232
The University Courier.
ATHLETIGS.
Schedule of '93.
Nov. 30, K. U. and Missouri, at Kansas City.
Ann Arbor, 22; K. U., O.
In years past, at the close of some especially victorious season, the expression "Could we but meet some eastern team," was heard from all sides. But such an idea was believed to be possible only to the excited imagination of the college press. However, the prominence attained by the 'Varsity last year made it a comparatively easy task for the management to grant this annual request. So, on October the 14th, a game was scheduled with the University of Minnesota, the champions of the Northwest; and as a fitting climax for the season, selected the 24th of November for the Ann Arbor game. The indications were that Kansas City would witness the largest crowd ever seen in the West at a foot-ball game, nor were they belied. Fully 3000 people, after giving expression to many an unkind word concerning the facilities afforded by the Air Line Co., filed into Fairmont Park to witness the grand struggle; and grand it was, for that first half was the finest exhibition of foot-ball ever witnessed in Kansas City; but the superior weight and powers of endurance tells the story of the three touch-downs in the last half. Michigan, flushed by her recent victories over Purdue and DePauw, glorying in her majority weight of 140 pounds, entered the contest with unconcealed assurance. This illusion, however, was soon dispelled, for in less than thirteen minutes she obtained the ball on a fumble on her four-yard line.
K. U. entered the game severely handicapped by the loss of Williamson, whose place was but poorly filled by McMurray. His passing was inaccurate and awkward, and much of the slowness of the backs in starting was due to this cause. However, it must be remembered that until Wednesday he was an entire stranger to the position; otherwise his playing was very good. Our center has taken a decided brace,
but the ends seemed unable to prevent Michigan from making large gains. The interference was only fair, Captain Champlin giving most of his attention to punting and bucking the line. Coleman held two-hundred-and-thirty-pound Smith, but was able to get by him. In the last part of the game he sustained a severe fracture of the nose and was forced to retire, Harvey taking his place. The fine work of the tackle was one of the strong points of our game. Matteson especially distinguishing himself by his clever handling of Villa. Hamill had little trouble holding Henniger, but could not follow up his advantage. Most of the game Griffiths put up a strong defense against the mighty Hooper, but was unable to break through the line. The ends tackled low and hard, but were the weakest spots on the line. They seemed utterly unable to break the opposing interference. (In the second half, Rothrock was substituted for Steinberger.) Both of the halfs played well, Shellenbarker making good gains behind what little interference was given him. The tackling of both was exceptionally good. Johnson punted inaccurately and for little gain; however, the slowness of the quarter and the inability of the ends to hold their men may excuse this somewhat. His wretched tackling was responsible for two of Ann Arbor's touchdows; and very seldom was he seen in interference.
For Michigan, Aldrich and Hooper did almost all the tackling on the rush line. Baird and Dyer tackled well behind the line. Hollister and Dygert made good gains around the ends and by bucking the line. Captain Dygert's knee was so severely wrenched in the first half that he had to retire from the game, Ferbert taking his place.
THE GAME.
FIRST HALF.—K. U. has the south goal and U. of M. the ball. Dygert made fifteen yards on kick-off, and then by short gains the ball is advanced twenty yards, but soon lose on a fumble. Johnson punts for fifteen yards; U. of M. fails to gain in four downs, and loses the ball. Here Johnson made his only good punt, and Dygert drops on the ball at the ten-yard