The Chicago whip. (Chicago, Ill.) 1919-19??, 1927-11-05
THEY
DO
SAY

The TO defeat Of Northwestern by
Illinois two weeks ago showed that the
Purple is slightly weak on the defense.
1t also showed the power Of one man.
Captain ReitSch, the Illini center, was
a terror to the Purple on every play
and not once we're the northsiders able
to stop his escapadeS.
But that is not the only discovery
defenSively about the Northwestern
team Tom Verdell, the powerful COL
ored boy playing one of the ends was
not allowed to start the game but once
in there he was a terror on the de-
fensive. His follow-up of punts and
fun1bles (wha5 few Of the latter there
were) showed him at his best.
am inclined to think that Coach
1Aanley is passing up one big chance
in his failure to use Verdell at the
start of the game Tom is a powerful
man, fast, Shifty, and good tackler.
AT catching passes, he is VIGOROUSLY
weak, but more than makes up for this
shortage by stopping everything that
comes his way. On the other hand,
Fisher is one Of the best receivers in
the conference. Fisher and Verdell
form great combination for this rea-
son and would be Of great use to the
Hanley system. A suggestion, It seems,
would be to let Fisher run wild grab
btng passes and protecting his wing
while Verdell is used defensively. Had
Northwestern put up the same defense
in the early stages of the game as its
stalwartS exhibited when Illinois had
registered that touchdown they per-
haps would not have been compelled
to bow in defeat. Start Verdell while
Fisher is fresh and ready and with the
aid Of Verdell's blocking the Evanston
school will bow to no team in the con-
ference.
There Is a rllmor going the rounds
that Hanley will not coach the Purple
next season. Apparently there Is some
trouble brewing which may or may not
be settled by the arrival Of the 1928
season. A trouble expected to wipe
Hanley along with the tide Of passing
coaches. The bomb is said to have
originated in the rooms of various
fraternitieS about the campus many OF
which are reaching for the mentors
scalp. Such practices are common at
Northwestern perhaps more than at any
other school. Thistlewaite felt it, and
the coaches preceding his reign tasted
1t also. When Hanley arrived at the
northside school he was given to un-
derstand certain things" were so and
SO and that other things were not SO
good. Yet the coach went about his
hIYciPncz vgifI 81
while. That his club has sustained de-
feat in the first game of the season and
against one of the few opponents it's
doped to defeat must have riled the
opposition. That's why we feel that
Coach Hanley's scalp is in danger.
Speaking Of fraternities they certain
~ have their points both good and
bad in every school, it would seem.
Students of Howard University often
lament over the peculiaritieS and the
same may often be heard from other
schools. In fact; it was the bombShellS
hurled in different directions by this
same body that started all the noise at
the Washington school years ago. Ger
tain players on the basketball team
were kept in the background while
weaker brothers but fraternity men
were having their say on the clubs
programs. Such men was Spears, John
son and Simpson of Chicago were forced
to face the situation and found the
going TOGO tough to stick.
The first colored player to taste the
bitter dregS Of fraternalism at North
western was Sam Peyton, one of the
FV1ncS Ynfanoc ~
schools history. Peyton made the mis-
take OF lining up with one of the "frats"
in its war" with rival organization.
The rival organization won as was to
have been expected and Peyton, on the
losing side, found himself fitted in
toggery with no place to play. Peyton
has often talked of the situation but
never yet have we found him able to
laugh it off.
AS this is written, Northwestern has
other conference games to play. Games
slated to be much tougher than the IL
lini game which they lost and consid-
cred until last Saturday, much softer
than the Ohio state game which which
she won by score Of 1913. This
We quote by the way of suggesting that
one never can tell. The unexpected
Is ever happening and when it occurs
something or someone is swept in the
fangs of dope splitting.
Verdell will gel his real chance next
season when Fisher and one more of
the present end combinations keeping
him on the side lines will be lost to
the school by graduation. The same
goes for Bob Colin, the big fullback who
Is ineligible this season because Of scho-
lastic difficulties. Both should make
good. They have the goods, will be
given the chance for, from all indica-
TONS Hanley is as fair as might be
expected on the color question. He has
shown no preference of course In using
the colored boys but whenever they
have been available and whenever the
going became rough, Verdell was found
In the game. Get a little glue on your
paws, Verdell, and let's 60 What say?
lAIIl MIN nnuFk nHrrI