Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-14
IOWA SCHOOLS ATHLETIC YEAR
Ames Captured BIe Prizes. but state
University Ia Conner.

University Ia Conner.
IOWA CITY, Ia. June 18-Cspecial.)-
Collegiate athletics are over in the state Of
Iowa until the foot ball season starts about
the middle Of next September, after one
OF the most brilliant seasons in the history
OF Iowa colleges. The year authenticity
speaking. was unsatisfactory in many re-
spects. Ames played some OF the finest
foot ball the state has ever seen, but the
two big games Of the year. those with Ne
braska and Iowa. were marked by unsatis-
factory officiating and bad blood, which
spoiled the good sport in the gridiron bat
ties to many follower OF the game. The
University of Iowa. under the excellent
coaching of Mark Catlin. turned out the
fastest and best eleven since the glorious
championship days of 1900. when Johnny
Griffith, Clyde williams and others played
on the Hawkeye team. But the lows team
lacked a quarterback Of the same caliber
as the rest OF the team and lost the state
championship.
Grinnell deserves the most praise of any
OF the Iowa schools. with a rather me-
diocre coaching department and little first
class material the gritty scarlet and black
eleven won third honors in clean fashion.
nosing out Drake by unquestioned showing.
The Christians failed to play the game until
the final game with Ames, ard then Drake
came to its own and made a fine exhibition
against the states champions. Morningside
was close on the heels of the Drake team.
The basket ball championship brought a
clear-cut right of assertion to the Grinnell
five, which defeated the Simpson team two
out Of three games for the state champion
ship. owing to the Questionable standing
Of one or two of the Simpson players. low
was given the second place in the cham
pionship race. Ames played the game for
the first time this year and it's brawny
team made a good showing and no doubt
next season will cut considerable figure in
the race for the title of champions Of
Iowa" in basket ball.
The track season contributed glory to
Ames in the dual meets and in the classy
event of the middle west outside the con-
ference, and that of the Missouri valley
meet at Kansas City. The Hawkeyes had
a disastrous season, but gained some sat
isfaction by defeating Minnesota in its
one dual meet.
Grinrell produced two Of the best sprint
ers to run in this state in Huff and Turner.
The WORK of these men during the season
puts them in a class with Crum, Rush and
other noted sprinters from this state who
have won renown over the country. Turner
was not nearly so well known, but his per-
formance at Des Moines in the state meet
showed him second only to Huff, the ath-
lete chosen for the olympic games from
this state.
The majority Of the stars are Ineligible
after this year and there will be many new
faces in next years meets. Haggard, Huff.
Beard. Conoway, slaght Oied for first in
the high jump at the Chicago conference)
and many others will not be seen again on
the Iowa tracks as eligible to compete.
The years base ball work was better than
the average, with Ames and Iowa both
claiming the championship. but being pre-
vented from meeting by the action last fall
in severance of athletic relations between
the two schools for a year. Ames lost but
one game in the state and that to Drake.
while Iowa lost two. both to Coe college at
Cedar Rapids by one score. Ames had a
strong outfleld and a fine pitcher in Wei
land. Iowa had little varsity material, but
Coach Maurice A. Kent whipped his in
experienced men into a winning team before
the season was over. Had he not been
compelled by his schedule to play Chicago,
and Illinois ard Minnesota at the first OF
the year no doubt Iowa would have cap
tured some of the conference games in
stead of losing them by close scores. Kirk,
captain OF the Hawkeye team and captain
elect OF next falls foot bali team, played
a great game as backstop for Iowa. his
excellent catching being responsible for
much of the work of the Iowa pitchers.
Roseberry of Corn ell was a heady catcher.
Prospects for next year are rosy and the
race for the foot ball championship should
see the Old Gold In the race to win this
year with by far the best early season
chances of anv team in the state.