Evening star., 1932-11-17
WOLVERINES LONG
AVOID UPSET J|NX
Victory for GopherS Would
Give Purdue Claim on
Big Ten HonorS.
By the Associated Press.

OHICAGO, November IT,
4 western Conference foot
~ ball fans approach the
final Saturday of the 1882
season wondering if the upset
fever that has been epidemic
through five weeks will finally
catch up with the pacemaking
Michigan eleven.
Harry Kipke's wolverines, who
shared the Big Ten title last year
with Northwestern and Purdue,
have slipped along unbeaten, but
with unimpreSsive victory mar
gins, except over Illinois, thus far.
Now in their finale they must meet
their oldest and bitterest rival, Mime
sofa, possibly under Arctic conditions
at Minneapolis.
Seldom has a Big Ten season seen
such frequent revisions in popular es-
Inmates of playing strength of con-
ference elevens as this Fall, with al
most every week bringing its share Of
surprises
Now, with the end in sight, experts
and lay fans alike are far from agree
ment as to how the teams really should
rank, with the strict won and lost basis
as their only yardstick.
THE principal argument, regardless
i Of the outcome Of this weeks con-
cluding battles, concerns the rela-
tive merits of Michigan and Purdue
which are not scheduled to meet.
On the basis of showings against
the two opponents these teams have
had in common, Northwestern and Chi
cago. the Purdue Michigan argument Ia
virtual standoff.
Michigan beat Northwestern, 1876.
while Purdue was held to a TT tie by
the Wildcats. On the other hand, Pur-
dues 37-O margin over Chicago shades
Michigan's bare 1870 triumph over the
MaroonS.
Minnesota may hold the key to COM
parsons along this line, as well as the
key to the championship, for the
Gophers also met Purdue, in an early
season game, and went down by TO.
Unless the GopherS can tie or beat
Michigan, that tie suffered by Purdue
at the hands Of Northwestern may be
the only thing to keep the Bonermakers
| from an equal claim to the title. ThlS
would be all the more bitter to Purdue
| fans, who recall the numerous scoring
| opportunities their crew failed TO cash
| IN that game.
ILLINOIS and Wisconsin seem to be
| / the miracle teams" of the league.
The Ilini started the season with
| tradition of never three successive los
| ing years. as their only hope, and after
| absorbing hard nckings at the hands
of Northwestern and Michigan. even
that old rule seemed to. be failing.
Then Bob zuppke's sophomores sud-
denly put over touchdown on chicago.
A few moments later Gil Berry ran T3
yards for another. They won that
game. gave Wisconsin great fight, and
overturned a favored Indiana team.
They close against Ohio State, again
an under6og, but with morale rising
at an amazing rate.
DR.. Clarence w. Spears, in his tirst
year at Wisconsin, has brought the
Badgers up to position as possibly the
most genuinely feared team In the Con-
| ference.
IVIcToRIEs over Iowa and. and Illinois; y lois
tlC Will q AoNOASA
Ohio State team, 1-point loss
| to Purdue and last Saturdays last
minute upset win over Minnesota con-
stitute a satisfactory season for Badger
fans, regardless of the coming finale
against Chicago.
An unusually strenuous schedule
played havoc with Northwestern team
weakened by loss by graduation Of some
unusual line talent, and the Purple will
be unable to get a 500 rating even
with its expected closing victory over
Iowa.
Ohio State, with hopes high at the
seasons outset. suffered ppointmentS
in being held to ties by Indiana and
Wisconsin, but has an out-conference
win over Pennsylvania and tie with
Pittsburgh to cheer about, along with
the chance for another league victory
against the nlini.