The Detroit times., 1910-10-24
.M|CH|gAhlACks
FIGHTING SPIRIT
Pep" That Made the U. Of N.
Factor in Western Football Ii
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 IL asking he same
thing, and no one has any good theory.
Michigan has played two games and
she has wor one. Both games were
with 5malls- schools. but both have
taxed the varsity TO its 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 smal!
Coach Redden, who saw Ohio State
pay last week, has expressed his optn'
ion TO the effect that Michigan has q
harder game before her than eithcr OF
the preceding ones. Undoubtedly the
Ohioans are 40 good ~ either Case or
a.. A. c.. and perhaps better. Will
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 were
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 ngnt'
ing spirit and the pep" that MADE the
name % Michigan q factor In western
football What Is the cause OF this
lack OF spirit? Many theories have
been introduced. but they don't NIL
the bill. Some critics say that :, 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 VIII
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. Will II injure q man
II he leaves his feet and makes sim
pie. open fed tackle? No. Does the
fact that a man can play better In
cold weather make IL necessary Tor
him 10 tumble and play ragged foot.
ball In a l0-minute quarter, Both ol
those faults, the Michigan team mas
been guilty Of. and there Is no excuse
to offer except that the team hash
learned how to work together. When
the SQUAD learns to move as one man
and when the interference has eleven
men on II every time. then the Michi'
gan team will play football. Indtvid
ually. n ere Is no better bunch OF play
ers in the west. Each man that is
playing on the varsity today is Il
star. But they lack the team spirit.
FRIDAY morning the squad LETT for
, Columbus to play the last game before
encountering the big teams. II Is W
10 the team to win both for Its own
sake and for the sake OF Its reputa
ton. A victory means inspiring con
fdence in the team and leading them
on to better things. Also II means
that the reputation Of Michigan on
the gridiron will not suffer. A crowd
of 900 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, BIT
otherwise they will be out OF the race
entirely.