The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-06
7 BIG Ten" SEASON A
SUCCESS, DESPITE WAL
BY Luther A. Huston.

HotWitnStandfng, the football season
of the big Ten" intercollegiate con-
ference which ended with the games
of Novemb Der "a was successful from
every standpoint. Not only was the
class of football played very near TO
the average of former years but the
attendance and interest In the games
were refutation enough of the claim
that war would kill intercollegiate
sport.
Many OF the schools of the confer
ence. and particularly the University
OF Chicago, were hard hit by loss OF
stars who Joined some branch of the
country's service. Capable men, new
ertheless, were found to fill these va
cancies and the strength OF the teams
did not suffer anywhere near as much
as had been feared.
Because of the large number Of
very competent pigskin hooters that
played in the conference this year the
selection of the Big Ten" all-star
team is one that has It's difficulties.
The writer has given careful consid-
Grafton to the merits of the leading
men in the various positions, how
ever. and believes the all-star team to
be named hereafter represents an
eleven that combines the best aggrc :
gate strength of the ten teams of tho
conference
For end positions, the writer would
select Bolen and Peabody, both OF
Ohio. This pair OF wing men are
veterans at the game. adept in re-
ceivsng the forward pass, fast In get
ting down the field after a punt and
hard men for the opposing backs to
circle Klein, Of Illinois. and Flynn.
OF Minnesota, would be the choice for
the second team berths.
For the tackle positions there Ia
nothing TO IL but Ecklund and Captain
Hauser, of Minnesota. These tackles
have proven themselves the best men
in their position the Big Ten has
known this year and their work hard
ly has been eaualled by tackles Of pre-
vious years. They are in a class by
themselves. Praise of Hauser and
Ecklund does not detract from the
worth of other strong tackles In the
conference. however. and several men
are entitled tn favorable mention. The
leading candidates for the second team
are Hancock, OF Wisconsin, and Cap
tain II. g. Courtney. of Ohio. Rund-
quist. of Illinois. also was one of the
seasons best tackles.
Culver, or Michigan. and schlauder-
man, of Illinois, loom up as the sea
sons prize guards. Goelitz, OF Illinois
and Ulrich, OF Northwestern, are the
choice for the second team berths
At center. I4ampert, OF Michigan. is
thA- only ansMar. Nasty far The
best pivot man IN the big Ten this
year and e. tower OF strength for his
team on both offense and defense
Gorgas, one OF the few veterans Of
the Chicago squad is entitled 10 the
second choice honors.
This line would combine the neees-
sary elements OF defensive and often
sive strength TO make 1t almost in
vincible TO any but the most powerful
attack. and ii would open holes for its
backfeid against almost any oppo-
nents
Weston, Of Michigan, Is the out
standing quarterback Of the year and
lands the first team berth with ease
For second choice Nichols, Of Illinois
is the foremost candidate. Arnston. of
Minnesota, also showed class, and Tn
deyhtg, 6f northeastern. proved n "a >
pab2e leader fer his team
Half of the halfback problem set
ties Itself when the name Chick Har~
ley ia written. Harley. came into his
own to a greater degree even than
last year and proved himself one Of
the greatest aii-around PLAYERS the
half could he taken care OF capably
by Sparks. OF Michigan. who, although
ne played In bat few games because
OF early injuries. undoubtedly Is one
OF the best back7eid men of the year
The secondary positions would go to
Ei'in gwood. OF Northwestern. and
OF Illinois. with both
Rouse and Elton. OF Chicago, entitled
TO consideration
Charley Higgins. the sio-pound
linemar that stagg made over into u
fullback. ts the choice OF the best full
back OF the conference this year.
The 1917 season was year Of great
fullbacks. with koehler. Of North
Ane. OF Purdue: Kinss!y, of Minneso-
Ia, and Weiman. of Michigan, looming
up as powerful men in the position.
but Higgins overtops the field. He
lis almost unstoppable when ne gets
under way. and he can back up line
better than any man in the confer
ence. He handles the shooting end
OF the forward pass well, and he can
do his share Of the punting.
Much might be said In praise OF the
men making UP this team. but COM
ment would only emphasize its
strength by comparison. The writer
peNsVeS II 10 represent the cream OF
the men playing In the Big Ten"
teams this year.
The first team would line up as roll
lows. Bolen. Ohio, left end; Ecklund.
left tackle: Culver Michi-
gan. left guard: Iampert. Michigan.
center; Schlauderman. Illinois, right
guard; Fauser, Minnesota, right tao
sle; Peabody. Ohio. right end; Yves
ton, Michigan. quarter: Harley. Ohio.
RICH half: Sparks, Michigan. left half,
and Higgins. Chicago. fullback.
The lineup of the second team
would be: Flynn, Minnesota, left end
Wisconsin. left tackle; Goe-
itz, Illinois, left guard Gorgas. Chi
.ago, center; Ulrich, Northwestern,
right guard; II. G. Courtney. Ohio.
light tackle; Klein. Illinois. righ'
end: Nichols. Illinois. quarter:
Ellingwood, Northwestern, right half.
Illinois, left half, and
ESoehler, Northwestern. fullbaek.