Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-21
SHIFT, WING BACK
\ STYLES TO CLASH
Zuppke Gives Northwestern
Good Chance to Win, but
Favors Notre Dame.
BY BOB ZUPPKE,
Illinois Foot Bali Coach.

-HE most important game
this week end brings to-
gether a Notre Dame team,
believed by many to be the
best in the university's history,
and a Northwestern eleven which
has won all it, games and a tie
at least for the Big Ten cham
pionship.
One popular slant has been to de-
scribe the contest as struggle between
.wo well known systems of offense, the
emitting backfield of Notre Dame ver-
sus the double wing back style used by
Northwestern. The inference Is tnat
victory by Notre Dame will prove the
superiority Of the shift over all other
systems and victory by Northwestern
The superiority Of the double wing PACK.
This is all bunk. The team that
wins at Evanston viii do so not because
Il uses one style of offense or another,
but because 1t has the better personnel.
I am inclined to think this team will
turn out to be Notre Dame, but give
northwestern q good chance and shall
hot be surprised to see it win. ..
Strangely, this Is the nrst lime
either team has met an eleven that
tanks high on its playing record this
hear. All Of Notre Danes adversartes
have taken It on the chin. What inn
Dresses us about Notre Dame Is the
kreat power the Irish have shown in
piling up big scores on Pittsburgh ana
Penn.
Northwestern beat Tulane, which has
won all its other games, but the Wild
cats did not meet Michigan and PURDUE
~4x fAQ01Q.
II the Irish make runaway. game
Of this, as they did against Penn and
Pitt, there will be grounds to believe
they are the greatest team In the nl1-
tory Of modern foot ball. But III DC
surprised If they do.
Notre Dame has had bad break In
losing Joe Savoldi, who provided 9 iot
OF punch. His absence improves North
westerns chances, for this fellow was 80
powerful and dangerous that an 0roi.
nary back in the secondary defense just
couldn't tackle him.
I have expressed my belief that the
Irish backs as q group are the best IN
the country and even without Savoldl
this probably still holds true although
high-class bunch.
Notre Dame, I believe, both In the
line and backfeld, will have greater
average speed, and while the North
western linesmen may be stronger
physically they are not as nimble and
agile as the Irish forwards, even without
Savoldi I think the Irish backs prob
ably win turn the tide against North
western.
Against Notre Danes better running
attack Northwestern VIII present q
stronger passing offense, but passes
alone won't win . game Of the type
expect this to be.
Coach Hanley has lost Rentner, prob
ably the best passer in the Big Ten
except Newman, but Bruder and Hanley
are competent throwers and Russell Is
a PETER fuIlhack than Rentner. These
Northwestern backs are not TO be de-
spised. They're big fellows who can
stand the gan. fas
Does Not Lack Reserve.
Northwestern complains about lack
OF reserve power, but there won't be
much disparity here. The Notre Dame
reserves didn't look so hot against Pitt.
Penn and Drake.
In the Big Ten the only game with Q
bearing on the championship Is Micht-
Rau-ChicaRo, but Il viii be nothing less
than q miracle for Chicago to win.
Michigan undoubtedly VIII take this one
without much trouble and thereby tie
with Northwestern for the champion
ship.
A tight game between Wisconsin and
Minnesota Is In prospect. Too much was
expected from Wisconsin In early sea-
son ON the strength of its overwhelm-
ing defeat of Pennsylvania. Minnesota
has o team like Illinois, which Is ike
~ to lapse at critical moment and
throw away the game. The Gophers
played stubbornly against Michigan
last week, but nodded to permit Wheel
er, not an exceptional runner, TO scam
per through them for q score. I guess
Wisconsin, but anything may happen.
Ohio State at the start OF the sea-
son showed some Of this same dumb
ness, but the Buckeyes Of late have been
coming nicely, and with Fesler head
ing their attack they are o pretty good
team. FeSler's passing may decide this
game. Illinois line viii not be out
weighed as much Is against our other
Big Ten foes except Chicago, and I
think We viii have Q good chance 70
win, although Ohio State looks better
On paper.
Looks Like Purdue.
indiana will struggle valiantly and
desperately against Purdue, but it would
he q great upset for the Hoosiers to
beat last years champions. Purdue, 1t
is well said, Is all dressed up with a
good team, but no place to go.
Nebraska has q good line and no
backfield strength, but probably has an
edge ON Iowa, although this is likely to
be tight game with victory by either
causing no surprise.
The most important game In the
Missouri Valley Is between Kansas and
Missouri. II Kansas wins the worst the
Jayhawkers can get Is tie for the Big
Six championship, depending on the
result of the Missouri Oklahoma game
November 81. Missouri tied Nebraska
last week, but Kansas has apparently
hit its stride again and with better and
stronger material should take this one
Oklahoma plays a non-conference
game with Oklahoma Aggies. These
teams played a tie last year. Okla
homa VIII be thinking more about the
championship game with Missouri next
Thursday than about this game, but
nevertheless Is likely to win, although
It probably win be anybody's battle.
Drake looks better than Iowa State,
the way the Ames team Is going now.
Michigan State and Detroit should be
close, but guess Michigan State.
(Copyright, 1880, By North American News
paper Allianee.)