Spring Football
Hanover's mild winter weather continued into spring and as a result, Coach Tuss McLaughry and his staff were able to begin outdoor workouts soon after the students returned from spring vacation.
About 55 freshmen had put in two weeks of intensive drilling in the baseball cage before vacation and the veteran players swelled the size of the squad to 85 when they reported following the recess. The coaching staff plans six weeks of outdoor drills this spring which should give McLaughry and his assistants a fairly good idea of what to expect next fall.
At this writing, the squad has been outdoors for little more than a week. Although it is still much too early to comment on Dartmouth's prospects next fall, several things are already evident. One is that the Indian forward wall will be quite a bit smaller than last year's excellent line. The loss of Dale Armstrong, Jonathon Jenkins and Ray Truncellito gives the coaching staff three very large holes to fill on the left side. These three men weighed an aggregate of 650 pounds and talented physical specimens of this type are extremely uncommon in these parts, especially when one considers the ability of these three men. Another gap that is going to be a problem for the coaches is at left-halfback. Joe Sullivan had the durability to take a terrific pounding for sixty minutes on offense and defense. Whether his smaller replacements have that sort of stamina remains to be seen. Although Sullivan was an outstanding offensive back, his lastditch tackling from the safety position will be most sorely missed.
But although these four standbys are gone, plenty of familiar faces turned out for spring practice. Captain Herb Carey, Hal Fitkin, John Chapman, Larry Perry, Jerry Sarno, John Clayton, Ed Isbey, Bob McCraney, Gil Mueller, Bob Tyler and Bill Roberts were the experienced balltoters on hand. Ends Red Rowe, Dave Beeman, and Joe Sarno; tackles Red Go wen, Charlie Bailey, Joe Sardella, Ted Eberle, Dick Price, Bill Monahan and Dick Carpenter; guards Stew Young, Jim Melville, Joe Morelli, Pete Bogardus, Pete Bucklin, Neil Crampton and Bill Lang; and centers Paul Staley and Craig Murphy were other recognizable faces among the candidates. Several other veteran players are out for other sports but will be back next fall.
The few scrimmages that this observer has witnessed have certainly been enthusiastic. The blocking and tackling have been extremely vicious and the battle for positions on the squad keeps veterans and freshmen hustling every moment. If this fine spirit continues, Dartmouth fans can be sure of seeing another aggressive team next fall.
LACROSSE LEADERS: Coach Tommy Dent, who has directed Dartmouth's lacrosse fortunes for the past 24 years, pauses on Memorial Field for a 1949 pose with Don Scully '49, captain and leading Green scorer.
