The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-10-13
TEAMS ARE LIGHT
Missouri Valley Average Runs
$50 to 175 Pounds.
All Squads Featuring Aerial
Work and Punting.

Kansas City, Mo, Oct. 13.-The
gridiron representatives of the MIS-
souri, valley conference are limbering
into action, and with the preliminary
games comes the disclosure that prac-
tically all of the eleVens Will be ngnI
in weight, averaging between $50 and
175 pounds, with the possible excep-
tionse of Kansas and Nebraska. Early
returns from the first performances
give the information that the entire
conference will use the open style OF
playing, with much stress placed upon
aerial work and kicking. Heretofore
the coaches have depended more upon
mass formations.
From Ames, Missouri Kansas Ag-
Eies, Kansas and Nebraska come re-
ports that coaches are training kickers
to be used as dark horses. This will
introduce into the valley a style more
eastern than any which has previously
been used.
: Nebraska is optimistic and follow
ers of the Huskers are waiting eX-
pectantly for the landing of another
conference title. Despite the fact that
Otoupalik and Yound, veterans, have
been out of uniform on account OF
injuries, and that Stanley Henry, one
of the best men on the squad, has
been drafted, the Cornhuskers have
been tearing at will thru a strong
scrub aggregation and have held firm
~ on the defensive. The first real
opportunity for Coach Stewards repre-
sentatives will come on Saturday,
October 10, when they meet Iowa uni
versity a big Ten" eleven. This
game will be watched critically by
Missouri and Kansas since il is with
these two teams alone that Nebraska
will compete for the valley title.
Olcott Not Discouraged.
Coach Beau" Olcott describes his
Jayhawl<er eleven as a good scrappy
bunch" which means that he is fairly
we'll satisfied with the Kansas prog
ress. The backfield is composed of
Captain Nielsen, Joe Casey and stem
Foster, with the fourth position, that
of one of the halves, somewhat in
doubt. Shinn and Laslett, veterans
are going we'll on the ends But the
coach is now devOting his attention to
developing a kicker. The Jayhawkers
who were beaten, % to 0, by illinois,
last Saturday will not start their con-
ference competition until October 81,
when they meet the Anes Aggies at
Lawrence. In the meantime they will
play the EmpOria, Kan, Normals and
the Washburn college eleven.
Missouri is becoming enthusiastic
over its prospects. Coach Schultz Is
congratulating himself upon the fact
that his is the only team to play all of
the other valley conference elevens
and thus has the fighting chance for
a clean cut championship. He now
has a fast backfield and his line has
developed two or three fair prospects
for all-valley material. Schultz is also
seeing to it that some kickers are IN
der the process of development. Just
what style the Missouri team is to
play is difficult to predict, for the
coach believes in a varied repertoire.
which includes a bit of any style
which may be opened up which the
occasion demands.
NJ. U. and Aggies Today.
The Missouri team will face the
Kansas Aggies IN their first conference
game today at Columbia. This will be
a contest of speed and wits, with two
early season star backfield aggrega-
tions matched against the other. Crit