The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1909-11-12
GRIDIRON SEASON
ONE OF SURPRISES
BIG ElEVENS HAVE HARD TIME
DEFEATING THEIR WEAKER
OPPONENTS.
MICHIGAN HAS CLOSE CALL
Capt. Allerdice's Playing Alone Saves
Wolverines from Humiliation by
Marquette EIeven-Coach Speik
Quits His Job at Purdue.

Marquette EIeven-Coach Speik
Quits His Job at Purdue.
The football season of 1909 has been
one of surprises. Teams that did not
figure to have a chance with their
stronger opponents in the west and
east have gone on the gridiron and put
up struggle that has been amazing
to the critics.
With only week more of the sea-
son there may be further surprises in
store for the followers Of the game
but 1t seems certain that Yale has the
championship of the big eastern col
leges cinched.
OF the surprises in the west the
close call Michigan had with Mar.
quette probably was the greatest. It
was one Of the worst shocks ever ex-
perienced when the final whistle blew
and the score was found to be only
6 to in favor of the men from Ann
Arbor
Juneau's men, primed to the minute,
gave the Wolverines tough battle all
the way, succumbing only when Capt.
Allerdice booted his mates to victory
by brilliant goal.
In the east Princeton caught tar
tar in Lafayette and fell in defeat,
6 to 0, when substitute, Frank Irm-
schler, rushed over the Tiger line with
the winning touchdown.
Slowly the modern style of play, in
Producing the forward pass, the light
er players and improved tricks is
working change in the execution of
the great college pastime. The high
scores of former seasons have given
way to the low figures, injuries are
becoming scarcer, and coaches
throughout the country see the dawn
OF new era in football.
Indiana, in it's game with Wisconsin,
which the Badgers won by to 8
count, played one of the best contests
any Hoosier eleven has put uF since
Jimmy Sheldon has been coach. That
Indiana lost the game was due to the
lack of safety man on it's forward
passes.
Indiana worked its forward pass
plays and onside kicks to good ad-
vantage.
Another hard-fought battle was the
Notre Dame-Michigan Aggies struggle
at South Bend. By winning this game
by II to count, Notre Dame put in
big bid for the championship of the
western non-conference colleges.
1t is the annual custom for Notre
Dame to be represented by strong ag-
gregations and this years team looks
stronger than any of recent years.
Coach Longman, the old Michigan
player, has instilled fighting spirit
into the players which makes them
one of the strongest aggregations in
the west. The team is composed for
the most part of veterans who have
had plenty of experience and know
the points Of the game thoroughly.
Iowa and Nebraska had a hard
fought battle at Lincoln which result
ed in to tie. Neither team had
great advantage and as this game
was considered instrumental in elm
mating one of the teams from the Mis-
souri, valley championship race, the IT,
tie is more involved now than before.
Ames and Missouri, two other
strong contenders for the title in the
Missouri valley conference, played a
6 to 6 game at Ames. These two tie
games are likely to necessitate the
playing of post-season contests to de-
eide the title in that section
Before their invasion of the east
Coach Stage of Chicago and Coach
Yost of Michigan put their men
through practice under electric lights.
Dr. Fred A. Speik, coach of the Pur-
due football team for the last two
years, has handed in his resignation
to the athletic association. Inability
to get the best results out of the men
placed at his disposal and constant
friction with self-appointed critics are
the reasons assigned for his act.
Since Speik has been in charge at
the Boilermaker institution Purdue
has not won a game of note, and his
ability as an instructor did not meet
the expectations of members of the
association, who assert that Speik had
splendid material from which to pick
an eleven.
AS a player, Speik was one of the
best ends ever developed at Chicago,
and he knew football thoroughly.
When he coached Chicago he obtain
ed good results and was especially
good in sizing up plays of Chicago's
future opponents. These formations
he readily taught to the freshmen or
second teams, and it was this ability
that made him such a valuable man
on Stages coaching staff.
When Speik's announcement was
made known to the players on Stuart
field they revolted and it was a hard
matter to keep them from turning in
their suits The coach was greatly
appreciated by the players, who feel
that it was as much their fault as his
that Purdue has not had winning
teams.
The graduate coaching system was
employed for the remainder of the
season. Fred Rebel, an old star of
the 1904 team, and Leslie, one of the
best players who ever wore a Purdue
uniform did the coaching. Assistant
Athletic Director Jones was head
coach.
Cravath Awarded Back Pay.
The national commission issued
finding in the case of Player c. C. era