This article from the Minneapolis Journal was written after Nebraska's 7-0 win over Knox. It was the next to last game for the 1902 Cornhuskers, who would win every game by shutout.
MINNEAPOLIS JOURNAL
Nov. 18, 1902
PRAISE FOR NEBRASKA
Ralph Hoagland Says Cornhusker
Team Is One of the Strongest
in the Country.
Special to* The Journal.
Lincoln, Neb., Nov. 18.�The triumph of
the Nebraska cornhuskers over the doughty K n o x college eleven on Saturday w a s
m u ch more decisive than the score, indicates. Nebraska marked up s e v en points,
but carried the ball five yards to their
opponents' one, while their o wn go? I w a s
never in danger, the nearest the Gal jsburg
lads got to the cornhuskers' goal being
forty yards. .
Nebraska o c c u p k s the rather unique
position of being the only college eleven
of any class in the country which, for
the present year, has kept its goal from
being crossed. The Missouri
;
tigers, after
a fumbled punt on which they secured the
ball, once rushed the leather down to
Nebraska's seven-yard line; but thereafter the cornhusker line refused to budge
and their goal w a s still unsullied. Minnesota once w a s on Nebraska's thirty-flveyard line, but could g e t no nearer, while
practically three-fourths of the play w a s
in t he gophers' territory, Nebraska .secured but one touchdown, but it w a s the
result of straight football, in which the
cornhuskers fought their way squarely
and fairly for fifty yards before working
the ball over the goal. .Minnesota..-ne^yer
pretended that Nebraska's victory w a s
anything but honestly earned, and the
subsequent success of the- gophers against
other teams, and Nebraska's clean score,
seem to furnish proof that tlie cornhuskers
are a high-class aggregation.
. Ralph Hoagland, referee in the N e b r a sk a - K n o x game , who lives in Chicago and
is known throughout the w e st both a s an
official and football expert, p a y s Booth's
team some very flattering compliments.
"The field, being a sea of slime and mud,"
he sard, "gave poor chance to judge the
real offensive power, of Nebraska, but their
concerted play and general work stamp
them a s one of the strongest elevens in
the country. The m en are all splendidly
drilled in the rudimentary elements of the
game , such a s charging, tackling, falling
On the ball and the various other points
that make the finished player and team.
All o f - t h e skill that Booth learned a t
Princeton when, old N a s s au w a s a c h a mpion team s e e ms to have been drilled Into
his charges at Nebraska, and his pupils
play with the same dash and spirit that
made Princeton supreme w h en Booth w a s
in college.
"Several of Nebraska's players are a s
strong a s any in the country, barring
none. Right Tackle Westover, Right E nd
cortelyou, Right Half Bender and Left
Guard Ringer a r e . good enough to rank
in any company. Other spots are not so
strong, but I understand that five of N e -
braska's players are playing their first
year on the varsity. On their showing
they should make strong second-year
players. I believe Michigan could defeat
Nebraska, but the margin would be small
a t the most, and the struggle would be
worth going a long w a y to witness.
"I w a s quite agreeably surprised a t the
conduct of the Nebraska team on the
field and also my treatment ^n Lincoln.
Nebraska had a reputation�how they got
it I cannot understant�of playing dirty
football, but the deportment of every m an
Saturday w a s that of a gentleman. K n o x
did likewise and the g a me w a s a s free
from roughness a s a ny g a me I ever w i tnessed. Unless Northwestern braces w o nderfully, a good trouncing is in store for
them w h en they play Nebraska in Lincoln Thanksgiving Day."
Mr. Hoagland has been chosen a s one
of the officials for the Minnesota-Michigan g a me at Detroit Thanksgiving Day.
H is good opinions of the cornhuskers are
a compliment to coach and players, c o ming unsolicited and from a m an w ho had
never previously seen the Nebraska team
in a c t i o n .
!
. � '.
Booth proposes to give .his m e n some
special preparation before the Northwestern g a me on circling the ends for long
runs. Nebraska' s\;hief efforts this year h a v e
been directed toward perfecting tackle
m a s s e s and line plunges, preferring steady
gains to the mor e spectacular dashe s
around the ends. This accounts for the
fact that Nebraska has piled up very
few large scores. A decisive defeat of:
Northwestern, Booth thinks, would silence
the doubters w ho question Nebraska's
claim to ranking with the strongest teams
in the west, and t he perfection of a s y stem of end rung is, therefore, the goal a t
which the cornhuskers' coach will aim.
The Nebraska university athletic board
m e t last night and decided to apply for
a place in the big nine football association. The request for admission will be
made a t the conference in Chicago the
day after Thanksgiving. Coach Booth
w a s chosen for anothe r year a t a salary
of $2,000.