The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-10-01
'7hOoyNDS TO
POINT TOWARD
DOUGLASPARK
fndepeDdents Meeting Great Test
i'm First Game of Scheeule
Tomorrow.
BIZ J. l. HUGHES.

de
Football is the alI-absorbing sub
ject of the hour. Fans, thousands
of them, all ages and types, men.
women and children, are eagerly
anticipating the spectacle that VIII
be presented tomorrow afternoon
at Douglas park, when the Rock
Island Independents and the De
froit Tigers meet in the first grid
battle of what promises TO be a
great season. All roads will lead
toward the field of combat, begin
ming at noon
When the referee sounds his
whistle promptly at B o'clock, the
Independents will be sent against
a test, athe like of which no team
ever representing Rock Island has
been called upon to meet at the
threshold of the season. A victory
would mean much for the team, and
to achieve this the players are de-
termined to fight as hard as hu-
manly possible. They may lose.
but if they go down trying there
will be satisfaction in defeat, even
though 1t would be a severe jolt
to hopes and expectations.
4
care of not less than 5000 people.
Some have predicted that the crowd
will exceed this number. Those
fans who are wise have already pro-
cured their Reservations. and those
who haven't will make haste to 90
ofbefore the evening is over. Those
who wait until the gates open to-
morrow may be disappointed in not
fr LOT for q
Probabilities are the S. r. o. sign
will be hung up before game time.
Detroit Strong.
Detroit unquestionably has a for
midable aggregation. Advance no
tees have rated the Tigers high,
and Coach Bill Marshall has shown
that the stories of the personnel OF
his team are true for the most part
by bringing his players here a
week in advance of the game. Any
one can readily perceive that he is
not four flushing.
Considered as a whole, Rock Is
lands players have not the repu-
tations that the DetrOiters pos
sess. They are a conscientious lot,
however. and have worked untiring-
ly to perfect signals and team play
as means of off-setting the eX-
pected individual work of the visit
ors. On paper, Detroit has the best
outfit Predictions on the outcome
of a football game are always obi
Gus at the most and therefore it is
unwise to predict victory either
way. The game should be a hard
fought contest all the way.
r11Ch
haps more, for Detroit than for the
Independents, if such a thing IS
possible Bill Marshall has stated
it plainly by declaring he must
either produce a winner for MiChi-
gan metropolis or quit. Detroit
won't support a loser at this game"
he has said "If we can start by
beating Rock Island. we can ex-
pect to play before 10000 to $4,000
every Sunday at home. If we fail,
I would not be surprised at the
sight of empty stands. In fact, |
would expect as much"
.Tri-city fandom wants a winner
like any other community. Still,
the spirit here is such that the
fans should continue to boost, de-
spite the result of any game, pro-
viding, OF course. that the players
give their level best at all times.
The one who pays the price is en-
titled TO that value in football play
ing. and we predict he will get it
by watching the Independents this
season.
COughlin Warns.
Captain Frank Coughlin, former
Notre Dame tackle and all-weStern
choice of 1920, who is at the helm
of the Independents on the field,
has impressed his men for the last
two weeks with the danger repre-
scented in the Detroit Tigers. He
not only knows the opposing play
ers by reputation. but many of
them by actual knowledge of their
ability gained by seeing them play
and he has spared no words in
making Rock Island players COM
prehend the strength of the Tigers.
II hope to use practically every
candidate for a regular berth in
this game, if such is possible"
Coughlin declared this morning. Il
propose to select what l consider
the strongest lineup to start the
contest, and keep fresh men COM
ing if we gain an advantage. I
should like to gain some idea of
the relative merits of each pros
pect- Even now l cannot name all
the men who will start, because a
few things remain to be determined
by the final drill this afternoon
Woenig. Hayes and Oke Smith
undoubtedly will be seen at the
wing positions at all or some stages
OF tho game. Coughlin. Buland and
kieaH should take care of the duties
kteckle positions in first class
pc Ksefa 49, more than
nin.s:al b the guard
kistle FitZ-