Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 272, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 November 1911 — Heather Against Football; Outlook is Discouraging* [ARTICLE]

Heather Against Football; Outlook is Discouraging*

Sheridan, the great, where football is the favorite sport and where some! splendid high school teams and some fine individual players have been turned out of recent years, is scheduled to play here next Saturday, Nov. 18th. It will be a great contest if the weather is suitable for playing. Sheridfn is thought to have the best team among the high schools of the state w|th the possible exception of Rensselaer. Rensselaer has shown in varying form this year. They have played but one game la real championship form. That was the game with West Lafayette. That day the line held like a stone wail and the backs played with lots of snap. The Hammond game was won under difficulties, after it had been lost by a most inexcusable bit of carelessness, .y Frankfort the Rensselaer lads played well only when their adversaries were about to win. their adversaries were almost to win. They let many opportunities pass to score by good nervy football playing, and their' efforts at forward passes were rank failures. The interference Wfa only fair for line Jupges and the line held poorly. These faults must be corrected if they expect to make a good showing against Sheridan and Coach Parker had hoped to have a week of excellent practice. Fortunately, no serious injuries have occurred during the season and all will go into Saturday's game in the best physical condition. Thu weather is against practice, and this will tell apainst the local team very much, for they certainly needed several days' hard workout. Sheridan will probably encounter the same difficulty in practice. Should the weather fall to moderate the Saturday game would be played under great disadvantages. The team has not been going to suit the big coach and some shifts in the lineup are likely, owing to the recent slump in the team, and to the unfavorable showing they made against both Hammond and Frankfort. Miller, who as center, has been putting up a game of. stellar order, will be tried in the back field. Greenlee will be tried at center. Thompson’s Charley horse kept him from getting away with the ball and will go back in the line. Some other changes are looked for. It is likely that Rensselaer will play off the state championship with the runner-up as a curtain raiser to the Purdue-Indiana game at Bloomington, in case Sheridan is taken into camp here Saturday. After Saturday’s game only one more contest will be held. That will be with Curtis high school, of Chicago, on Thanksgiving day. The high school athletic club is counting on that game to put them substantially to the good financially.