Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-09-24
LACKS BACKFTELD MATERIAL
Nebraska Squad Without Strong
Quarter and Heavy Fullback.
LIKE JUMBO sTIEHM
New Coach of COrnhuakers Making
Good, So Far as Sentiment of
Undergraduate Body IL
Concerned Now.

LINCOLN, Neb, Sept. 23.-(Special.)-
The first week of practice of the Corn
husker squad has shown that Coach
Stiehm has a much bigger task on his
hands than was first generally supposed
with the return of eight veterans and
an abundance Of freshmen material from
last season to draw from. II the Corn
husker mentor succeeds in filling out
his backfield he has prospects of the
most brilliant team the Cornhuskers
have had since the days of Dummy
Booth.
That backfield situation is a critical one
at Nebraska, and Stiehm is not disposed
to make light of it although the new
coach believes that he has excellent
chances after weeks inspection of the
material. The quarterback and fullback
positions will be the big stumbling blocks
in the path of Stiehm's success. In each
instance the Nebraska coach finds him
self without an experienced man and an
apparent lack of material with which
to develop good field general and a
good line bucker. His other two back
field positions are entirely satisfactory,
with the sensational Owen Frank at his
old position. faster and heavier than
ever before and with the most promising
freshman in years to take the other.
Purdy, the Beatrice boy, who did wonder
full work last season, will undoubtedly
be Franks running mate unless Stiehm
atteI~ot to swith Purdy to the full
back position because of his weight.
Purdy weighs close to 1856 pounds and,
while not as brilliant at fullback as In
the halfback position, plays steady
polished game there.
stiehm has only two men trying for
the fullback position and neither of
them is qualified to take the fullback
position. Russell, a member of the track
team, has been given preference with
Anderson as q second choice.
Anderson offers more hope, for he Ia
big and fast, but terribly awkward. He
possesses a fair knowledge of the game
and is fast in getting away.
The Case of Gibson.
Jimmie" Gibson, for three years a
member Of the squad, including a season
with the freshmen, was the hope Of
Stiehm 10 I'LL in the fullback position.
He is heavier and faster than either
Of the other men and can send the ball
sixty yards down the field in using the
forward pass. He is as good a punter
as Nebraska ever saw, averaging sixty
yards in his punts. But 1t is doubtful
II Gibson viii become regular. He is
not aggressive, and lacking aggressive
ness is sadly handicapped.
The third Of the new candidates Leslie
Weaver. who halls from Norfolk, under
went an operation last spring and in
practice Friday morning injured the old
wound slightly so that II is doubtful IL
he will play again this season. The in
fury was not serious, but rather than
take any chances of injuring Weaver,
his physician will probably instruct him
10 stay out Of the game at least an
other season.
For quarterback, Potter seems to be
the most probable choice OF the coach,
although Ernie Frank Is being worked
out regularly and there is no telling
what shifts stiehm will make in order
to insure a good field general One other
position is worrying stiehm through the
failure Of big Pierson TO return. Pier
son has told the management that he
will be in school. but up until Saturday
has failed 20 register He was counted
upon TO fill the, other tackle position va
Gated by Capt Temple and his nom
return Is a source OF considerable anx-
iety 20 Eager.
The Probable Lineup.
stiehm IL maintaining a sphinx-like ST.
lence as to his lineup for the second
week OF practice, but II Is probable
that he will use shifts in every position
except the ends and the tackle position
OF Capt. Shonka-
The lineup for the week OF practice
on the first team will probably be "a
follows;
Ends, ChAuner and LofgTen; tackles.
(Continued on Second PaKel