Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 297, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 December 1910 — ECKERSALL’S “BIG 8” ELEVEN [ARTICLE]

ECKERSALL’S “BIG 8” ELEVEN

Expert Tells Why Players Earn Positions and Picks Strongest Teams in Conference. With the conference football season of 1910 at an end, the time has come, following a long honored custom, to reward the gridiron heroes who have played the best and most consistent football during the season by selecting an all conference eleven to be composed of players worthy of such recognition. At the end of each year coaches, players, and followers of football look to these honor selections with considerable interest, and it has been the custom for years to reward the players who have done the most meritorious work during the season in their respective positions by placing them on an all-star eleven. Such a team only can be selected without partiality by a careful resume of all the games and by close observation of the performances of the different players in the various contests. The season has produced the annual number of stars whose work entitles them to places without question, while in other cases the awards only can be made after a careful review of the work of the players Involved, writes Walter H. Eckersall in the Chicago Tribune. A number of struggles have been won through the individual efforts of some players, while others have been decided by the smoothness In which the forma*tfons have been executed at critical times due to the proper selection of plays.

For the first time in years the conference college elevens are not represented by first class ends, players who compare favorably with the end rushes of former years. The lack of top notch players in these positions Is evidenced by the manner in which the coaches played the ends on defense. In most cases the offensive ends were placed behind the 7 line or in a defensive full back position in order that other players of more rugged build could be placed in smashing positions. In selecting this eleven, every angle of football must be considered and the players selected who can execute different deceptive formations with the necessary perfection in the event this eleven was to meet some other aggregation. The team must be equally strong offensively and defensively and there must be players in the backfleld who can execute forward passes, who can run the ends, hit on or off the tackles and perform other offensive feats of a first-class backfleld. The need of a top notch field goal kicker was emphasized all season and in Seller and McGovern this eleven is well fortified in this important partment. Besides being clever drop kickers, both were punters of the first water and, they should be able to hold their own if pitted against any of the other star hooters in the different sections. Each was better when kicking under fire, and both added needed points when they were absolutely necessary. Eckersall’s All Conference Elevens. First Team. Dean, Wisconsin Left end Walker, Minnesota Left tackle Messick, Indiana **,.. .Left guard Twist, Illinois. Center Butzer, Illinois Right guard

Dutter, Indiana ....Right tackle Berndt, Indiana.... Right end McGovern, Minnesota.. .Quarter back Seiler, Illinois Right half back Rosenwald, Minnesota. Left half back Johnston, Minnesota Full back Second Team. Sauer, Chicago Left end Hatfield, Indiana .Left tackle Belting, Illinois .......Left guard Morrell, Minnesota Center Ward, Northwestern Right guard Young, Minnesota ’..Right tackle Oliver, Illinois Right end Cunningham, Indiana.. .Quarter back Crawley, Chicago Right half back Gill, Indiana Left half back Hyland, 10wa.... Full back