With Big Green Teams
Indians Open 1946 Grid Season with Wealth of Material But Ivy League Opponents Report Even Better Prospects
TIMES—TO COIN A PHRASE—change. Not so very long ago, the coaches would have been happily dancing in the streets at the squad which is currently working out on the practice field back of the wooden stands. A neat total of 30 (thirty) lettermen from up to five years ago make up the nucleus of as imposing a contingent as has graced these parts for many a day, with two or more wearers of the football D on hand for every position except right tackle. With all this talent, I repeat, Coach McLaughry and his able corps of assistants should presumably be tossing their helmets over the goal posts every afternoon in anticipation of the pleasant Saturday afternoons in store for them this fall.
But not so. Times indeed have changed. Dartmouth is loaded, but so is everybody else. Penn looms up on the horizon early in October as a powerhouse expected to run most of the opposition right out of the park. Yale is reputed to be terrific, with approximately as many veterans back as we have. Cornell is alleged to be once again the scarlet scourge from far above those well-publicized waters. With only a minimum of arm-twisting, Coach Lou Little will break down and admit that Columbia has the best team ever, even better than the one last year which broke all scoring records for the Light Blue. Harvard sends out ominous reports from the banks of the Charles about being on the way back. Not to mention Holy Cross, Syracuse, Brown, and Princeton, who make up the balance of a nine-game schedule. And so it goes.
The same report comes from all over the country—dozens of veterans and a number of talented G.I. freshmen all trying to be one of the eleven men. The above-mentioned are mentioned specifically because they comprise the 1946 schedule, which is probably the most difficult one any Dartmouth team has ever faced. Time was—again not so very long ago—when we could gaily breeze through Norwich, Hobart, St. Lawrence, and Bates before getting down to the really grueling business at hand and when as a consequence we were reasonably sure of winning almost as many games as we lost. But not this year. Starting with the powerful Crusaders of Holy Cross—who descended last fall like the wolf on the fold with their cohorts all gleaming with purple and gold—and ending with Princeton, there isn't a breather on the schedule. In fact, one of our distinguished opponents has already remarked audibly that Dartmouth is the only breather on their schedule.
There are some well-known Dartmouth names on this squad, names which flashed briefly on one or more of the teams during the past five years before they were swallowed up in the vast anonymity of the armed forces. Names like Mo Monahan at end, Don Alvarez at guard, Hal Bowman at center, Jack Sayers at quarter, Larry Bartnick and O'Brien at the halves, and Captain Tommy Douglas at fullback. Behind them are twenty or more operatives who were good enough to win Dartmouth letters at one time or another. And behind them are a dozen or so freshmen out of the service who are eligible for varsity competition immediately (civilian freshmen are not). Since this bureau closes up shop for the month approximately ten days before the first (Holy Cross) game, we can only give you an approximate briefing at this time. Other faces not mentioned below may appear in the starting line-ups before the fall is over. But from where we sit this is the way it looks at the moment.
(1) The Ends—The leading candidate in this department is the great Mo Monahan, last seen in a green jersey in 1943 on the lend-lease team which won every game but one (against Penn). Outstanding both on offense and defense, Monahan's additional accomplishments include unusual ability as a punter and he can be called back in emergencies to perform this specialty. As a result of his own superlative play during the 1943 season, plus the virtually perfect record of the Green, Monahan was named to many Ail-American teams that fall. The other starting end from that same team is back in the person of Allen Russell, whose lanky 6-2 stood him in excellent stead as a pass receiver. He has held down the other end of the line with Monahan both as a freshman and as a junior and it is not improbable that he will repeat the performance this fall. George Rusch was one of the starting ends on Tuss McLaughry's team last fall and received the signal honor of being placed on the all-opponents team of an aggregation whose name escapes me at the moment but who play some of their games in South Bend, Indiana. George is a rugged defensive type and a good pass receiver, and as his specialty performs in end-around plays, where he looks as good as most halfbacks. Norm Falkin is another letterman from last year's far-from-championship team, whose basketball ability makes him a natural for catching passes and who is generally a handy man to have on one end of a line. Dave Barr also won a letter last year at end and performed in left field for Jeff Tesreau's baseball team last spring. He is a strong defensive player.
(a) The Tackles—There has been considerable moaning at the bar this fall about the reputed sad state of the tackles, with only two lettermen to support this vital sector of the forward wall, which was presumably in an imminent state of collapse. After a couple of weeks of practice, however, the dynamic George Barclay as line coach has infused such enthusiasm into his charges that the opposition will not exactly pour through the tackles unmolested. Gus Clucas is one of the leading contenders for this allegedly porous spot, and Gus can play a good deal of tackle. The only letterman returning from the 1941 season, he performed ably that year and his then 315 pounds bolstered up his side of the line in exceptional fashion. After five years in the naval air force, he returned last spring weighing 47 pounds less than his 1941 playing weight. He has come a good way on the road back and currently goes about 195, which he can throw around in a manner highly pleasing to the coaches. The other starting position will in all probability be held down by one Jonathan Jenkins, yclept "Meathook" by his colleagues, who came up as a freshman last fall in mid-season and promptly won himself a starting berth. Jenkins tips the scales at 215 at his fighting weight and is far and away the strongest man on the squad. He loves to block, tackle, and otherwise commit legal mayhem on any and all opponents and brings a gleam of quiet joy to the eyes of the coaches. FritzAlexander, the starting center on last year's team, has been shifted to tackle because of the plethora of centers and the acute scarcity of tackles. In initial scrimmages, he has been giving an excellent account of himself and will be on hand to spell the above two incumbents when the going is rough. Another promising tackle is Jud Hannigan, who performed at blocking back on the 1943 squad but was shifted to tackle this spring in anticipation of a stringency therein. After the spring sessions, Jud was selected as the most improved player on the squad. HalLewis was captain of the 1945 freshman team and earned his varsity letter in 1942. A big 205-pounder, he is a dependable performer who may see a good deal of action before the season is over.
(3) The Guards—The guards are well fortified, both as to depth and experience, with considerable reserve strength in this crucial position which was so lamentably lacking last fall. None of the guards is very big, as college guards go these days, but there are four or five of them weighing in around 190 and with considerable speed and dash. The leading candidate for this spot is Don Alvarez, who weighs about 195 and was first-string guard on the great 1943 team. Don began his football career at Wisconsin, where he captained the freshman team in 1942. Transferred with the V-12 to Dartmouth the following fall, he quickly stepped into a prominent position on this star-studded aggregation, where he was the best lineman all through that delirious season. Jack Young, younger brother of Lou Young '41, won his letter on the 1943 varsity during his own freshman year, whence he soon departed for a war career which was to earn him two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star. He played first-string guard during spring practice and will be a leading contender for the position this fall. He will be pressed, however, by little brother Stewart Young, the third of the boys to wear the green, who arrives as a freshman with a season or so of service football behind him. Stew is an inch shorter and just about as heavy as brother Jack (195) and is a terror in the center of the line. In early practice, the brothers had a jolly time beating each other over the ears, which practice will presumably continue the rest of the season. A third Young on this squad (no kin) will be Art Young, who won his letter in 1943 and 1944 before called to active duty with the Marines. He served in China with this famed organization and was only released therefrom after the start of fall practice. He returned to this country by air to take his place with the squad after one of the longest treks on record to come to play football. Jim Biggie was the holder of the top endurance record on last season's team, with 388 minutes of play. Weighing only 175 pounds, often giving forty or fifty pounds to his opponent, Biggie wore himself into the ground every Saturday afternoon in an attempt to keep the opposing backs from tearing by. One of the most versatile men on the squad, Jim has long since won the respect of all who know him. If he had even a fraction of the 50 pounds which he gives away, he would be one of the great guards in Dartmouth history. As it is, he does all right at 175.
(4) The Centers—The Green is rather well supplied with centers this fall, so much so that some of them have been moved to greener pastures. Two of the leaders are Hal Bowman and Art Carey, both with considerable previous football experience, although not all of it at the pivot post. Hal Bowman has won his letter twice before at Dartmouth—in 1942 and 1943—when he performed first at center and then at quarterback in the T-formation. At 190 pounds, he is not the most massive operative in the Ivy League by any means, but the coaches are well satisfied with his abilities. The other leading contender for the coveted starting post is Art Carey, who returns to wear the Green after an absence of three years. He was the starting blocking back on the 1942 team, after which he joined the Marines. Returning last spring, he was shifted to center to capitalize upon his rugged work as line-backer and general local spark plug.
(5) The Quarterbacks—When we get into the backfield, we begin to be mildly bothered (but not too seriously) by what the French are pleased to call an embarrasde richesses. Those of my readers who got no further than the first chapter of Frazer and Squair's grammar will get the point when I state with simple modesty that there are currently 6 (yes six) lettermen currently aspiring to fill the quarterback position. In alphabetical order, they are: Bob Albrecht, Dick Bennett, John Costello, Leonard Robinson (shifted from halfback), Jack Sayers, and Joe Sullivan. Your guess is as good as mine (and maybe the coaches') as to who will be in there at the starting gun in the all-important position in the T-formation. Certainly JackSayers should see considerable action, for this boy is a talented performer in a number of respects and a natural for the quarterback spot in the T. Ideally built for a quarterback, Jack is 6 feet tall and weighs 190 pounds. Full of grace and guile at handling the ball, his most spectacular claim to fame is his southpaw passing ability. Passers from the port side always impart a bizarre quality to any action in which they take part and Jack will undoubtedly live up to this prediction. JoeSullivan is another man who will see a good deal of heavy duty this fall, for his running and defensive ability more than for his passing. One of the few shining lights in the doleful gloom of last fall, Joe was used both at quarterback and halfback during the season. The coaches continued to groom him for the T-position during spring practice during which he acquired considerable additional finesse.
(6) The Halfbacks—The Green will be relatively hard put to it to place a couple of halfbacks on the field, for there are only four lettermen returning for these two positions (minus Robinson who was shifted to quarter). In other words, there is only Larry Bartnick (starting halfback on the 1943 powerhouse), George Pulliam (letterman from the 1942 squad) Obie O'Brien (last year's bulldozer fullback) and Ed Gingrich (starting halfback in 1944) as letter-winners to draw from, not to mention a variety of operatives from former years who did not stay long enough to pick up their letter sweaters, plus several talented freshmen. To recapitulate, Larry Bartnick is a slick running and passing back who broke into the big time on the star-studded and cosmopolitan 1943 backfield, which included characters from Boston College, Holy Cross, Fordham, and Columbia (where they have all returned). Anyhow, Larry won his letter as a freshman in 1943 and played 233 minutes in the almost undefeated year of 1943. Weighing only 175, his blazing speed and swivel hips combine with exceptional passing ability to make him a standout at halfback. Obie O'Brien will in all probability hold down the other starting halfback position, where his 200 pounds will be used in quick-opening thrusts through the opposing line. Although he never played football until last fall, Obie caught on fast and those who saw the Penn game will long remember his bruising blasts at the 230-pound Red and Blue line. He is undoubtedly the most powerful runner to wear the green since the great Bob MacLeod ran roughshod over the opposition. George Pulliam is a rugged 190 pounder who started as a fullback in 1942 but has been shifted to halfback to carry the mail while O'Brien is catching his breath. The fourth letterman in the halfback department is Ed Gingrich, who played a year in 1944 as a freshman, where he was hailed for his exceptional punting ability and his speed with the ball.
(7) The Fullbacks—It is our pleasant duty to close our tour of the various positions on an extremely cheerful note. The fullback department is also excellently staffed, thank you. Beginning with Captain Tomrny Douglas, the fullbacks are at least four deep. Tommy returns from the wars after a four-year stretch spent as the pilot of a Navy dive bomber in the Pacific. Breaking into the starting lineup as a sophomore way back in 1941, Tommy carried the fullback position practically single-handed thereafter. He played 206 minutes in 1941 and 395 minutes in 1942, starting every encounter during the latter season. Although an exceedingly competent ball-carrier, blocker, and defensive back, Douglas' outstanding claim to fame rests in his punting ability. In his last year of competition before the war, his punting average of 42 yards every time he caressed the leather made him one of the five leaders in the country in this exacting activity. Tom returns this fall to what everyone hopes will be his greatest season. Dale Armstrong played on the varsity all during spring practice and before his elders returned from the wars, but he is an extremely capable operative in his own right. Six feet two and hitting a neat 205 pounds, Armstrong hits with all the power of a Sherman tank. His previous varsity experience is limited to some time in 1942 before joining the Army, but his rugged physique will be extremely useful when the time comes to pulverize the opposition for a few choice yards. Dick O'Leary is another bulky aspirant for the fullback spot, weighing 200 pounds which he packs on a 5 foot 9 frame. Entered originally at Dartmouth, O'Leary was transferred to Brown before he got a chance to wear the Green on the gridiron. At Brown, he was a starting fullback and played brilliantly for the Bruins before returning to Hanover to unscramble his athletic peregrinations and settle down to play for his first love. Hal Clayton confounded the coaches (and probably himself) by initially deciding not to come out for football this fall in the interest of his scholastic activities (not that he was ineligible; he just wanted to get better marks). Fired with this laudable scholastic ambition, he came up to Hanover to schedule his classes after a week of practice, only to become infected with the virus after seeing a couple of practices and deciding to come out after all. Hal is another bruiser, weighing something over 200 pounds, who was a starting fullback in 1944 under Earl Brown before he was sidelined by injuries.
That is the story in essence. Your correspondent will undoubtedly be made to look pretty silly later in the fall as various operatives unmentioned in this chronicle break into the starting lineup or run for touchdowns against Yale, Harvard, Cornell, and Princeton. One more thing. After reading about all this highpriced football talent (and I have been reasonably reticent about their abilities) don't go out and bet on Dartmouth to win every game. Remember the other fellows are good too.
PLENTY OF TALENT AND TEPEES were on hand for the opening of Big Green football practice on September 3. Tuss McLaughry is shown above addressing a robust squad that includes 30 returned lettermen.
BACK IN HARNESS and ready to go as the Big Green's 1946 football leader is Capt. Tommy Douglas '44. Elected captain of the '43 team, Douglas left for service without playing that year.
THE 1946 COACHING STAFF: Left to right. Trainer Eddie Zanfrini; Meryll Frost, J-V coach; Dick Cassiano, backfield coach; Ray Riddick, end coach; Head Coach Tuss McLaughry; Bill Battles, assistant line coach; Milt Piepul, backfield coach; and George Barclay, line coach.
