New Britain herald., 1930-11-14


 Things aren't going so well at the University of Illinois this fall. About every five years they have a dis astrous season at Champaign.
 The material at Illinois is very ordinary except for q few like Der ry, Yanuslius and Captain Robinson. This years squad is composed of sophomores and 1929 reserve. As d result, Illinois was beaten by North western, Michigan and Army.
 In spite Of all this, don't be in too much Of a hurry to count lo" on Illinois this season. Glance back over the records first, And pay particular attention 10 tho lean years at Illinois and 10 the performances Of her mediocre teams.
 In 1918, Illinois did not cut any figure in the Conference race Min nesota had ona Of the mightiest teams the west ever saw and dc feated Iowa, Wisconsin and Chicago by combined score Of 170 10 c. No football critic has been able to ox- plain how that Illinois outfit defeat ed the Gophers 14 to 2.
 Tn 1921. ohio State hadn't lost a single game. Illinois had failed to win d single Conference contest. In the final game Ohio State was a cinch and the gold footballs en- blematic Of the championship had been ordered, Final score: Illinois ', Ohio State c, and another Buckeye pionship dream shattered!
 In 1922, a hopeless outfit from Champaign handed Wisconsin an unexpected jolt. In 1925, the Illini were defeated by Nebraska, Iowa and Michigan in turn, only to go east and whip Pennsylvania, con- Querors of Yale and Chicago and undefeated for tVo years in the east, a4 to ..
 No matter how ordinary the ma son, in some one game the Illini ros 10 tho heights, played football that was little short Of the heroic, and accomplished the impossible.
 That's a football tradition al IL lu.ois, and it has been influenced in its development by a forceful per sonality, Whcrewith is introduced in this corner, at l40 pounds. Fight ine Bob" ZuppEc.
 The ability 10 inspire ordinary material to perform way over it's head" upon occasions. is the mark Of 2 great football coach. And in that one particular the all-time AL America is little Herr Zupphc. him. self, der Bursomsist"r von Cham naign.
 Even zupps entrance into this world was colorfrl and dramatic. His parents. residents Of Milwaukee. wsro returning from I trip 10 Aus tr.lia when ZIp7 made his first un- expected nov. They stopped tho hoat, Herr Zuppke was born in Germany.
 Zupp has been accused Of being conceited. Possibly ms is because Iupp believes in himself and hkcs to talk. During breakfast last fall shortly after the close Of the sea- son, he discussed with me college faculties. Robert Zuppke, the Nordic man, the national parks, Bob Zupp- he, painting in oils, knute Rockne, the heavyweight wrestlers, Confu- cius, prohibition. and-our host ran out of wheat cakes before Zupp came 10 semi-colon.
 "upp's language IS unconvention- al A little dialect adds 8 touch of humor. He delights in visecracks.
 Zuppke's personality in football is expressed in the attack. He dislikes in obvious. prefers hidden ball plays to power, revels in strategy and deception. Away back in 1911. at Oak Park high, Zupp flashed a passing attack featuring lateral, backward and forward passes that was intricate and beautifully execut- cd, and years ahead of the develop ment of the game in the colleges
 You never can tell about Herr Zuppkc. You never can be sure about the lllini with Zuppke at the helm. An army of football scouts saw Northwestern and Michigan de- feat the Iilini with case.
 One thing you can depend upon. Zupp will be pointing for some- body. The annoying thing Is that it'G hard 10 tell just which way Herr Zuprhc points. end when.
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