The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-10-09
C0RNHUSKERS HAD
!. SORRY FOLLOWING 0
Played Wretchedly in the Game
with the South Da-
-.y.-. ~;eH T.. katans. 81
Special to The Journal,

Special to The Journal. Il .H&&hl 5#aiEz7aa5E
Lincoln, Neb., Oct Z 9!!-Despite the ,discour-
agement resulting from the Nebraska South Da-
kota game on Saturday, in which the cornhusk-
ers were victorious bysathe slender margin OF
4 to o., Coach Foster is hopeful for the future.
His optimism, however, is shared by only few
in the ranks of the cornhuskers' supporters,
most Of whom take the view that Foster is
fully shy good varsity material and many
Of them are frank in predicting that the Ne
braska eleven must show an almost complete re-
versal Of form If Fosters: proteges are to escape
having defeat rubbed into them several times be-
fore the season is concluded. But waving the
conflict of opinion between Foster and the rank
and file Of Nebraska rooters 1t cannot be gain
said that the cornhuskers, viewed. from the side
lines, gave an exhibition Of woolly football in
the South Dakota game. Their system from the
first whistle to the final call of time was a
tumble Of muffed punts. mixed signals and
schOolboy tactics, with scarcely feature deserv-
ing commentator. Such an exhibition by q Ne
braska eleven had not been witnessed in years.
South Dakota waged sitter fight than had been
anticipated, but at that the cornhuskers iddled
away1the own chances SO persistently that only
Gil McDonald's drop kick for the only score Of
the game prevented the coyotes humilfating the
cornhuskers with tie score. .-->-
-. Needed a Quarter.
To search for the real cause of the disastrous
exhibition would be to locate the seat Of trouble
at the quarte1back's position. Bluntly put,
Coach Foster is virtually without a quarterback
All Of the candidates for the place are hopelessy
inexperienced, and none OF the players bidding
for the place gives any promise of being able
to fill it, even after period of prolonged prac.
tice Cooke, who was tried against South Da.
kota, was playing his first game at the position.
| overtaken by bad case OF rattles early in the
struggle, he lost his wits completely that
the entire cornhusker eleven was soon up in
| the air. @@e- a.--45. -
| The Nebraskans demonstrated frequently their
ability to advance the ball on line plunging, but
| Cooke could not vary his style of attack and
| kept his backs hammer1ng away at the -Soutl
| Dakota line instead Of making an occasional
attempt to skirt the ends, either sprint OF
"a forward pass. Mixed signals also contributed
| to the general rout and the loss Of down
with the added burden of being forced to 60 tel
yards in three tries made it impossible for tho
cornhuskers to consistently work the ball dow1
the field. j. :,4 = = - - !
Il Foster however, has not lost entire faith ii
Cooke, who is to be given vigorous workou
each day in the practice, in the hope of overcom
! ing his tendency to go balloontng in the heat O.
conflict Miller Benedict, a younger brother O.
! Maurice, Nebraska's sensational quarter of til,
past four seasons, is to be given chance t,
prove his worth as quarterback material. He i
cooler while In action than Cooke and may fl
| the bill. ~
Altho unable to force the ball across the Soutl
Dakota goal line for touchdown. Saturday
contest demonstrated that the defense is nue.
! stronger than the ohense. The line almost inva
l riably charged ahead Of the South Dakota for
Little and Mason, played the defensive gam
admirably. The coyotes, in fact. were able
make downs only twice, once on straight charge
and the second time on a forward pass. Consid
ering the fact that South Dakota virtual
matched the cornhuskers to weight til
virility of the Nebraska defense holds out som
measure OF hope for the future If Foster is abb
to build up q stronger attack.
I It has dawned upon Coach Foster as resul
Of the clash with the coyotes. that the fncreas
to ten yards on three downs is destined to max
many scoreless games between teams event
matched as to- beef and aggressiyeness, and tina
when teams Of that class are opposed on til
gridiron touchdowns must come as the result Q
fukes. The forward pass, in Fosters estims
ton, is uncertain, the ball often hitting tn
ground and going to the opposing team at til
point where it was put Into play. or else bein
captured on the fly by q watchful back or en-
i on the other eleven. n
The cornhuskers' next bout is with Drake uni
versity on Nebraska field Foster expects t
win handily. but the week $ practice is to b
1 sitter than ever