The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-10-27
MINNESOTA ON
 WAY TO I'll IRD u. s. GRID CROWN
Lateral Passes Added to Power of Bierman's
 Giant GOphers
By GEORGE KIRKsEY

By GEOHGE .A1KMSEx
 United Press Stan COrrespOndent)
 Chicago, Oct. 27-CUP)-For the national football championship the midwest again offers -"the Golden Gophers of Minnesota"
 Victorious in 21 str. ieht games and unbeaten over a stretch of 28 in four years, the Gophers are rushing pell-men to their third mythical na- tional title.
 Who can stop the giant vikings of, the northland? Northwestern?-a fighting chance, that's all. After Northwestern, the Gophers will be coasting downhlil against Iowa, Texas and Wisconsin.
 Quite . Task
 Defending their football empire, erected in 1884, the Gophers have had to hit their top form in Septem- Der and hold it all the way through October. In their opening game they travelled to Seattle and triumphed over the U. of Washington, 14-7. Next came TO triumph over Neb- raska, and then a 26 to o victory over Michigan. Last week the Goph- CTS, in one of the greatest displays of power and precision of the season, crushed Purdue's inspired Boiler makers, 33-0.
 Thus Minnesota has triumphed over Washington, leading contender for the Pacific coast title anu possible western Rose Bowl representative, Nebraska, favorite to win the Big Six title, Michigan, an ancient rival, and Purdue, highly-touted as the Big Tens most devastating offensive ma chine.
 Always famed for power, the Gophers this season have added full repertoire of lateral passes to their attack. Purdue was demoralized by these maddening laterals. The Boilermakers could never be sure when to tackle Minnesota player. Two of MinneSota's five touchdowns against Purdue resulted from later als. Two of the four made against Michigan were on laterals. The win ming touchdown against Nebraska was the result of a lateral.
 Minnesota's strength is unlimited. Like Notre Dame in the height of its glory the Gophers have three good teams. The Gophers used 40 men against Purdue, and A against Michigan. At some positions they are five deep.
 Knows His Stuff
 The Gophers are coached by quiet, patient Bernie Herman, an ex-cap- tain of the marines. He is hard boiled in his own strange way. If the players master their assign ments, he is easy to get along with, but if they don't he becomes driv- CT. His system calls for an unbal- anced line and a single wing back. He emphasizes blocking - power ahead of the ball.
 Minnesota stands alone in the midwest. The next group consists of Northwestern, Marquette and Neb- raska, who carried the GopherS into the last minute of play before losing.
 Northwestern will have its great chance Saturday when the Wildcats launch their assault on Minnesota. From team of mystery Northwest ern has gradually gained power until the Wildcats might turn on Minne- sota as they did on Notre Dame after its glorious 1913 victory over Ohio State last year.
 Northwestern tops the Big Ten with three triumphs over Iowa, Ohio State and Illinois. They have four big, tough tackles-perh~ps the best group in the west-plenty of fast, hard-hitting backs, the best punter in the conference and a great cen- ter. They will be no pushover even f"' Minnesota.
 Marquette, boasting possibly the best pass attack in the west, gets its supreme test against St. Mary's at Chicago Friday. If the Golden Av- alanche can survive then they be- long in the national picture. Already they have beaten Wisconsin, St. Louis, Kansas State and Michigan State. Ray Buivid, left halfback, is one of the best passers and finest backs in this section.
 Nebraska perhaps just missed be- ing the team of the year by one minute. If Bud Wilkinson hadn't tossed lateral to Andy Uram after punt. and Uram scampered 79 yards for a touchdown, the Corn huskers would now be bracketed with