Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 December 1897 — END OF THE SEASON. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

END OF THE SEASON.

BIG FOOTBALL GAMES HAVE StPW CLOSED. The Well-Trained Teams Have All Had Their Turns and Battled Manfully— University of Chicago Defeats Michigan—Wisconsin Beats Northwestern For the All-Western ’Leven. Chlcagj Co.lesi-onUeuce:

OOTBALL in the has closed was apparently. ly a most successful season. The big, 1 H well-trained football 111 teams of the greater (| colleges have had I their turns, battled 1 manfully and are 1/ now prepared to setL tie down and discuss results leisurely. A Football experts are sizing the field

and soon will be picking all Western elevens until there .will be as many offered up as there are so-called experts. The season has been exceptionally clean as far as rough work by the players themselves is concerned and consequently as far as injuries received. The umpires have as a rule been stricter as regards “piling on” —that most dreaded feature of modern football. The referees have followed the ball so well that it is downed and the men lined up before an opportunity has been afforded for the rough wors to creep in. As a result of the season’s work everything points to Wisconsin’s men as Western champions and not even Stagg’s pets care to dispute the claim, despite the wonderful victory over Michigan Thursday by a score of 21 to 12. Wisconsin cinched all claims to the title when her lively, well-trained canvas-backs snowed Northwestern under by a score of 22 to 0 at Evanston Thursday. The West has been unusually weak in tackles. Holmes, Forrest of Wisconsin, Sweeney of Illinois, Lockwood of Michigan, Mortimer and Webb of Chicago and Rheighans of Lake Forest would certainly be candidates for the all-Western team. Of these, Holmes, for his work against Chicago, Minnesota and Northwestern in making holds, in defense work generally, is perhaps the first choice, with Sweeney a close second. The cares of captain have weighed on Sweeney considerably, but in all he has more than held his own in the big games played, with the possible exception of the Indian match. On the ends, the work of Michigan’s and Wisconsin's ends. Dean and Anderson and Teetzel and Bennett, and that of Hamil, mark them as candidates. Sickles of Labe Forest, for a light man, has been much in the play, and on a heavier team might be considered. Of these, Bennett, Teetzel and Hamil and Dean would be the four to choose from. Hamil’s work in the Michigan game in following kicks marks him something of a favorite. Teetzel’s work in driving the play in would mark him as a favorite. Bennett for experience and Hamil and Dean interchangeably seem to be the choice. Behind the line, r eiver, Hunterj Schuler and Clarke are for quarter. Felver, barring two very bad fumbles in the Chicago game, should have first choice. Hunter, a good tackier, is too slow in running the game. Clarke fumbles badly, although he got over the fault in the Michigan game. Felver is perhaps the favorite for general, hard, heady work, and the fact that he can he used as a full. For the backs, Herschberger, O’Dea, Gardiner, Peele, Johnston and Jackson of Lake Forest are perhaps the cream. Herschberger is the choice for full. Not only can he punt, but in the interference, in line plunging and place kicking he would overshadow O'DCa, who is never in the play except to kick. For halves, Peele and Jackson would make an extremely strong pair. Northwestern, losing to Chicago and Wisconsin by big scores, is out of the race. Michigan’s defeat by Chicago, overawed by the mighty opposing full-back, yielded all claims in her only big game of the season. Poor Illinois, who was forced to compete for championship honors before her team had reached the climax of development, was put out of the showing early when Chicago ran her down the field. Next to Wisconsin, Chicago haa fairly won the right to stand a good second. After her Michigan and Illinois must dispute for the honors of their place, with the advantages in Michigan’s favor, because of cleaner, harder, all-around work to the last in the face of certain defeat After Illinois must be placed Northwestern, with her beefy eleven, with Oberlin following because of her showing against Michigan, and Purdue and Minnesota at the tail end of the procession.