The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-09-20
Football Practice Begins All
Over the Country Today.
Badgers Are Again the Favor
ties in the Northwest.
STAGE LOOKS OVER HIS SQUAD
He Finds About Three Candi-
dates for Every Place.
Yale Influence Is Prominent in
Several Quarters.

Chicago, Sept. 20-Prepar1ng Tor a
campaign of football more open than
any since the introduction of the for
, ward pass and adoption of the reform
rules, coaches and players at nearly all
the leading institutions of the central
states today formally began their prac-
tice. A rule of the western conference
forbids real practice until the TWEEN
tieth, and many schools not in the big
nine" follow this law, but when the
mentors assumed charge today they
found in many cases, that prospective
candidates already had loosened joints
used in punting and had begun to take
off excess weight.
The season promises to equal in in
terest that of last year, in this section
of the country. The title of conference
champion. which generally carries with
it the championship west of the Allie
ghenies, probably will be decided only
after a hard series of games. To pre-
season prophets it seems likely to go
to Minnesota, Chicago or Wisconsin
with the Badgers, through the prestige
of their victorious career of 1912, and
through the return of more than a doz-
en- of last years Varsity squad, con-
Sidered favoriteS
Coach Juneau's task seems mainly to
develop a backfeld. With Fullback
Tanberg as nucleus, his line is prac-
tically intact.
Three for Every Place.
Prospects on the midway assumed
very pleasant hue when Coach Stage
and the maroon adherents took their
first look at the squad today. An ex-
ception in Chicago football history, the
season has furnished a big group of
candidates, perhaps three likely men to
every place, and in addition there is a
good supply of beef among the men.
A corps of Yale men will help Harry
Williams whip the husky 'Gophers into
shape. Minnesota's coach, originator
of several plays that have won fame
for him and the northerners, will try,
it is said. to develop the new game to
an extent that will make his team in
.vincible. Northwestern students hope
to have their team attain the success
for which it once was famous. A fair
sized squad is expected to report to
Head Coach Grady. AS at Chicago and
Minnesota. Yale influence will be felt
in planning the purple campaign, for
Gilbert Schiebner, member of the New
Haven squad for two years. has been
added to the coaching staff, which in
cludes Schomuer of Chicago and Seller
of Illinois.
Illinois men probably head the hon
or of opening the practice season for
they were ordered to make their first
appearance today right otter break
fast" which is s o'clock in Cham
paign. Coach Zuppke, making his
debut at the down state school, has
inaugurated a stiff regime for his men.
One o'clock in the afternoon is the
time they are to report for work and
at 1880 each evening he plans to hold
extra drills. Strength of the Illinois
this season is problematical.
Reports that Kirk. the big Iowa
tackle. will not report this year, are
worrying the Hawkeye coaches. His
will force Coach Haw-
ley not only to find first class line
man but also to develop a punter, for
Kirk was depended upon to do the
kicking for Iowa.
IntersectionaI Games.
Intersectional games are important,
if Michigan's contests with eastern col
leges can be called intersectional.
Michigan's big game is with Pennsyl-
vania and Coach Yost is already plan
ming particular plays for the Quakers.
One of the first Bear stories has
come from Ann Arbor, carrying the
Ralph, of Olympic fame. would not
join the squad, having decided to de-
vote his time to track work.
st. Louis university has an impor-
tant game with Syracuse on Thanks
giving day. Coach Dennie has had a
few men at work for nearly a week
and reports from st. Louis indicate
that he has discovered several likely
candidates, among them four recruits
who need only experience to make
them valuable One of them, James
O'Neill, is senior in the college, but
until the other day it never occurred
to him he might play football him.
self.
Notre Danes first team will play
the West Point Cadets November 1
and much interest is attached to the
contest by the alumni of the Indiana
institution in the central states as we'll
as in the east.
Fast work is on the program at
Lincoln, where Coach Steihm has four