Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-09-19
PROSPECTS FOR CHAMPION FOOT.
BALL TEAM OF IOWA THIS
YEAR ARE BRIGHT.
COACH IS PLEASED.
He Predicts Fast Tlam TIL. Year
Squad VIII Average 100 Pounds
-success Depends on Ability
-N.s Of Recruits.

Red and White SfOOtDaN squad can
look for the boys to bring home the
state championship honors. Coach
Leonard Is fast whipping the men into
shape and he expects to have them
In the pink OF condition when they
play their first. scheduled game with
Abba September %. The outcome OF
this game will be an important factor
in tho championship race.
A. squad Of about thirty-fve men re-
port for practice every night and they
are put through some hard and strenu-
GUS work. Every man on the team
Is showing the fighting spirit much to
the delight of their coach. There were
only about thirty out for practice last
night but it was the best practice of
the year and gave Coach Leonard an
opportunity to see the strength of his
line and backfield The first team
back field was put behind the second
team line with the first team line
facing them and 1t was nip and tuck
from the beginning to the end. The
first team line tore holes In the sec
ond team. and downed the backs be-
fore they could advance. On some
occasions the first team backfield made
some long gains on end runs but when
It. cameeto smashing the line they were
helpless. This process of practicing
took up most OF the evening and 1t
was not stopped until the rivalry be-
tween the two lines got worked up to
a fever heat. ~
The squad has been practicing on
the Squattown grounds so far this
season on account Of little difficulty
with the baseball directors but this Is
about cleared up and the squad ex-
poets to have the baseball field before
the week is over.
/. Es Coach Leonard2is Pleased.
Coach Leonard had nothing to say
but praise for the work Of the squad.
II am very much pleased with the
fighting spirit that has been injected
into the boys" he stated. "and I see
no reason why Ottumwa should not
have the best team in the history OF
the school, We have the material,
although some Of it Ia very green, but
hope to have all of the rough spots
smoothed down before the first game.
Up to the, present time have been
taking up all Of my time in teaching
the game to the green recruits, as
some OF them never held football UNI
til this season. It Is true that the out
come will depend on the new material
but | sincerely believe that the new
men will fast learn the game and be
big factors in .Ottumwa's Victories this
season. There Is no use going into
details concerning the work OF the old
men as everyone. Is well acquainted
with their ability, but will say that
all Of the old men are showing much
speed and all possess the qualities
that 70 to make a winning football
squad, am we'll pleased with the
work osfar and have excellent hopes
of turning out championship squad"
Coach Leonard has been working
hard the past two weeks in smooth
ing down the rough spots and he will
soon commence to instruct the men
in the tricks OF the game. All of the
men trying out for the team have
much faith In Coach Leonard's work,
which Is q great assistance to him.
Coach Leonard last year was mem
Der Of the fast Indiana university
squad but the year previous acted as
q coach. He is regarded as an ex-
cellent football man and all who have
closely watched how he Is whipping
his SQUAD into shape believe that he
will turn out championship team.
Team VIII Average Heavy.
The greatest surprise Of all is the
average weight of the team. Before
the season commenced 1t was thought
that the red and white would have one
OF the lightest teams in the history of
the school, but it has been discovered
that the squad will average at least
$50 pounds and Coach Leonard has
homes Of 1t averaging 1856 The line
will be much heavier than last year
and the men are showing more speed.
II will be remembered that last year
the line was very heavy, but that the
men were not working together. This
was wholly responsible for last years
defeat at Oskaloosa. The Quakers
soon discovered that the line was
weak on one side and after finding
the weak spot they could not be stop
ned. The team will be more evenly
balanced this season and there will be
no weak spots.
No place 10 cinched Yet.
There is not position on the team
that has been cinched yet according to
the announcement made by Coach
$50 Inc rrh - Z or a m