An All-Time Dartmouth Team

Asked to select a representative All-Time Dartmouth Team, one turns naturally to the College archives, records of the DCAC, game films and to the opinions of many coaches. To the information from these sources there remains to be added one's own opinion, seasoned with inevitable sentiment.

Football over the past 75 years falls roughly into three parts: 1880-1905, close-order football; 1905-1930, evolution of the forward pass; 1930-1955, glamorized "big time" football. In this last period the foot has been removed from football; professional teams have become established; bowl games have increased in number and importance; and a great many "all" teams are chosen annually. Originally, and up to 1924, Walter Camp picked THE All-American players and on his teams Dartmouth was often represented. Since his day Eastern football has received scant recognition. When the pendulum starts its swing away from "big time" conditions, perhaps the Eastern colleges will again be recognized for the interesting football they play and the numerous fine players they have.

Here is a hypothetical team, with one backfield replacement, fully deserving of the "All-Time Big Green" label:

ENDS—DaIe L. Armstrong '46 and David T. McLaughlin '54.

LlNE—Clarence W. Spears '17, Adolf F. Youngstrom '18, Gustave Sonnenberg '20, Carl H. Diehl '26 and Carl P. Ray '37.

BACKFIELD—James E. Robertson '20, Andrew J. Oberlander '26, Alton K. Marsters '30, Robert F. MacLeod '39 and Joseph C. Sullivan '49.

For the man to pick its All-Time Dartmouth Team in this 75th year of Dartmouth football the ALUMNI MAGAZINE turned unhesitatingly to Larry Bankart '10, former player, coach and scout, and an ardent follower of the Big Green for more than 35 years. We doubt that anyone knows Dartmouth football and its players over the years better than he.

Himself a great end in 1908 and 1909, he was one of three Bankart brothers (Norm '06 and Reg '09 were the others) who starred on Dartmouth elevens for seven consecutive seasons, a unique record. In 1910, when only 22, he became head coach at Colgate. He returned to Dartmouth in 1911 to assist Coach Frank Cavanaugh, but went back to Colgate in 1913 for a four-year period that put the Red Raiders among the football powers. He also coached there in 1919, the year Dartmouth and Colgate met as undefeated titans and played their famous 7-7 tie.

Any all-time team is sure to produce differences of opinion, but Larry Bankart's rare qualifications make his Dartmouth Team one of special interest and merit.