Omaha daily bee., 1908-10-18
NEBRASKA AND GOPHERS TIE
Neither Side is Able to Score in a
Gruelling Contest.
HoN0Rs EVENLY DIVIDED
A Good Kicker such ~ Both Teams
Had Last Year Would Meant
score for Eleven which
Possessed Him.
EVENLY DIVIDED
HoNORs


MINNEAPOLIS. Mimi, oct. tL-(speelA
Telegram.)-1n a gruelling contest, with
honors nearly evenly divided, Nebraska
played the mighty Minnesota Gophers a
0 to o tie at Northrup field this afternoon.
Neither side endangered the others goal
in the first half. but In the second Min
nesota three times went down to Ne
braska's three-yard line, where the Corn
husker line held as a stone wall. In the
last five minutes of play in the final half
the Gophers carried the ball over Ne
braska's goal line from the visitors five
yard line, but the touchdown was not al
lowed. Farnum, Minnesota's right tackle,
had fouled Collins and Referee King
brought the ball back. giving II to the
cornhuskers on their, three-yard line. On
the next play Mino punted out of danger
for Nebraska
Play in the first half favored the Corn
huskers. Minnesota could not gain through
the Nebraska line or around Johnson and
Harvey, the Cornhusker ends. being forced
to punt most OF the time. Nebraska was ac-
tive and secured all the punts sent into
their territory by McGovern. and managed
to keep the Gophers from advancing far
with Nebraska's punts.
Each side tried to get a field goal during
the game. Birkner. from Minnesota's thir-
y-flve yard line. attempted a drop kick in
the first half, but the ball fell short by
fifteen feet. McGovem, in the second half,
tried a place kick. but was blocked by
Chafoupka. Had either side had . skilled
drop or place kicker the score would not
have been a tie. With Captain Weller of
last years team in the game Nebraska
would have surely scored, and II Minne-
sofa had had the services OF the great
Capron the Gophers could have made one
! or two field goals. All during the game
when Minnesota was within striking dis
lance Of Nebraska's goal the local rooters
moaned over the loss OF last seasons star
quarter.
GOphers n Surprise.
The showing of the Gophers was q pleas
ing surprise to their supporters. Nebraska,
among the students and the betting fra
ternity Of the Twin cities, had been picked
to win, the mighty Goyhers being doped
to go down to defeat by about two to one
downs. Minnesota's line had not been ex-
pected to hold against the onslaughts of
the Cornhuskers. But it did hold we'll,
excepting for three minutes in the second
half, when Nebraska started a march down
the field. going yard after yard on straight
| foot bail. But when the ball was brought
close to their goal the Gophers braced and
held Nebraska for downs
Nebraska played the best game It has
put UP this season. The men played to-
gether, doing great team work. Cooke
failed to get away for many long runs.
The Gophers had been trained to watch
him, and only once was he allowed to
Hevade their ends for a long distance. Ne
braska's ends. Captain Harvey and John
son, played a spectacular game. Minne-
aotats Lee half NFrCauarp ~yhA haA Aoar
figured on to repeat his feat of the Ames
game and make several long runs for his
team, failed to get away from the Ne
braska ends. johnson and Harvey nailed
play after play around their wings with
great success. They showed remarkable
speed in getting down on punts and re-
covering onside kicks.
Poor punting in the second half nearly
lost Nebraska the game. Beltzer, played
at left half in the first part Of the contest,
pu ted for Nebraska and made forty and
fifty yards on each attempt. In the second
half Minor replaced BeltEer, whose in
jured shoulder made his retirement neces-
sary. 1t fell on Birkner then to do tho
punting and he made a failure OF It. his
kicks went high in the air and not more
than fifteen yards forward. On this ac-
count Nebraska was not able to get the
ball away from its goal line the last half
when it secured the ball.
On their hve-yard line three times the
Cornhuskers secured the ball after holding
Minnesota for downs. They could only
gain a few yards on straight foot ball ana
were forced to punt. Birkner sent the ball
only a few yards on these kicks, and MINI
nesota, recovering it. was always in dan
gerous proximity to Nebraska's goal. Had
Better been in the game during the last
half. he would have kept the ball. away
from Nebraska's goal.
Big Improvement in Line.
Kroger and all the line men played a
star game. The line showed 80 per cent i'm
provement over the Grinnell game, both on
the defense and the offense. McGovern,
Rademacher and Atkinson were the stars
for the Gophers. MeGoyern caused the
Cornhuskers more concern than any OF the
other men. He was given the bali to carry
several lines in hopes that he could get
away for a touchdown. He was closely
watched, however. by the Cornhuskers
and although he made several good gains
through the line, was not able to become
dangerous.
The game was the hardest fought that
has been played between these same teams
since 1902. when Nebraska won by a 6 70 O
score. After the first five minutes a play
II could be seen that the elevens were
evenly matched and that there was 20 be
another great foot ball game on Northrup
l field.
The game was witnessed by a crowd OF
{ 10000 people. The gates at Northrup field
were thrown open at 1:45. and manytstu-
dents waiting at the gates went in then.
At 2i5 the south hleachers were well filled
I and a string OF people was pouring in AZ
all the gates. At 2;20 the Minnesota band
appeared on the field and was greeted
with cheers. The Nebraska rooters and
? band arrived at 2;56. The Nebraska band
paraGed around the field and was cheersd,
The Nebraska team. lead by Captain Har-
vey, ran onto the field at $50. and Birkner
: and Better at once began to warm 10 az
: %puniing, Minnesota came onto the field
J at O'Clock. Nebraska won the toss. and
Captain Harvey chose 10 defend the west
goal.
> Start OF Game.
: At 3N5 Fsrnum kicked off for Minnesota
. to Cooke on Nebraska's ten-yard lirs.