Evening star., 1932-10-10
TIE HURTS BUCKEYE
CHANCE FOR TITLE
Other Conference Games Run
to Form-Star Backs Put
in Leg Irons.
BY FRANCIS ]. POWERS.

)HICAGO, october 10.-Pre-
l season predictions on
~ Western Conference foot
ball received their first
buffeting of the Autumn when
Indiana came up with a powerful
and we'll balanced team to tie
Ohio State. The Buckeyes had
been rated second only to Purdue
in all-around strength and con-
ceded a fine chance for the Big
Ten championship, while Indiana
was bracketed with the weaker
teams of the group.
Change all Of that. Indiana has its
best team in years, and while it may
not become championship contender,
ordinary development will make the
Hoosiers one of the strongest teams in
the Big Ten before the season is COM
pleted.
Otherwise, the first championship
duels among the Western Conference
teams ran according to form. Purdue
worked out small-margined victory
over Minnesota and was obliged to fight
hard for the game. Michigan took
shaggy duel from Northwestern. while
Wisconsin overwhelmed Iowa. The Big
Ten neighbor, Notre Dame, showed its
great machine into high gear and mas
sacred Haskell Indians by way of warm
ing up for more important engage
ments. Chicago's tie with Yale proved
the Maroons better than any time in
six years, and Illinois displayed poten-
tial strength in whaling little Bradley
Poly.
IN the three championship games, the
i winners, conceding Indiana's tie with
Ohio to be a moral victory for the
Hoosiers, were successful because OF
heir ability to stop the outstanding star
Of the opposing eleven. Michigan put
leg irons on the great Pug Rentner Of
Northwestern; Indiana had shackles on
Carl Cramer, the Ohio star, while Pur-
due held the rushes of Minnesotas Jack
Manders to a few scant yards.
Rentner played the poorest game of
his college career. His handling of the
ball was erratic; often he was leaden-
footed on runs and his passing was
below par. The attentions paid Rent
ner by Petoskey and Williamson, the
Michigan ends, and Bernard, the big
center, had much to do with halting
the Wildcat captain, but, in justice to
the boy. it must be said the blocking
provided for his dashes was very
mediocre.
DENTNER is rather unjustly blamed
n for the tumble that gave Michigan
its first touchdown. 1t was poor
strategy for Potter to call spread play
inside his own 15-yard line, and also
Olson's pass struck Rentner on top of
the shoulder. Potter also erred by not
punting on first down several times
when close to his own goal line. North
western had more scoring chances than
Michigan and lost grand opportunity
when Mansek, an end. quit running on
a pass with clear field and the goal
a few yards ahead As whole. North
Westerns play was ordinary and the
team appears to lack championship
caliber.
Michigan cannot be called a great
team at the moment, although it has
the elements of greatness. The Wolver-
ines scored both touchdowns as the re-
suit of Northwestern fumbles. Fay was
the only runner to gain consistently and
the wolverines had little success against
the center of the Purple line. Mich
igan's offense was rather elemental, but
may pick up with the coming weeks.
nURDUE showed a fine running at
I tack against Minnesota. making
thirteen first downs in the open
ing half That this power did not pro-
duce more than one touchdown may be
attributed to reckless passing on first
and second downs, which put heavy
burden on the running game.
Indiana was good from stem to stern.
The middle of the line is big and strong
Lyons and Martich are two corking
ends. and Bob Jones at fullback not
only can plunge. but his kicking was
an important factor in the Ohio game.
Jesse Babb, little colored halfback.
was the best runner on the team and
bad blocking prevented him from max
ing the game real victory for Indiana.
Already Ohio followers are asking if
the Buckeyes splendid man power will
again be wasted. Ohio played a good
defensive game, but its attack was in
consistent and none of its scoring plays
were successful.
TRAINERS punting was far below his
~ usual footing, although several
times he was handicapped by hav-
ing to kick from behind Ohio's goal
line A fumbled punt paved the way to
Ohio's score. while Indiana made its
touchdown on an intercepted pass Out
side of those two occasions Indiana
played the better foot ball and made
l41 yards from scrimmage to Ohio's
106. and 13 first downs against 7.
Wisconsin. with former backs playing
in the line and vice versa, improved
rapidly during a few days and gave
Iowa tremendous trouncing. The
Badgers are developing a lot of power
and DR.. Spears is hoping for one of his
smashing teams by November Iowa
still is in the process of rebuilding un-
der Ossie Solem.
This week end will see four cham
pionship games on tap in the Big Ten,
Michigan AND Ohio State renew 35-
year-old rivalry. Northwestern visits
Illinois, Wisconsin plays Purdue and
Iowa and Indiana tangle. Minnesota
engages Nebraska and Chicago has all
easy one in Knox College. Notre Dame
steps up its opposition bit by play
ing Drake.