The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-15
IchabOds Were Near Goal Line
Many Times.
BLUE LACKED old Time PEI
Played Against Emporians as
If They We're Scrubs.
Referee Said Washburn Should
Have Won Game.

unless some Maynard player acct-
dentally slid on his nose over the goal
line. Washburn and the College of
Emporia could have been playing I'M
til Christmas eve without a score.
The Sons Of Ichabod failed to cross
the goal line of the Presbyterians in
the annual football contest at EN-
poria Friday afternoon. 1t goes with
out saying that the Blue kept her
goal clear from the smudge of the
Granger crimson. 1t was just a slip
perry. sliding, slick treadmill of mud
dy mOleskins. If one of the players
had been trained as a mallard, he
could have tucked the ball of mud
and atmosphere under his arm and
padded his way to victory. AS it was.
the two squads were composed of hu-
man beings-college iads-and the
score at the end Of the game was
o to 0.
In way. it was victory for the
College of Emporia. They didn't car
ry the ball the distance made by the
1chabods. to be sure. They played
period of the contest, it is true.
But the fact that the Granger pupils
were able to hold Washburn score
less was considered quite a trick in
Bill Whites town.
There was one feature of the game
that can be blamed for washburn's
failure to cross the Emporia line
modesty. Bearg, the powerful Blue
halfback, missed more than ope-third
of the game. right when his line
plunges would have netted big gains.
just because some unkind opponent
ripped his trousers from his legs.
Bearg, possessing an abnormal amount
of personal pride and declining to APP
pear in his "slit-skirt" before the
young ladies of the audience, ran to
the gymnasium to make the change.
Meanwhile the team stopped around
in the mud for more than a quarter
without his aid.
washburn had many chances to
score. Emporia endangered the Blue
goal line only through a long for
ward pass squirt. Then the candle
went out. Twice Washburn was
within ten yards of the posts. An ap-
parently easy place kick was blocked.
Another time a forward pass thrown
near the Emporai ten-yard line, fell
between. three Blue warriors. An
other time a tumble. The long wad-
dle-marches across the field were
wasted.
Now for a few dabbles into the over
worked 'if' column.
Far be it from the writer to minimize
the brilliant and plucky playing of the
flying Presbyterians-Grange has a
ulSutv pretty little lOOtOdu maCn1ne-
but Washburn should have won.
Why didn't she win, then? you ask.
The answer Is this:
Washburn would have had to have
been team four touchdowns better
than the Presbyterians to have won
Friday afternoon in that sea of mud.
AS long as 1t was impossible for any,
one to get away on a long run, owing
to the weight of mud clinging to the
players shoes, the game was nothing
more than a see-saw back and forth
over the slippery surface Of Mother
Earth.
Washburn is a team that should have
defeated Emporia by two touchdowns.
The Ichabods are only about five
pounds heavier than the Emporians.
But the experience and coaching Of the
squad is of better touchdown making
variety. The vicious attacks of Rogers
and BearR and Forbes and Meyers
through the line were wasted in the
mud. The backfield couldn't get started
they couldn't dig their toes in the
ground-they couldn't cut in or dodge
or hold up under high tackling. 1t was
Just treadmill of four quarters, fif-
teen minutes each, accompanied now
and then by punt and forward pass
McCreary. an official Of the game,
and a man who has worked in former
games this season with Washburn and
GmpOrla, summed II up this way:
Washburn, on a dry clear field,
should have won. Nothing could be
gained in that mud. 1t looked MANY
times, when Washburn would march
down the field with the ball. that the
game was over-then a slip and a slide
and the energy was wasted
Emporia went wild over the result.
1t was their privilege and right. Grang-
er's pupils are pretty players and de-
serve the standing they have in the
Kansas conference. 1t was victory in
disguise to hold Washburn.
The Emporians soaked their shoes in
oil between quarters. thereby compact
ing the mud that weighted down their
feet. When the Washburn runners
Topped down the field. a sprinkle of