Omaha daily bee., 1909-10-27
COPHERS WAIT FOR MAROONS
Stages Men Will Get Hard Game
from Northerners.
"P1CKO MAY BE IN THE LINEUP
Funbaek's Friends Think He WIN
he Able to Play by Next
snturday-odds Favor
Chicago.

MINNEAPOLIS, Mimi, oct. 26.-(spe-
ciaD.-The Minnesota foot ball crew
started to work in grim earnest today on
the last lap Of the preparations for the
reception Of Coach Stage and his bunch
OF hearties on Northrop field next Sat
urday.
Like Cicago. the Gophers had an off day
last Saturday. and the only work ndulged
IN was a short scrimmage before an I'M
mense crowd Of rooterE. owing to the
fact that open practice was INDUCED In,
nothing Of a startling nature was un-
corked by the team. With Captain Nc
Govern and Pickering at Madison, watch
ing the Wisconsin-Indiana contest, the
varsity lineup presented a patched up
appearance. Jimmy Deveau played at
quarter. and Leon Smith took Pickering's
place at fuIlback. This was the first OPP
portunity the Tooters had OF seeing De
veau in action at the quarterback position,
and his work In running the team gave
genuine satisfaction.
In spite of the loss of Johnny" John
ston, Minnesota's bright star halfback,
and the probability that Pickering will be
unable to get into the Chicago game, there
is a feeling Of optimism on every hand
that the maroon and gold will be in the
running from first TO last next Saturday.
Rosenwald, who is filling Johnson's place
at half is showing up splendidly In prac-
tice, and, while he is not expected TO do
the things that we're looked for from
Johnson, rooters are satisfied that he is
not one whit inferior to anything that
Amos Alonzo Stage cap show.
Pickering or smith.
While II is given out from the training
quarters that Pickering is in no shape to
get into the game for at least two weeks,
the wise ones are of the opinion that he
will be at his old position when the
whistle blows on Saturday. Even though
he will be cut OF the game, his place
will be well taken care of by Smith, who
played in the Nebraska game. Smith is
not expected to put up the game that
"Pick' could, but he has had three years
experience on the scruub team, he is a
strong, aggressive player, and doesn't
know what 1t is to have a yellow streak.
He is a powerful man on the defense, and
no weakling at carrying the ball.
None OF the Minnesota followers are wor-
rying over the fact that Stages Maroons
are, just at present, the favorltes in the
betting overtown, Just why they should
be the favorites is hard to perceive. The
prevailing odds just now are 10 to s on
Chicago, and a few bets have been made
at as good odds as 2 to 1. The gambling
fraternity, which give the odds. cannot see
where Minnesota has a lookin, after tn,
% to 0 beating they received at Marshal
field last fall. They seem to be convinced
that Stage is unbeatable and are placing
their money accordingly. The students are
Of course holding their money for better
odds, but from all appearances. betting
will be at even money before the day of the
game.
Manager Helon Leach of the Minnesot.
team Is looking for the greatest crowd tina
ever attended a game at Northrop field
Mail orders for seats have swamped hi
office force all week, and when the regula
sale begins tomorrow morning. a recort
breaking rush is expected. Conservative
estimates for the attendance at the gam
put the crowd at larger figures than at tn.
Michigan-Minnesota game in 1908, wheI
10000 were in attendance, Special train
will be run into Minneapolis from all part
of Minnesota and surrounding states.