The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-08-26
FOOTBALL OUTLOOK
At WHITMAN GOOD
Blanchard's Return Will Mean Much,
Quarterback Only Position in
Doubt-Fins Schedule.
(By &. X. NJ }

ANTICIPATING tue opening OF w ultmdn
which will occur about the middle OF
next month, much interest is being
manifested by local followers of inter-
collegiate football concerning the pres
ent outlook for the Whitman varsity
during the coming season. Frankly
the present outlook looks as good if not
better than that which has ever pre-
coded Whitman football season
Blanchard. the gritty little coach who
handled the team last year will again
be back.
Blanchard was last year reputed to
be the best coach in the northwest.
He startled the football experts of the
Sound and Portland country by the
style of football which he taught his
team. No coach was so feared as was
Blanchard because he never used his
great plays more than a few times.
He was constantly studying his men.
realizing their fitness for certain class
of plays and arranging his attack OIL
that basis. One of the greatest attri-
butes that Blanchard possessed was
that of enthusing into the men under
him a wonderful gritty fighting spirit.
The fact that Blanchard will again re-
turn speaks volumes for the outlook
Out of the fourteen men who last
fnta h.
all will return to college with the ex-
ception of Brainard and Schmidt, both
of whom played the quarterback posi-
ton. They graduated last June. Last
years varsity line and backfield will be
intact this season. Vincent Borleske
who was chosen IL lead as captain the
All-Northwest team for the season 'OS.
who was chosen to lead as captain of the
varsity again this year. He has play
ed the position of right half-back on
the Whitman team for three years and
the coming season will be his last for
Whitman as he graduates in June
The only position as yet about which
there remains much doubt is that Of
quarter back. 1t has been rumored
that "Alf'' Belt who played fullback last
year will be shifted to that position
Belt is one of the best defensive play
ers on the team. He is a gritty play
er and one who makes the greatest use
in game of excellent headwork. Belt
should make a great quarterback for
Whitman. whether Blanchard will be
able to spare him from the fullback
position remains to be seen
One way in which the team which
will represent Whitman during the
coming season will have a decided ad-
vantage over that nf last year is i'm the
of game. which has already
been done and contracts signed. The
calls for five intercollegiate
three of which will be played
in Walla Walia. The varsity season
will open whtn the University of Idaho
is met at Moscow, Whitman last year
the score of II to 0. If Blanchard can
get his team into shape early enough
in the fall to win this first game of
the season from Idaho. the prospects
for an indicated season will be great
~ enhanced Following the Idaho
game. Whitman Journeys to Seattle
where the University of Washington
will be met. Last year Whitman lost
this game by the score of s to 0. The
games will be in Walla Wal
la with Oregon Agricultural college,
of Oregon or Whitworth.
The season will close in Walla Walla
on Thanksgiving day when Whitman
will meet their old rivals from Wash
ngton State. This is the game of all
games which Whitman will use her ut
most endeavor to win. The great point
about the seasons schedule of games
is that no two contests come close
enough to one another to cause any
in the way of the men
being in their best condition. Manager
Lloyd Hawley learned a lesson in this
form last year and has made ample
provision for it,
With a loyal crowd of Whitman boos-
tiers in town and with united student
body back Of them, with all the old
men of last years team back and with
Dig" Blanchard to again coach the
team. the seasons outlook at present
looks very promising.