The Line Situation
The Big Green line situation is another headache for the coaching staff. The end squad this fall is the weakest in many years, while the candidates for tackle and guard are considered only fair. One bright spot is at center where Captain Bill Vesprini, backed up by veteran John McNary and four promising sophomores, Bayard Johnson, Tom Malcolm, Mike Papantones and Paul Mackey, leaves no worries.
In a move to add strength to the end squad, center Fred Fedeli and halfback Ed Hoban have been moved to the wings to work with veterans John McDonald, Charles Dey and Don Myers. The 6'4" McDonald was the Indians' leading pass receiver in 1950, snagging 17 passes for 220 yards and four touchdowns. With a little more speed McDonald should be the best end on the Big Green this fall. "Doc" Dey saw some action defensively last year and should come along, while Myers, a regular defensive end in 1950, is expected to retain that berth this fall. Ther.e are a number of other candidates for the end squad, but none has any real experience. Jayvees Dick Little, John Boyle, Frank Casalvieri, Al Murphy and Hazen Hatch all have potentialities. Sophomores who performed well on the yearling squad last year include Frank Denietolis, Dave McLaughlin, Dan Murphy and Dave Thielscher, the brother of guard Karl Thielscher. Dave and Karl are sons of former Big Green football star Karl Thielscher '17.
Four veterans—Bob Herr, Vince Jones, Emery Pierson and George Rambour- head the list of returning tackle candidates. Herr, a husky 185-pounder, has come up through the ranks by hard work and consistent effort and is considered a hard tackier and fast afoot. Jones, a tall 210-pounder, can play either offensively or defensively, but needs more drive to win a berth. With one year of varsity play behind him, Pierson is rated a leading defensive prospect, while 235-pound George Rambour, the biggest man on the squad, has enough hustle and drive to win a starting berth. Behind these men come juniors Gene Gabianelli, Dick Goodman and John Senne, together with sophomores Frank Caswell, Joe Keenan, Don DesCombes, Tim Mannion and Bob Delaney.
Despite the loss of its starting guards, the Big Green has two returning lettermen plus a host of reservists and some top sophomore talent. Bill Thornton, a 195-pounder who plays heads-up ball both offensively and defensively, and Bill Vitalis, a hard-hitting scrapper, are the returning lettermen. Pete Reich, a good line backer and savage tackier, and Karl Thielscher, a six-foot, 195-pounder with great stamina, have both had some experience at the guard post and may be counted upon heavily. Jayvees Dave King, John Dickason, Tom Bloomer, Josh Griffin, Bill McCarthy and Tom Unkefer, together with sophomores Dick Godfrey and Joe Mesics, possibly will get a chance to spell the veterans, but here again it is a problem of sufficient seasoning and savvy.
This then is the general outlook for the Dartmouth football team at this time. Even as I am writing this at 9 o'clock Monday morning, the 75 candidates have already had a chalk talk and are now on their way to Chase Field to begin another day's workout. Watching them work gives you some idea of the spirit and fight necessary to make a good player. There's no let-up. Just all drive and more drive, with the sweat staining jerseys and breath coming in heavy, straining gasps. Then having to go back and run the play over and over again until it is done almost automatically. Even then it doesn't suit Tuss or Milt Piepul, so they run it once more.
At any rate, you can be sure that Dartmouth will have a football team this fall. There will be changes and as the season advances it may well turn out that some of the sophomores will find themselves in starting berths. In a rebuilding year everyone has a good chance to see action, and as you watch practice you can tell that everyone realizes this fact and is out to make certain that he does get out on that chalk-lined field this fall.
