The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-12-04
Ratio i'm Which Mr.. Eckersall
Places Western Elevens.
Thinks the Work Of Steffen's
Team Much the Best.
MINNESOTA is SECOND
GOphers Given Due Credit Tor
Work Against Carlisle.
Says Wisconsin Should be
Classed About Third.

In reviewing the football season
just over. Walter EckersaH says IN
the Chicago Tribune concerning the
teams belonging to the big west
ern conference:
"The football season just closed
has left plenty of food for thought.
The teams in the west as a whole
were not I'D to the standard of former
years, and this is accounted for by the
fact that many of the men were play
ing their first year OF coliese IootDail.
That experience is a big FACTOR no one
can doubt after watching the Carlisle
Indians play. AS it is now. thanks to
the conference ruling, one year Is
taken from the four. that a western
college man originally had
. THAT five games are not enough
was demonstrated again and again
during the season. Wisconsin attri-
butessits defeat by Illinois to the TACT
that no preliminary games were pray
ed. Minnesota and chicago poth
showed the need of more hard games;
The teams are practicing eight ana
nine weeks and might better pc play
ing practice games than waiting Tor
a game to come off.
"Again, the students and followers
of a university m crit some consioera-
ton. Five games give them little OPP
nortunity to enjoy their favorite sport.
Athletics are just as important part
of college life and Of the training ana
foundation for good citizenship, Wnlcn
is the end and aim or coLese ill., do
are Greek and Latin.
'sIn rating the conference teams OF
tne season lust closed, Chicago heads
the list as undfsputed champion. us
play was far more advanced and pol
ished than any of its opponents. ~
team took a decided slump IN the
last game against the Indians ana ap-
peared to be hypnotized by the yer
satile attack of the red men In the
games against western rivals the ma
ICONS showed their class. outclassing
ana o,Itnlayine their opponents III
nearly all departments OF the game
with Steffen to lead them next year
and with another seasons experls;i,ce.,
II looks as If Chicago has an excelieIi'
chance to retain the western cnaIn
MINNESOTA is placed second in the
LIST because of it's great showing agAins.
the Indians. While not rully ProiiSlen'
in the new game, !Minnesota "a e,,JS he
ed with a great kicker. who coulo De
6epended upon in cases OF necessary;
Capron saved the Gophers' bacon IN "a an
the contests except those agalnsl III
cago and the Indians, ana ms w .ra
STAMPED him az one of the bright stars
Of the western gridAron, Williams az
bersd TOO much I'd old-style tact1cs
during the greater part OF tne yea,
and he must adapt himself ana nus teali
to the new game II ne e4PeG.s eor MI
a
neSota. . IN the
6rst game by ILLINOIS, merits InIru
n1ace nv tying Minnesota In a prllii ls3[
ppnbi1l fight in the final game. Inc
Pedeers did well considering the punch
.of mediocre material from when -
nick an eleven. If Wisconsin nad nau
The benefit of a few preliminary games
eor1v in the season there Is little oouDt
it would have made mucn ss,,,r
showing. with practically no SHINING
1iabt on the team, the Badgers earned
"a their victories through team work
80 clever execution Of the forward
pass. ~ T,,,no,s on
occount of its victory over Illinois. On
@ comnaratiye score basis, Illinois, by
defeating Wisconsin,. which Iowa was
unahle to do, would be placed notcn
higher than the HawkeyeS. But games
late in the season count for more tnaEi
i1Iusive scores, hence IoWa's ratlns:
CatIin rounded a good eleven out OF
fair material and with the loss OF oiitS
two regulars Iowa will nave team ~
he feared by all opponents next sea-
son. - ~ 49, .a.,
'sIIlinois' showing this fall has been
creditable. Outplaying Chicago In the
first half of their game, ana oeIeatlns
WISCONSIN. Indiana and Purdue Is a
record of which the DOWNSTAIRS shouIo
he proud In the first game OF the sea-
SON the Orange and Blue We're over
whelmed by the MaroonS, but the cog
ged determination Of the state players
to hang on and come PACK sirong ~
the next game is characteristic Whlcn
has marked the work of all the teams
renresenting this institution in the last
Tor