Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1907-12-12
BRIGHT LIGHTS THAT HAVE
SHOWN OUT ON WESTERN
GRlDlRoN DURING SEASON..
STEFFEN AND CAPRON BEST
Great Dodging of Maroon and Remark
able Drop Kicking Ability of Gopher
Give Them Preference Three
Michigan, Minnesota and Chicago
Men on the Team.

I'll 10 represent the west is III OIueI.
The following team, according to
Chicago sporting writer, is regarded as
the best. In picking the representative
band of gridiron heroes all the col
leges in the middle west are included.
Although Michigan met none of the
conference teams there are several
good men who are entitled to places
on an all-star eleven.
While last year Walter Eckersall
of the Maroons stood far above all
other players in the west, this season
the premier honors must be divideed
between Walter Steffen of Chicago and
George Capron of Minnesota. The Ma
room quarter back is by far the more
valuable man, but the sensational drop
Kicking of the Gopher, which practic
ally won two games and contributed
all the scoring in the third, gives him
a niche in the hau of fame. He is not
an all around player, but is a fair
ground gamer. On the defense his
game is poor, and he does not get
away we'll in running back punts.
While he did not play full back, 1t Is
the only place on the team he will fit
without displacing a good man. There
were no really great full backs in the
west this year, and, as it is the most
natural position for a star kicker,
Capron is given the place.
Steffen was not such sensation as
Capron, because he was with q better
team and received superior backing in
all his stunts. Steff is the best man in
the west-and probably in the coun-
try-in carrying the ball through a
broken field.
Eckersall was thought a wonder in
that line of work, but Steffen has even
surpassed the brilliant work of the
greatest little man" football has ever
seen. Besides, Steffen is a field general
who understands every angle of the new
game and good kicker. Leaving Ca
pron's kicking out of consideration,
there is no comparison between the
two men.
Good ends were scarce in the west
and there is little trouble in choosing
Hammond of Michigan and Page of
Chicago for the first team. This was
the little Maroon's first year of inter-
collegiate football and he made re-
markable record. His strong forte lay
in handling forward passes. Hammond
is more experienced man than Page,
but he can learn a lot from the little
. Maroon. AS tackler and breaker of
plays Hammond has no superior in
this section of the country. He is fair
ly heavy for an end, but has a world of
speed-a bad combination for any
prospective gamer to bump.
Two tackles, Messmer of Wisconsin
and Case of Minnesota, stand out by
themselves. Both were developed I'M
der the old gridiron regime and are
among the few veterans left in the
game since the adoption of the three
year eligibility. rule and other legisla-
ton. They play the same sort of game.
Both men are like rocks ON defense
and lightning fast in tearing holes in
their enemy's line and getting the man
with the ball. They can be taught moth
ing in the blocking or interfering line,
and both are fair ground gamers.
At the guard positions Graham of
Michigan and Van Hook of the Illini
are young mountains. Both weigh
about 230 pounds and know how to get
the best results from every ounce of
that tremendous bulk. Van Hooks
playing was sensational against the
Maroons, and many Orange and Blue
rooters attribute the defeat by Iowa to
the indisposition of Van Hook. Ora
ho, hoc int Fni IT.
and won the Vanderbilt game with two
boots from the field. Bandelin of Min
nesota and Harris of Chicago showed
well throughout the season.
Schultz of Michigan is a wonderful
center and is seriously considered as
candidate for the position of All-Amer
lean center on account of his wonder
full work in the Pennsylvania game
There is no angle in the playing of the
pivotal position the big German does
not understand.
Capt De Tray of Chicago is the
best half back in Inc west, and COM
bines great-line plunging ability with
all the requisites which go to make
half back under the new rules. His
dDS6HCc lIOul Iu6 game ldSC season
made him greater player than ever
this year, and he captained the fast
Chicago eleven to the western cham
pionship in grand style.
Schucknecht of Minnesota is placed
on the other side of full back, although
he did not play up to his 1906 stand
ard in this seasons games He is a
great defan siva nIavar ond apd run,o,
which, coupled with his inSmate
knowledge of all branches of the game.
makes him most valuable player.
From the above it will be seen the
personnel of the first team contains
three representatives each from Mich.
igan Minnesota, and Chicago, and one
each from Illinois and Wisconsin.