The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-16
ECKERSALL'S IDEA.
Noted Football Critic Writes OF
the Vests Chances.
Fears PennsyfVania Is Too
Strong for Michigan.
GIVES GOOD REASONS.
Declares YOst Too Slow Taking
Up the New Game.
Minnesota and Chicago Are
Rapidly Improving.


Chicago. Oct 16.-Walter H Eckersall
makes the following early predictions
in regard to football elevens over the
country:
With the football season well under
way and the strength of various teams
throughout the country known to a
certain degree, western enthusiasts are
wondering what chances the western
teams have with the fasteners. 1t
Will be remembered that Cornell, Penn
sylvania, and the Carlisle Indians come
west later in the season to meet Chi
cago, Michigan, and Minnesota, respec-
lively.
The western teams have not recovered
from the defeats of the Quakers and
Indians last year and are out for re-
venge. Western football was given
| hard blow by these defeats, and all
were forced to acknowledge that the
| eastern article of football was superior.
Although the games were hard fought
/ there was no doubt that the westerners
| were outclassed, and the same condi-
| ton appears to prevail this year, with
| the possible exception of the Chicago
] Cornell game.
| Chicago was defeated by the Indians,
lS to after it had won the western
championship from Minnesota Michi-
| gan was beaten, to 0, after a hard
! battle, in which the Wolverines scored
! touchdown which was not allowed by
the officials, owing to a technicality in
| the rules. Minnesota was beaten by
| Carlisle, II to 10. in a stubbornly fought
| game. Owing to the closeness of this
| score, Chicago was picked as a winner
over the Redskins. but the. Indians had
! an easier time with the Maroons than
| they did with the Gophers.
| Michigan has shown nothing as vet
| to warrant a victory over Pennsylva-
MIA. In fact, the Wolverines appear
| to be weaker team than last year,
| while the Quakers are every bit as
strong: Yost is slow in rounding his
| team Into shape, and this was shown
! by the ragged work in last Saturdays
| game against the Michigan "Aggies -
| In late years the Michigan coach was
the first to pick his team and had IL
] running up tremendous scores in the
early contests. This year he has lost
several veterans and is having trouble
| filling their places, as the material ia
| OF mediocre quality and there are
several men still under the faculty ban.
Old Football viii Not Win.
One thing is certain. however. Michi-
! sylvania by old football. Yost, though
Il strongly opposed to the new game,
must adapt himself to it, and the soon
er the better. He has yet to conceive
of the great possibilities afforded by
the new rules. In the few games play
ed this year the team has made its
showing on old tactics. A certain
amount Of old plays is needed, but a
team must be fortified with innumer-
able forward passes, onside kicks, and
other strategic formations permitted by
the new rules.
Pennsylvania has shown good early
season form In it's games, with the ex-
ception of the contest with Penn State
last Saturday, when the Quakers FUN
| bled repeatedly within striking distance
of their opponents goal. In Hollen-
back the Quakers have a kicker who
will be a deciding factor, as he will
outkick by several yards any booter or
the Wolverine team. Keinath is good
drop kicker and will offset any advan-
tage Michigan may have in this de-
| partment. The Quakers also are strong
in the other department of the game
especially with the forward pass, which
they worked effectively in all the games
this year. At present Pennsylvania
rules the favorite and Yost has a tasl
on his hands in developing a team
which will give the fasteners a hard
battle. Westerners are hoping he will
be successful in his uphill fight, which
at the present time does not seem prob
able.
Gophers Are Improving.
Minnesota is improving with every
game and may be in good enough shape
at the end of the season to give the
Indians a good game. The Gophers
have not shown enough strength ir
their two games to feel confident of q
victory. 1t must be admitted, how
ever, that Carlisle is not as strong as
last season. Several veterans are miss
ing from the ranks, the most prominent
being Mount Pleasant, the great quar-
terback, and Houser the dashing full
back and place kicker. The former die
not play in the western games owing
to an injury, but Houser was instru-
mental in deciding both contests.
Minnesota has lost Capron, the play
er who was an important factor in ev-
cry contest. His drop kicking in game:
last year made Minnesota a strong
contender for the western champion
ship, and his loss will be apparent IL
Gopher games. The Minnesota coaci
has promising material, but he mus
divert more from the old game ant
have his team better versed in the new
game. The Indians appear better a
present but Minnesota may improv
enough by the end of the season to NEE
i the Indians on an equal footing. Car
Isle also will meet st. Louis univer
sity on Thanksgiving day. The south
\ ern aggregation may take their scalp
] as Cochems has gathered team whicl
8 is playing good football This vii
make a hard trip for the Redskins, an
4 it is improbable that they will be sue
4 cessful in both games.
Maroon Chances Good.
On present form Chicago has the bet
4 ter chance of winning from its easter
II opponent, Cornell will meet a worth
opponent in Amherst the Saturday be
y fore, while Chicago has no game o
q that day. The Ithacans are strong thi
year, but it is doubtful If as good a
last season when they beat Princeton
= This season Chicago has showed bette
form, and the Maroons should be i
, great shape when the game is played
, Chicago defeated Cornell in the last In
a vasion of the easternefs in 1899 IT to
81 II is doubtful If the fasteners hav
better back field. but they surely wi