Omaha daily bee., 1908-10-18
4. U. FEARS FOR THE FUTURE
Hard Scrimmage Work Puts Players
on Injured List.
STARS ARE SLOW IN DEVELOPING
Line IL Fairly Good, but Tesm work
seems Lackine-Bsck B1eld
bows Only Average
Condition.

- " ANAAAN@EH nam y 10 N1RNNA-H
The most loyal supporters of the red snd
blue are almost dishesrted over the show
ing their pigskin chssers are making at
this midseason time. BY this time the per-
msnent team should be taking some shape,
but It is Just as formless now as usually
seen in the second week OF practice. The
Jayhawkers are not only showing a start
ling weakness on defense, which has been
feared by the football bugs. but are falling
down woefully on offensive work. The
back field still starts slow. and again and
again in scrimmsee good chances for gain
are nipped before the play is stared when
a hole has already been made by the line
men. The line plays together better than
their rear companions, though the line IL
not what It should be. Too often the op-
ponents sift through for gains that should
not be allowed. The backs do not help the
runner and as yet have not been able to
nail together an i~mpregnsble interference.
IndividuaIs PIay We'll.
Individually some of the men are deliver
ing a superb article OF the national college
game. Heading this list is Carlson, whose
home is at guard. but'has taken Spears
place at center of late, The performances
he puts up in playing the open center has
been seldom eaualed on McCook. Moving
Carlson to center and with Tub" Reed
out Of the game leaves both sides of center
woefully weak. Harley Wood. who was
extra mar at guard, is in the hospital with
water on the knee. Randall, the other
most promising extra man, is a hard trier,
but lacks experience. Tub" Reed has
been out in a suit and It ought not TO be
long before he can work his knee enough
to take his old place. Ford and Smith, who
quit the squad several days ago, are now
sorely needed to fill some OF the guard
vacancies.
strong at Tackle.
AT both tackles the line is strong. Old
"Bir' Caldwell at right tackle is breaking
through continually and getting down under
punts ahead Of the ends. He is a fighter
from the first toot Of the whistle and never
gets burt. so that no one IL worrying over
the left tackle position. Captain Crowefl
is just as good a man for the other tackle.
but is handicapped by. a weak knee. Be
sides Kennedy is thinking strongly Of keep
ing him at guard till he gets a stronger
guard developed to play mate to Reed.
Should rowell stay at guard Billy Rice
will step into his shoes at tackle. Billy
Is proving himself one OF Kennedy's stand
bys this fall. He has been playing a very
credible game at end. Pleasant at left end
is playing a first class game on defense
but Is weak when his team has the ball
and goes down under punts like a sled in
summertime.
Rice moved to tackle leaves the right enc
open and Kennedy has no very big stock
on hand to fill the vacancy. Hennessy will
work there part of the time and as soon a.
Houshton's ankle will let him play. he
will be tried out there.
Backneld is Weak.
Though the line is not In first class shap.
1t IL not that which is bothering the
coaches and rooters. The material Il
simply not developing. Two weeks ago ter
men were trying for back field positions
They looked like good stuff. but are simply
not developing into point scoring stuff
johnson is now working permanently a.
quarter and doing fairly well. Bond Il
about the most promising half. He has tn,
bootIng toe. but 1t failed to do the business
in the Manhattan game. Fisk, who hai
been showing up well. was only allowed {,
stay against the farmers for fifteen min
utes. Houghton. Warning, Dahlene an,
Stevenson seem TO have their limits ii
hard playing and these limits have alread,
been closely approached.
1t is the opinion among the rooters an,
many OF the squad that too much scrim
mage work has been INDUCED in this fall
Every night but Friday nights the varsit,
line up for fifteen to twenty-five minute
scrimmage with the freshmen. This ha
never been known before here. wednesda,
night the tyros scored a touchdown on tn
first team men by playing straight foo
fall.
Regulars In Hospital.
This gruelling work is putting the regu
lars in the hospital all too fast. The me
have lots OF spirit left and are not dis
couraged over the present outlook. Tn
training table will be a great help to tn
men from now on. At present twenty me
are eating at the table.
Kennedy is looking for a hard tussle wit
Washington university next Saturday
Csyon, who is coaching Washington thi
year. drilled the Wabash team last yea
which was the only aggregation who mad
the st. Louis university bunch taste d.
feat. The Kansans should win this gam,
however. though a close score is expected.