The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-05-06
ATHLETICS
ARE IN Dad SHAPE
Charges, Counter Charges and In
trique Shake Sport Founda-
tons at Midway.

Chicago, May 5.-Demoralization
tells the condition Of athletics at the
University of Chicago. Petty political
deals in the consideration of the foot
ball situation have disrupted the de
partment of physical culture and, while
there. is no open break, prominent
alumni and faculty members claim that
the midway school will soon see one Of
the biggest athletic upheavals that has
ever visited any school in the west.
With bright prospects for cham
pionship football team, Director Stage
has been denied the privilege of SEIZED
uluing games with Michigan and Wis
maroons. and instructed not to open ne
gotiations with the University of Min
nesota. Tho there has been strong
undercurrent against severing relations
with Michigan and Wisconsin,. it was
thought that a game with Minnesota
would make up for the loss Of the old
fixtures an dafford a line of reckoning
ference colleges.
Captain Eckersall has expressed him.
self openly as being in favor of game
withe the gophers, while Coach Stage
| is known to be favorable to resuming
| football relations with Coach Williams
team. The ruling Of the university sen
! ate has done away with all prospects
of big western game for Chicago, and
| has forced the maroons to look east for
| a game = g
Trickery has been charged by sever
al alumni against prominent faculty
members in the football deal. The
gymnasium instructor, Dr.. Raycroft,
with Professor Stage. Coach Stagg,
however, denies that he has ever had
any trouble with Raycroft, but at the
same time the athletic system at the
midway school is badly strained.
Mr.. Stagg is expected to tender his
resignation in the near future. Leaders
of the Chicago alumni association de-
clare that Mr.. Stagg has already of
fered toshand in his resignation, and it
would not be a great surprise to athletic
/ followers here if he were to leave the
university at the end of the present
quarter
With demoralized track team, a
mediocre baseball team, and no occa-
sion to have football team at all, with
no prospects of games other than the
usual practice contest, the university
offers little inducement to the athleti-
cally inclined young man, who is hgur-
ing on entering college. The alumni
are free in declaring that the abolish
ment of the big football games has
served only as a direct slap at the uni
versity itself and will tend to keep
oSAS AAoAA oiiS
The sole topic of conversation among
, the Chicago athletes at present, with
, the exception of the strained conditions,
is the conference meet, which will be
decided either at Evanston or Marshall
: field early in June. Chicago has no
chance Of taking tho championship, but
:, =stagg hopes to make a good showing.
: The track stars of last year are missing
= to a man with the exception of Gro.
= man, who as yet is in poor shape. Light.
: body, Quigley. Blair, Hogenson, Catlin
l Lyon and Ferris are out Of athletics
E In their places Chicago has few fresh
I men Of some ability in Merrill, Steffer
. and Merriam, but none Of these lool
; like conference champions. Merriam il
= a wonderful freshman and it is believed
/ that he will run the quarter close to :5t
e before the year ends. The same coteris
; of field stars with the exception OF
9 Hugo Friend wilkins and Tobin viii
9 wear the maroon this year, reinforced
e by Iddings, the former shattuck Lax
i Pomeroy, and Williamson.
s.: With this bunch, Stagg expects t,
take second place in the conferenc,
meet, tho the first honors are conceded
j to MICHIGAN. :. :. :.