The Backfield
The Big Green's main search for talent this fall will focus on quarterback where a replacement for the Indian's great ballhandler and passer, Johnny Clayton, is the No. 1 problem. Dick Brown, veteran halfback and Dartmouth's top punter, is a leading candidate along with another letterman and halfback, Jim Churchill. Brown had some experience in T-formation quarterbacking with the Dartmouth freshman team and is a strong runner and capable ball-handler who has shown great improvement in the forward passing department during spring practice. A tall, rangy, fast-moving bacik, Churchill also has a good chance to gain the quarterback berth if he can improve on his passing. Churchill, incidentally, is captain-elect of the Dartmouth baseball team. Gene Howard, a junior and veteran who has come back into the Dartmouth line-up after a year's absence, may be of some help, while three sophomores—Dave Grogan, Jim Miller and John Reilly—are expected to develop as the season moves along.
The loss of hard-driving Bill Roberts at fullback poses another replacement problem. A stocky, 180-pound back, John Foster, saw some action last season and played in three full games when Roberts was out with an injury. He is a good ball-handler and has the drive and ability to gain the fullback berth this fall. John Springer, a junior, and sophomores Dick Jennison and Alan Staley are also in the running for a starting assignment. The 6'2", 200-pound Jennison may prove to be another Roberts with additional seasoning.
The outlook at the halfback posts is slightly more promising. Charlie Curtis, a two-year veteran, is considered one of the fastest and most experienced backs on the squad. Although chiefly a defensive back, Curtis may be called upon to take over offensively, as he amply demonstrated his talent last fall as a punt return specialist, returning eight boots for a total of 111 yards to lead the Big Green in that category. Slated for a right halfback post is Alan Reich, who last year gained 227 yards in 36 attempts for a 6.3 average. Tom and Dick Collins, both veterans, are also leading candidates, with Tom slated for a defensive role and Dick, a sprinter on the track team, considered one of the fastest ball-carriers for the Big Green. A shifty runner with plenty of drive, Russ Smale may develop into an offensive threat, while Roger Warner, a 20-year-old junior, has a chance to break into the starting line-up. Backing up these veterans are some jayvees and a few sophomores, but generally the halfback squad lacks size and durability.
A LOT DEPENDS on these backfield lettermen this fall. In ascending order they are: Halfback Tom Collins '52, Honolulu; Halfback Charlie Curtis '52, Hamden, Conn.; Halfback Russ Smale '53, West Catasauqua, Pa.; Halfback Dick Collins '53, West Barrington, R. I.; Quarterback Jim Churchill '52, Great Neck, N. Y.; Fullback John Foster '52, Detroit; Halfback Al Reich '52, Pearl River, N. Y.; and Quarterback Dick Brown '52, Austin, Minn. Quarterback Gene Howard '49, Winnetka, Ill., is also a veteran.
