The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-23
'ECKIE IS WORKING
A VALENTINE SQUAD
Chicago Thinks the Doughty Cap
tain Is Rather Rushing
the Season. .---
BY r. g. Cornell.

II C1pft11 VI -CuC 1ud1OOuO udo OAo
defiance to the conference rules
and inaugurated practice at Marshall
field. In answer to his call for the SO;
called informal practice, fourteen men
appeared for work this week 80
That the marOOns are counting trou-
BILE by practicing at Marshall field dur
ing the absenceasof Coach Stage every
one admits. Eckersall declares that
the work is informal and that there is
no rule which forbids the football can
didates gathering to practice if prac-
schools coach. Es.4 i -.
That the candidates for the Chicago
team are violating the spirit of the
rules if not the rules themselves, is
conceded There can be no great dis
tinction between a captains, conduct
ing the practice and the experimenting
of the work by the schools coach. 1t
would appear to anyone save a raw
Chicago rooter that Eckersall repre-.
SCENTS the university officially, and that
his calling Of practice could be con
rules by the midway school.
Rules or no rules, the maroons have
been practicing, and their start this
year came but week later than last
fall. According to the conference .rul
ing. practice should not have been
starte ID at Chicago until Oct. l, the
opening day of school. 49,.
Three at Work.
"Eckie'' called for "informal
practice the first day of his return The
first days squad was not one in point
of numbers that would cause a coach
or captain to grow iubilant over the
seasons prospects. Two men joined
Eckersall for the first days work. They
were big Ed Parry and Noll.
Parry has played on the maroon team
for three years.. having been used al
practically every place in the line as
well as in the back field. He will
probably be used at tackle this year
Noll was a substitute lineman during
the greater part Of last year, but reg.
ular berth is assured him for this sea.
son; He will probably. be used at one
of the guards. ~"
Eckersall 3 squad grew daily, play
ers living in the city reporting thru.
out the week. The squad at the close
teen, made up for the most part of
last years substitutes and freshmen
Ineligible for this years team. -. +,
The most valuable addition to the
squad was "Babe'' Meigs, the giant
guard Of the 1905 champions. After
frequently declaring that he would not
return to the university this year, the
big fellow watched the practice for a
few days and could not resist the game
any longer. He put on his old foot
ball togs and Joined the squad. He
before he can play. He was registered
as an unclassifed student last year and
will have to arrange to take classified
work this fall before he can play. It
is thought that he will have little trou-
BILE in arranging his work, as he is an
exceptionally good student.
While the addition of Meigs was a.
cause Of joy to the rooters and players,
it was counteracted by the news that
Maddigan, the recruit from the Engle-
wood high school would be unable to
play this year. Maddigan entered the
university at the beginning of the win
thought that he would be eligible for
the football team. The conference
rules require school year of residence
and as Maddigan has been in attend
ance but two Of the three necessary
quarters, he will have to wait another
year before he can join the football
squad. - ~.
Maddigan Loss. .-...
His loss is serious blow to Chicago
prospects. He is one of the most
promising freshmen that has entered
the university in several years. He
stands 6 feet 4 inches and is double
ccnturian' in the matter of weight.
Several promising candidates for the
end positions reported. Mefford Of
last year s substitutes; Hewitt of the
scrubs, and Comstock, who was at
Princeton last year were the candidates
for the line extremities to turn out.
Mefford has been cut for the team for
four years and has been showing steady
improvement. He may be successful
in getting a regular place this season.
His weight is 175; Hewitt, ITO pound
er, who all but made the varsity last
year is out. He looks like the most
promising man to fill ex-Captain Cat
lin s place at right end.
Comstock is exceptionally fast, and
under the new rules should prove val
nable end man. McDermit, another
l60-pounder is candidate to report for
end. For the line positions. McCar-
thy, a! substitute guard last year,
weighing $50; Harris, center of last
years freshmen and younger brother
Of "Babe" Meigs.
Page, the former football and track
star OF the Lewis Institute Joined the
squad. He will not be eligible for the
team for another year, howere.
The practice during the week was
devoted to long runs and the using pre-
liminarry punting and catching Of the
ball, aimed to condition the men for the
harder grind to come. Thursday and
Friday Eckersall gave the squad some
signal practice, trying out the new
rules. The work was crude to say the
least, but it gave the players some idea
of the new order Of affairs in football.
Captain Eckersall s punting has been
the marvel Of those who have watched
his practice. He has been punting
sixty yards with great regularity
while his drop kicking has been little
short of. marvellous. Forty -fve-yard
drop kicks have been negotiated BY the
captain with no effort whatsoever. He
is expected to kick better this. year
than ever before.
Coach Stage is expected back from
the east next week to arrange for the
opening Of regular practice Oct. 1. It
is likely that he will stop the tinfor-
mall practice and make the candi-
dates wait till school opens before re-
Stunning work.
In the series for the worlds cham
pionship, which will follow the close
e = - IL 4 -..E.