The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-10-22
MICHIGAN LACKS
F|GHT|NG SPIRIT
Pep" That Made the u. of M. .
Factor in Western Football Is
Missing in 1910 Team.

What are Michigan's prospects for
the rest OF the season? Every one
from the experts OF the game down
to the small boys Is asking the same
thing, and no one has any good theory.
Michigan has played two games and
she has won one. Both games were
with smaller schools, but both have
taxed the varsity TO It's fullest pow
ers. Saturday the team meets an
other OF the so-called small colleges.
Incidentally this game Is the last Of
the small contests. But Is II small?
Coach Rcdden, who saw Ohio State
pay last week, has expressed his opin-
ion 10 the effect that Michigan has a
harder game before her than either OF
the preceding ones. Undoubtedly the
Ohioans are as good as either Case or
-. A. c., and perhaps better. VIII
Michigan win or will her good luck
desert her and will she lose?
There has been no marked improve
ment in the playing OF the varsity
since last Saturday. In the mid-week
games with the scrubs there we're
times when the first team played good.
snappy ball. but they were few and
far between. The same tagging spirit
that has been the characteristic trait
OF this years squad Is still there and
no amount OF work seems to take II
out OF the players. They lack the fight
ing spirit and the pep" that made the
name o. Michigan a factor In western
football. What Is the cause OF this
lack OF spirit? Many theories have
been introduced, but they don't fill
the bill. Some critics say that II is
because the players do not wish TO
run the risk Of being injured In the
first games and thus lose their chance
to win the coveted M" Others say
that the members OF the team are
cold-weather players. That they Will
play good ball when the crisp, cool
days come. Both OF these arguments
are easily thrown down by one state
ment. The team has failed to do
things that have no direct bearing on
these theories. VIII IL injure a man
il he leaves his feet and makes a sim
pie. open field tackle? No. Does the
fact that man can play better In
cold weather make IL necessary for
him TO tumble and play ragged foot.
ball in a Commute quarter? Both or
those faults, the Michigan team has
been guilty of. and there is no excuse
TO offer except that the team hasn't
learned how to work together. When
the squad learns 10 move as one man
and when the interference has eleven
men on II every time. then the Michi-
gan team will play football. Individ-
| ually, there is no better bunch OF play
ers In the west. Each man that IL
playing on the varsity today Is
star But they lack the team spirit.
Friday morning the squad left for
Columbus TO play the last game before
encountering the big teams. II Is up
TO the team TO win both for It's own
sake and for the sake Of its reputa.
ton. A victory means inspiring con-
fidence in the team and leading them
on to better things. Also II means
that the reputation OF Michigan on
he gridiron will not suffer. crowd
OF 300 rooters will be on hand
to help them win and they will have
everything In their favor. II Michi-
gan wins on Saturday something can
be expected OF them In the games with
Minnesota. and Pennsylvania, bat
otherwise they will be out Of the race
entirely.