The Minneapolis journal., 1906-11-05
SAYS HE DID NOT
SEE VERY MUCH
Tntimates, Tho, that He Did Some
Reading Between the
Lines.' -.-a
Journal Speoial Service.

Chicago, Nov. 6.-Coach stagg and Captain
Eckersan returned from Minneapolis yesterday
after witnessing the Minnesota Nebraska game
with their ideas regarding the strength and
speed Of the Minnesota football team and with q
few observations which they will impart, in Sc
cret, to the maroons this week during the final
preparation for the big game Of the season next
Saturday on Marshall field. .-.. ~ ,
The result of the game may have been unex
pected," said Stagg, but to those who saw II
there was little surprise at the score of 13 to
IN favor OF Minnesota. Nebraska's strength
was surprise. Because Of its defeat by Ames
and Minnesotas easy victory over that team
Nebraska had been held rather lightly. But i,
showed great Improvement and gave Minnesota
hard tussie Incidentally. Chicago may expect
hard fight when it meets Nebraska three weeks
hence. ,-. ... ..s. +
''Nebraskas strength lay in its ofrense which
was built up around new and trick plays. The
cross, double pass and forward pass were worked
for good gains until the supply was exhausted
and Minnesota had become familiar with the
Nebraska formations. The gophers won by bat
which Is partly accountable for the fact that
they did not score until the second half
The Minnesota line showed strength. It Is
powerful and is made up of heavy, active men.
IT Is to be expected that some Of the same
tactics will be used against us, and. at least
am going to spend the week bolstering I'D my
minnesota has a heavy team, and what i'm.
pressed me more, fast and shifty bunch. No
new plays were tried, but the stiffness of the
men and their qutckness In getting into forma-
tons and changing positions showed their speed.
Nebraska was utterly powerless before Minne-
sota's stone wall defense and was able to gain
only on its trick plays and intricate forma-
fions, which were executed with the greatest
precision.
''In punting Minnesota showed no stronger
than I expected Larkin proving himself to be
a good man. Robertson was not in the game,
but the backs who played showed great driving
power.
cdr. Williams after the game. expressed hts
dissatisfaction with the showing of his team
and told me that it would be an entirely differ.
ent game that I would see next Saturday Re-
gardng the Chicago Minnesota game, my opinion
Is not much altered. We have chance, Of
eourse-we always have that in every game
But there is nothing to make Chicago confident.
Our presence didn't tend to bring forth Min
OF something besides straight football. And
you may be sure that there will be some busy
sessions around Marshall field this week"
The Big Game.
The Chicago Minnesota game on Marshall field
next week will be the big game of the sea.
in the west deciding the championship OF
the west, in 80 far as that honor can be set
tied this fall. The standing Of Michigan and
Wisconsin, in relation Of Chicago and Minnesota
games with Illinois and the Chicago Illinois
contest. But neither of these teams, In their
games thus far, have come up to their standard
of former years, and the Minnesota Chicago
game being the only real big western game on
the seasons schedule, is the one that will do
much to untangle the championship knot
Altho Chicago's chances have taken. on a
brighter hue since Nebraska held the mighty
northerners to one touchdown and two place
kicks, there still is little that can be said to
give one team an edge the other. Mime
sofa Is heavy and fast with a powerful line
strong backheld and one end. Bob Marshall
who has few equals In the west The eophers
are shifty and may be expected to make good
use Of the new plays which Dr. Williams has
been teaching them expressly for the Chicago
game
The maroon Is represented by one of the light
est teams 1t has ever had. but it is fast Its
line needs Strengthening, but It has backaeld
that Is lightning fast and the equal Of any
that has played in this neck Of the woods for
some years. Saturdays games ali held sur
prise OF one sort or another, but the most re-.
markable coincidence in them is the fact that
nearly every one Of the big games, east and
west, victory was not won until well toward
tne close OF the second half. and then by mar
gins OF only one or two touchdowns or field
goals. Teams played each other to a standstill