Casper Daily Tribune

MIDDLE OF LINE IS STAGG'S BIG PROBLEM

By ALONZO STAGG, JR.
Special Central Press Correspondent

CHICAGO, Oct. 17.--The chief problem of Coach Stagg, in his 34th season as grid coach at the University of Chicago is to develop a satisfactory center and guard. The loss of Goodman, 230 pound center, and Joe Pondelik, all-American guard, has been keenly felt. With nothing but sophomore material, Coach Stagg has been trying out a number of men at the pivot position, seemingly without unusual success up to the present time. Chicago's failure to beat Ohio State indicated that the team must be bolstered generally.

Moore, who weighs 190 pounds, Rouse, captain of last year's freshman team, and Baker, a fine passer, with much high school experience are the leading center candidates. Moore is an unusual fighter, very aggressive, and a fine defensive player, and at the present time is favored for the job. For the guard positions, a number of candidates are trying out. Martin Pokrass, a veteran for two years, is nearly sure to get one position, while Sam Hibben, a senior, but a substitute last year, is a strong candidate for the other. Hibben weighs 185 pounds.

The tackle positions are being filled by Captain Fred Henderson, weighing 208, and Hobscheid, weight 206. Henderson has been a regular for three years. Hobscheid was a substitute, until the Illinois game last year when he stepped into Henderson's place, when the latter was injured.

Watch Veteran Lampe.

One end position is filled of course by Lampe, left end on the 1923 team, who weighs 190 pounds and should be one of the strongest ends in the conference this year. For the other end position, a fight is being staged by a number of candidates. Donald Yelsley, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, weighing 190 pounds, at present seems the most eligible candidate. Yelsley is a powerful man on both offense and defense and is a beautiful forward pass receiver.

Coach Stagg has three senior quarterbacks who have won their letters, William Abbott, weighing 150 pounds, Curley and Drain. Curley, who weighs only 145 pounds, is an extremely heady quarterback. He is a fine punter and an excellent drop kicker. Last season he scored drop kicks in the Ohio game and against Northwestern, which gave the championship to Chicago.

At left halfback, Graham Kernwein, senior, Charles Duval, sophomore, Stanley Rouse, junior, and Kyle Anderson, sophomore, are candidates of note, while at right halfback are Wallie Marks, Jr., and Bert McKinney, Jr. The best halves seem to be Kernwein, left half and Marks at right half. Kernwein weighs 164 pounds, is extremely fast and is capable of both circling ends and driving through the line. Wallie Marks, who has shifted from fullback to half this year, is an off tackle smasher, wonderful interferer, and superior tackler.

Powerful Offensive.

With Austin McCarty, Gene Francis, and Raymor Timme, three men of national fame available at fullback, Chicago should have one of the most powerful offenses that has ever been developed. McCarty is a superb plunger, being fast and clever, shifty, a beautiful dodger, seemingly capable of taking the least opening. He is of Scotch-Irish descent and is full of fight, and has the ability to shake off almost any single tackler. Timme, 196 pound fullback, is built very much like a tractor, and is a very hard man to stop without gain.

Strong in Passes.

Maroon side line fans are expecting a great deal in the way of forward passing from the Maroons. Charles Duval, a sophomore, is a passer of most unusual ability. He is capable of throwing as far as 40 to 50 yards, and is extremely accurate. Marks and Kernwein are also fair passers, but lack the finish which Duval has. The punting this year will probably be done by Kernwein, Curley, and Duval. Abbott, Curley, and Drain are the place kickers of note.

Chicago, in the last four years, has had one of the most striking records in the country, in football. During that time, against Big Ten foes, Chicago has played twenty-two conference games and lost but two, in each case being only by a score of 7 to 0, a most unusual record. In 1922 and 1924 Chicago went through the season without defeat.