THE NEBRASKAN
43
the Kansas Univcrity team and $40 appro
priated lor the purchase of a suitable trophy.
It is probable that a supplemental or extra
series of games will be played at Chicago if
the proper inducements are ofVered.
Nest season Anderson will captain the
Missourians, Chatnplin the Kansans, Pace
the Nebraskans and Elliott the Iowans.
Retrospective and Prospective.
The football season of '92 is past. Ne
braska ranks second in the Western Associ
ation, which includes the following Univer
sities : Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri and
Iowa. Outside of the Association we have
played two games. The first of these was
with the University of Illinois: the second
with the Denver Athletic Association. In
the former we were successful, in the latter,
defeated.
A few remarks concerning Nebraska's
team may not be amiss. We have failed to
win the penant. Why ? Not because we
lacked material. I believe it is conceded lhat
the Nebraska boys are not, as individual
players, inferior to those of any team they
have met, but we are deficient in team work.
This was demonstrated by our first game,
and the demonstration has been repeated by
each succeeding game. Everything in foot
ball depends upon systematic and united ef
fort, eleven men working with the precision
of one.
Blocking is, perhaps, the most important
consideration in good team work. In this
our team is deficient. The boys either do
not know how to block, or they have not
yet learned how to apply their knowledge.
The backs should never fail to guard the
runner around the ends or to force him
through the line. The rushers, also, should
follow the ball. They may be able to guard
the runner, to null him forward, if he is
tackled and not thrown ; to receive the ball
from the runner, if there is opportunity; to
secure it, if it is dropped, or to tackle an op
ponent who has obtained the ball.
Our boys tackle hard and seldom fail to
stop the runner, but they tackle too high to
use their strength to the best advantage.
What we need is a good coach and more
faithful practice. As long as there are not
more than sixteen or seventeen candidates
for positions on our team we cannot hope to
win the pennant. Where there are two or
three candidates for each position, every man
knows that if he is to obtain recognition the
will have to be regular in his practice and
pay strict attention to business.
Our team has, for the most part, practiced
with imaginary foes. Only five or six days
hae they practiced against an entire eleven.
Their practice consisted mainly in bucking
imaginary lines and in running imaginary
ends. This is easy work, but it is not the
kind of work th;t makes the winning team.
Every student who wishes to be a member
of next year's football team should be in
school the first da' of the fall term, ready for
practice, full of enthusiasm for Nebraska, the
University, and football. Do not think that
you have no chances of playing on the "Var
sity" eleven. You may be the man we are
most in need of. If not, you should remem
ber that the man of moderate ability, who is
regular in practice, is preferable to a earless
athlete. A student should wish to play foot
ball for the exercise, if for nothing else. It
is not a waste of time, for it keeps one strong
and healthy, able to endure greater mental
exertion.
Our prospects for next year a.ie bright.
Last fall we returned to school without
coach, captain or manager, and yet, we rank
next to Kansas in the number of games won.
Our players are not deficient in quality, and
I do not believe they will be in numbers.
Our success next year will, to a great extent,
depend upon the support of citizen's, faculty
and students, but a good coach and faithful
practice by the team are of the "reater
importance. Let Nebraska's footbalT motto
be, -practice, pkauticic PRACTICE.
J. II. Johnston.
