an apology for the
west.
The two defeats were unfortunate
for the west, but the results by no
means indicate that western football
must take a back seat" said Mr.. Stage.
Neither of the two contests allowed
a chance to compare the game as play
ed here with the way it is played in
the east. A comparison under the cir
cuHnstances is hardly fair. Michigan
this year evidently is not the team it
was last year or the years before. It
is hard to duplicate such men as Tom
Hammond, LOngman and those line
men. And so, why should we admit
that the east is our superior? AS near
as 1 am able to judge. the Michigan
team hes had an off year, and has been
beaten by an eastern team That is all
one can say with fair judgment. Last
year would have been a much better
time to judge. The 1905 Michigan team
was a great eleven That powerful line
and that powerful secondary defense we
shall not soon forget. Hammond was
a wonder, and Longman just as good.
That was the team to compare with
eastern teams"
Stagg was in good spirits yesterday.
but had little to say of the maroon's
triumph over the Illini- He said he
thought the happenings Of the game,
as well as the score spoke more to the
point than he could He felt the team
came into its own in a way quite sat
isfactOry-'
1--WE must occupy our attention now
with Nebraska" he declared Il sent
Spelk out to Lincoln to get a line on
the strength of cur next opponents, but
he has not returned, and I don't know
what to say about the game. I do not
know how to account for Kansas vic
tory over Nebraska. Without doubt the
game on Saturday VIII be an interest
ing affair, even il one side or the other
may upset calculations 1t IS the last
game in the career of 'Eckfe, and this
in itself ought to make the battle worth
going a long way to see.
Il might say I have decided to for
mulate some special new plays for
'Eckie,' so that he will have a better
TO end his career in a blaze
Of glory The plays will be for 'EclSie'
alone, and. in fact, the Chicago offense
will center almost exclusively around
him. 1t is only fitting that we should
honor him in some sort of fashion Eek
ersalI is the greatest football player Of
the age. His career has been the most
Of any I have known. In
his four years of service you can
scarcely name a flaw in his work. It
has been remarkable in the extreme
and many a day will pass before there
Will be another EclSersall-
Il do not believe you will find a bet
ter punter or drop kicker, a better man
in the open, especially in running back
punts, better man in directing an at
tack a more enthusiastic leader than
Eckie' Personally he is all one can
ask for. He is an ideal sportsman. So
I have decided to give him full sway or
I have not as yet worked
out any plays for him"