The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-12-08
MaFOOns Entitled to Cham
piOnship i'll the West.
REVIEW OF FOOTBALL SEASON
Lack of sfore Practice Games Proved
n Decided Handicap to the Teams
of Conference COIIeges-MinnesOtn
Landed In second Place Despite
Coach's Failure to Develop system.

has left plenty OF fooc for thought The
teams in the west as a whole were not
up TO the standard Of former years, and
this is accounted for by the fact that
many OF the men were playing their first
year Of college football. That experience
IS a big factor no one can doubt after
watching the Carlisle Indians play. As il
is now. thanks to the conference ruling,
one year is taken from the four that a
Western college man originally had, says
Walter Eckersall. in the Chicago Trib-
une.
That five games are not enough was
demonstrated again and again during the
season. Wisconsin attributes its defeat
by Illinois to the fact no preliminary
games We're played. Minnesota and Chi
cage both showed the need of more hard
games. The teams are practicing eight
and nine weeks and might better be play
ing practice games than waiting for a
game 20 come Off.
Again. the students and followers OF a
university merit some consideration. Five
games give them little opportunity 10 en-
JOY their favorite sport Athletics are
just as important a part of college life
and OF the training and foundation for
good citizenship. which is the end and
aim of college life. as are Greek and
Latin.
Chicago Well in Lead.
In rating the conference teams Of the
season just closed. Chicago heads the
list as undisputed champion. It's play
was far more advanced and polished than
any OF its opponents The team took
a decided slump in the last game against
the Indians, and appeared 10 be hypno-
tized by the versatile attack OF the red
men. In the games against Western
rivals the Maroons showed their class,
/ outclassing and outplaying their oppon-
ents in nearly all departments of the
game. With Steffeh TO lead them next
year. and with another seasons expert
enee, IL looks as il Chicago has an ex-
cellent chance TO retain the Western
championship.
/ Minnesota is placed second in the list
because Of its great showing against the
Indians. While not fully proficient In the
new game. Minnesota was blessed with
great kicker VINO could be depended
upon in cases Of necessity. CaprOn saved
the Gophers' bacon in all the contests
except those against Chicago and the In
]
Of the bright stars Of the Western grid
| iron Williams adhered too much 10 old
| style tactics during the greater part Of
| the year. and he must adapt himself and
/ his team 10 the new game II he expects
/ 10 land another Western championship
I for Minnesota.
Third Place 20 Badgers.
Wisconsin. although beaten in the first
D
/ tying Minnesota in a brilliant uphill fight
in the final game. The Badgers did well
considering the bunch of mediocre ma
terial from which to pick an eleven. II
Wisconsin had had the benefit Of a few
/ preliminary games early In the season
there is little doubt Il would have made
"A much better showing. With practically
no shining light on the team Uhe Bad
| gers earned all their victories through
/ team work and clever execution OF the
forward pass
! Iowa is placed ahead Of Illinois on ac-
count OF its victory over Illinois on
a comparative score basis Illinois. by de-
| feating Wisconsin. which Iowa was UNI
able TO do, would be placed notch high
er than the Hawkeyes. But games late
in the season count for more than Elusive
scores. hence IOwa's rating. Catlin round
ed a good eleven out OF fair material. and
with the loss OF only two regulars Iowa
will have a team 10 be feared by all op-
pOnents next season
Illinois showing this fall has been cred
table. Outplayirg Chicago in the first
half Of their game, and defeating Wis
consin, Indiana, and Purdue is record
of which the down Staters should be
proud. In the first game of the season
the orange and Blue were overwhelmed
by the Maroons. but the logged deter
mination of the State players TO hang on
and come back strong in the next game
is a characteristic which has marked
the work of all the teams representing
this institution in the last ten years.
Illinois Spirit Valuable.
The spirit Of never give up and keep
trying is a thing which is admired by all
lovers of college sports Whether Illinois
Will retain the graduate coaching system
is a question, but II good coach is Sc
Iected Illinois will have a great team
next year. as its freshmen are by all
odds superior to those Of any other col
lege.
Indiana, with its bunch Of green ma
terial, did all that could be expected. but
seemed 10 lay too much stress on winning
other games. The HOLSTERS were pointed
for this one game. the first on their
schedule. and in other games they
showed the effects Of the hard grind in
preparation for the game with the Ma
rooms They could not give their best
efforts 10 win the other contests.
Purdue carries off the honors for the
hard luck team. With a loyal student
body. a conscientious coach. and hard.
aggressive. though inexperienced players.
Purdue merits better things. But watch
these so-called Underdogs next year.
They are bound to give a good account of
themselves.
Rules Not wanting
Last year the new rules were in the
experimental stage, but this year they
were given a thorough tryout and not
found wanting. The difference between
teams of unequal weight is greatly mini
mixed, drop kicking and punting. always
important factors in the game, are given
greater prominence than ever. while for
ward passing will become an art under
the new rules.
From the spectators standpoint. the in
terest and excitement of the new game
so far exceeds the old that there is no
comparison. The bail is in plain sight at
all times. while there is a possibility OF
the sensational happening at any instant
department of the game which is
treat to every spectator is the kicking
and there IS more Of this than ever be-
fore
The aim Of the rules committee in
changing the rules TO such an extent that
the number Of injuries would be greatly
diminished has been reached. In the con
ference colleges this fan not a single
serious injury has occurred, which speaks
well for the new game and the efforts