The University Courier.
253
ATHLETIGS.
Championship: M. S.U., 12; K. U., 4.
The culminating point of Kansas City's football excitement was nearly reached last Thursday. It may be maintained at this point for many seasons, but it will be hard to be surpassed unless nature endows man with more and wider means of expressing excitement than were expressed by the mad crowds that watched the Kansas-Missouri Game at Exposition Park. Aside from the bitter sectional interest; aside from the inate desire of Missouri's Tigers for revenge, the contest was characterized all the more strongly by the fact that the pennant was at stake. If Missouri won, she would break with K. U. for first honors. If the crimson was victorious, Mt. Oread for the second time would claim the trophy. Everyone expected K. U. would win. Columbia's injuries and the forced retirement of Williamson and Steinberger made no difference to the enthusiastic supporters. They had firm belief in our proverbial luck. The die was cast, but alas, the Black and Yellow turned the "seven."
Missouri won the game strictly on its merits. True, their first touch-down was plainly the result of a fluke, and the fumble on M. U.'s two-yard line by the backs denied us the glory of a touch-down, and perhaps the game; but these things always will happen, and if K. U. is the one to permit such proceedings, she must take the consequences. Columbia excelled both in defensive and offensive play; her team work was far superior in skill, vim, and doggedness. The hard, pains-taking, faithful work of her coaches was plainly evident by the masterly way she handled the "four-man" and the Woodruff interference, and an entire absence of team work.
Several vital points will be settled by Thursday's defeat: No more will K. U.-Ann Arbor and K. U.-Missouri games take place just four days apart; at least a week will intervene between all such important contests. The folly of attempting to go through the season without at least two substitutes for every position has
been demonstrated rather forcibly in the last two games. The second eleven should have received almost as much attention as the 'Varsity. The fact that McMurray had to be taken from end just two days before the Ann Arbor game and trained for quarter-back shows the weakness of the management in this respect. We have at last awoke to the fact that the men have learned about all they can by themselves, and—but to make a long story short, we will have one or two coaches next year.
On account of weak interference, Captain Champlin was forced to give most of his attention to bucking line. Coleman played a good game considering his condition, but was forced to give way to Harvey in the second half. The work of Griffith at guard was one of the fine points of the game. He put up a strong defense against Coach Robinson, and broke through time after time for splendid tackles. Columbia mads good gains on the ends, and through left guard and center. Rothrock was quite a surprise, filling Steinberger's place in good shape, and breaking up the interference sent against him with the skill of a veteran. McMurray has improved somewhat, but the confusion of the backs is still due to his inaccurate passing. The halfs were unable to make much gain on the ends on account of poor support. Champlin got away for two twenty-five-yard runs, and Shelly's gains were most always due to his clever dodging and speed. Johnson's work was quite an improvement over the Ann Arbor game, but it was evident that he was not in good form.
For Missouri, Robinson and Latimer did most of the tackling on the line. Young, Anderson, and Harrison played the game among the backs. Harrison, however, was the star of the day, the plucky little half-back seldom failing to gain when given the ball.
At the time of this writing, no definite arrangements have been made concerning the tie for first place.
THE GAME.
FIRST HALF. —Missouri won the toss and took the wind. Shelly gained ten yards on the kick-off; center is tried for small gains, then