The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15

Chicago October 14-(SpecaD D.-Some 200 games have already been played by
 the various college eevens. and in @
 number of cases it is possible to get q line on the relative strength of differen. teams. Seven weeks from today the 1911 season will be history, and it ought to be possible to say;
 This team is eastern champion; that one is western champion; this one is southern champion; that one is the cham
 pion.'
 Instead, there will be squabbling, ar
 gument and idle chatter, with no chance
 of reaching decision.
 There will be no champions. It was ever thus-ever since the inter- collegiate game became universally adopt ed.
 Yale Harvard and Princeton, the self styled 'bis three'' childshly refuse to meet Pennsylvania. As a result, the eastern title must remain 8 mooted ques- | ton.
 Arkansas tells Vanderbilt: You must play in my yard" The answer 1s, You must play in my yard.' TheS don't play, and the southern supremacy is a thing for debate.
 as'But worse than these instances of habyism is the condition that exists be- tween the Western conference and the University of Michigan. The trouble there began five years ago with petty differences over eligibility rules and cut- minated in Michigan's expulsion from membership in the conference has never been patched up and accordingly Mchi- gan. the generally acknowledged peer of western colleges in the gridiron sport, goes through the sea son without meeting any of the bigger conference Minnesota, Chicago or Wisconsin
 This is deeply to be regretted, IS western football fans could enjoy nothing more than a Michigan Chica go. Michigan Minnesota or Michigan Wis consin game. Not even Yale or Har- yard opposing Michigan could equal any of these combinations as an at traction in the west. But the big fact fin the case is that, if Michigan should meet one or two of these teams, there would be a western champion.
 However as matters stand, instead of having a champion, the west will have en argument, one which canont be set ted
 There are two. ways that Michigan's strength can be compared with the conference teams-both unsatisfactory. One is through the medium of the scores 1ldue dtstillSl ANtDIdShd DS MlCH- igan and Minnesota. Minnesota clashes with the other big conference teams. But this will result in faulty conclu sion, because Michigan meets the Corn huskers at the tail end of the sea son. November 25, when both teams are expected to be in prime shape where as Minnesota faces Nebraska next Sat urday-too early for either team to show it's proper form.
 The other system should give g more beat around the bush" That is igan- Cornell and Chicago Cornell re- sults The Wolverines battle with tE< customers on November II and Chi cago takes them on one week later. Cornell should be about as strong for one game as for the other. while neith- CT of the western teams can give alibis for poor form because of the date when they play Then again comes the sec ondary comparison of these scores with Chcagos record in the conference game. Nowhere is there way to get anything better than a second degree comparison between Michigan e and Minnesota.
 Without bringing up the question as to who should be blamed for this situa ton. it can be said with emphasis that the condition as it exists is a rank in justice to Michigan and that it should be relnedied by next year at the latest
 Whichever of the conference teams does best. against tue other members of, ths cii1dishly autocratic body will be able td boast the meaningless. but nevertheless