The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-10-19
BLUES A PROBLEM
DIR. Stewart Working on Many
Changes Contemplated.
Disappointment in Showing Has
Suggested Them.
BACKFIELD is WORRY,
Slow, Ragged in Play and With
out Any Interference.
DeFrantz May Be Moved From
Center to Tackle.
BACKFIELD is WORRY.

DR.. Stewart has a. problem to work
out this week. The great disappoint-
ment in the showing made Saturday
has suggested many changes in the
Washburn football team. One change
under contemplation which would
present an entirely different line is to
place De Frantz at left tackle instead
of center, put tombstone in at center.
and use Tackle McIntire at end.
On the defensive. the line held well
in the Ottawa game, but the ends were
too slow getting down field, and did
not handle themselves well on the
passes or in tackling. 1t is thought
probable that McIntire will be used at
one of the ends with Lee and Whit
comb, used Saturday, and Harrington,
Franklin and Dunn trying for the 9TH
er end or to supplant him.
The backf1eld, however, is the
greatest worry of Coach Stewart. They
got off slow, were ragged in play and
made scarcely any interference. Hardy
was wasted Saturday trying to make
him burst the line when he is no line
smasher. He also runs poor interfer-
ence for his companion. Burkhart
forgot for a time that he was in ball
game and DR.. Stewart dragged him
out. Burk was showing exceptionally
well, but seems not to have the head.
Tomlinson could not deliver the goods
in line bucking and never was given a
chance to kick the ball. What to do
about the halves is a hard knot. Per
haps Capt. McCarron will be used at
one if it is decided Crumbine can hold
the quarter job.
Need F'ullback and Safety.
The fullback proposition is another
hard one. Mcfarland is complained
nf starting 50 slow nTac11Idn
any quick end runs or fake plays. His
work against Ottawa was far below
his usual standard and Whitcomb
pulled back livened it up a little, but
whether Whitcomb would be a per-
manent improvement is doubted.
Some man untried at the place may be
given it. Mcfarland is being tried
out at tackle.
A serious weakness to be mended is
the safety and an assistant at catch
ing punts. Hardy, who it seems to
be conceded, is the best man down
field under punts, provided he can be
made to catch them, made miserable
failure Saturday. He is fast and with
some interference ought to make SEN
sational returns. He can learn to
catch them. Whether he can tackle
effectively is unknown.
The poor tackling of the team will
be tried to be overcome by weeks
hard work at the dummy and running
down nelQ TO the Iack1erS. me weak
ness in that department was one of
the most noticeable in the Ottawa
game and one which has to receive
first consideration
In all, the football team which was
| thought to be going good showed
! terrible 1ooseness when up against a
real opponent and the thing is up in
/ the air at Washburn field. Every
1 body is out and working hard to
! tighten up the machine and that dis
1 1TF se 81 oh oh
| liberated.
| Signs on the park gates read:
/ Keep out. Secret practice all
week."
/ Director Driver believes in no
( spectators, but a great amount of work
designed only for the team.
/ With the team lined up the fash
/ ion aforementioned, it waa given a
| test in scrimmage with the scrubs last
night. The scrubs won 10 to 5. Most