The San Francisco call., 1909-09-05
King Rugby Is
In the Race for
Public Favor
Universities, Schools and Clubs
i'm Full Training for POpu-
lar Brand of Football
By WILLIAM UNMACK

King Rugby is now in the race for
public attention, and until the end of
November viii occupy a big portion of
the sporting stage. All the colleges,
schools and clubs are in full training.
Stanford has been the last of the big
colleges to call out the football squad.
Yesterday Coach Presley had his men
out for the first time almost two weeks
behind his rival college. This, how
ever ! should not make much difference.
There are number of veterans at the
cardinal college, but not all of them
will be eligible to play against the
blue and gold. Erb will be badly missed
behind the serum, and on the five-
efghths line Ganong will break UP the
grand combination of that line. Two
names for more than two full seasons
-Ganong and Mitchell-meant a lot
to the Rugby fans. This was probably
one of the smaFtest pairs ever seen on
this coast, ana now the combination has
been broken. Presley will have hard
work TO find a good substitute for the
hardy Ganong. Scott and Roth are
back at Palo Alto, and either one of
them is suitable and fitted for the posi-
tion.
At Berkeley the blue and gold squads
have put in one of the most solid weeks
of practice in the history of the game.
Assistant Coach Mother Howe has
caught on with the squad and he has
the confidence OF every student at the
university. Already Howe is shown g
the men new tricks. Schaeffer and
Howe is the combination that the car
dinal team this year is going 10 find a
hard nut to crack. The one has grit,
fight and personality in marked degree
as well as a good knowledge of the
eyaY7 litiaS h q
| matured experience and coaching abil-
ity of Howe, together with the conf
dence he is able to instill into the team
and it must be admitted that the blue
and gold has an asset that Will mean
much on November 10.
Practice has got to such stage at
Berkeley that it is probable that Coach
| Scbaeffer Will start diminishing the
squads next week. At present the diff
ferent squads are unwieldy, and by cut
| ting out men who show less aptitude
| than others the work of the coaches
| will be materially helped and they will
be able TO better attend to those men
who give promise of being good Rugby
ties.
With two holidays next week the
football fans VIII be treated to lib
| eral supply, of games. Tomorrow the
Barbarians Will play the blue and gold
freshman team, and Thursday TWO
games will be played at the Berkeley
grounds.
The Olympic second team will try
conclusions with the freshmen, and the
Barbarians will meet the varsity squad
for the first time this year.
The Nevada team is fast rounding
into proper shape. Coach Mayors has
the team out every day, and with the
assistance of Ray MacKay. a mining
student from Australia, who has had
considerable Rugby experience, the
prospects for a well coached team are
bright. Besides the numerous veterans
who have returned 10 the Nevada uni
versity there are number of fresh
men who have had good Rugby eXpe-
rience, including a former member of
the Los Angeles Castaways. Practice
started last Monday, and so candidates
were supplied with suits, which con-
stitutes record for the college.
All branches of athletics seem to be
on the up grade at the Nevada institu-
tion. The Reno public has not in the
past given the games at the university
the support they deserve, and conse-
quently the students have not been as
enthusiastic as they otherwise would
have been. The material is there all
right and the football team has prom
ising Rugby men.
Inc GIT OIL magnificent stadium
and concrete bleachers by Clarence
Mackay has aroused the inhabitants of
the Sagebrush state to sit up and take
notice of the varsity boys, and it is not
improbable that in the near future Ne
vada will meet the California and STAN
ford universities in other branches of
athletics than Rugby football
The Reliance club is to be compli-
mented on its neat appearance in the
field. Clad in a maroon jersey and
white knickers, the athletes look the
picture of neatness. They are a sturdy
looking set of athletes. and when they
know the game a little better will
make formidable antagonists. The
team is composed of men who have
previously had soccer and intercol-
legiate experience, and one or two
Rugby men. Naturally with such a
combination there are faults that need
correcting. The criticisms made by
the writer are not in the sense of fault
finding, but will show just where the
errors need correcting. In the erst
place there is tendency on the part
of most CT the players to hold on to