Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1921-10-26
WILL PROTEST THE
4 MONTE-LO CAL GAME,

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could score. Willmar used its line
plunge, attempting few forward
passes and gaining very little by end
runs while Monte failed to gain by.
the line plunge and made her ground
thru her well executed end runs and
some forward passes. Willmar COM
pleted one forward pass. Borgandale
appeared to be one Of the fastest men
on the field that day as he was large
ly responsible for Monte gains.
:. but a few minutes before the close
of the game Wiumar by continuous
smashing Of the Monte defense push
ed the ball toward the goal line. San
din OF the Willmar team stated that
the ball was put across the Monte
goal line but someone purpOsely push
ed it back so that it rested squarely
on the line.F Everyone apparently
who saw the ball on the line conced-
ed Willmar the touchdown. The ref
cree however semed undecided and
for a long time no satisfactory an
swer was received from him. Other
officials on the field and those famil-
lar with the rules and who saw the
ball on the line felt jubilant that
Willmar had thus practically achieved
the victory. Then the referee gave
the Monte team the ball as the fourth
down had been made by Willmar. 1t
is known that the referee admitted
that the ball was on the line but he
later stated that the line was wide
and the WMlmar ball was not touch
ing the center of this line. His &C
tions and manner of speech indicated
that he was either unfamiliar with
the rules on that particular question
or actually showed some Partially.
The Monte crowd or, the rowdy por-
ton of them, surged over the field to-
ward the 'hesitant referee and it's at
titude largely Influenced his decision.
The matter was indeed a very re-
grettful affair but not one which can
be easily forgotten. The Willmar
school authorities protested the re
feree's decision and were highly in
dignant over the matter. A protest
has been filed with the Montevideo
school but no reply has yet been re-
ceived from Supt. Bolander. Willmar
has many grounds on which to con-
test this game. Supt. BrOhaugh OF
Willmar is assembling a large num-
Der of affidavits and statements by
neutral persons testifying that the
ball was on the line. This is sufficient
as Rule 6, section IA, provides that
where the ball touches any portion OF
the goal line it is a. touchdown. Fur
thermore Supt., :Brohaugh and Supt
Bolander had agreed as superintend-
ents should, who the referees should
be. Both towns selected neutral re-
ferees. .Willmar. chose Myhre of
Kerkhoven and Monte selected Gain
ey of Hancock. Both officials are
we'll known and satisfactory men.
These men were both on the field
when the game was about to be call
ed. To everyone's surprise the coach
of the Monte team and the Principal
of the school came out and stated
that they wanted a man from Monte
to referee the game. They disregard
ed the two NEUTRAL men agreed upon
and wanted their, own city fan to off,
ciate. Despite the fact that the game
was so important they took the stand
against neutral referees. Being so
insistent and having even threatened
not to play unless their local referee
was allowed the Willmar officers per-
mitted the game to be played. They
deeply rued this concession later.