Football
Less than sixty days from the date you read this report, some seventy husky, tanned young gentlemen will be disporting themselves on Memorial Field in preparation for Dartmouth's 77th year on the gridiron. Monday (Sept. 2) is Labor Day and Coach Blackman plans to observe the occasion in a propitious manner. There are only four weeks separating the opening day of practice from the opening game with the University of New Hampshire on September 28.
Lest you miss the 1957 schedule printed elsewhere on these pages, let it be recorded that the Indians face the same teams they did last fall and in the same order. As you may recall, the 1956 Big Green gridiron warriors collected an impressive number of scalps by defeating New Hampshire, Brown, Columbia, Cornell and Princeton, tying Holy Cross and losing only to Penn, Harvard and Yale for a 5-3-1 mark.
On the basis of this record and on the basis of what he has produced in two short years on the job, it would be natural enough to pick Coach Blackman as "Coach of the Year" in 1957 and Dartmouth for first place in the Ivy League. Both are possible, but unfortunately, highly unlikely.
The realities of the situation point the other way - indeed it seems at this report that Dartmouth next fall will be doing well to duplicate the 1956 record.
Fact one Last spring at this time the Big Green coaches could name accurately six to eight men in the starting lineup. This spring they can name only two guards Joe Palermo and A1 Krutsch.
Fact two Dartmouth loses by gradua- tion (and other means) seven of the start- ing linemen, three starting backfield men.
Fact three - No other Ivy League team loses anywhere near this number of firststring players. Yale comes nearest with about half their first team gone, but the other Ivy opponents have most of their first teams returning almost intact.
Most of the team losses are men who have been playing for two or three seasons: ends Ron Fraser and Monte Pascoe; tackles Wayne Kakela, Al Gazzaniga and Tom Booth; guards John Donnelly and Jim Parkes; center Bob Adelizzi; quarterback Mike Brown; halfbacks Lou Rovero and Ed Nelson; and Dartmouth's great captain and fullback, Bob Rex.
All these men were "key" players - seasoned veterans - who will be difficult if not impossible to replace in one season. On the encouraging side, Coach Blackman and his staff feel that the wideopen battle for positions which will develop will help the squad considerably.
Dartmouth's freshman team last fall was better than average, winning all but the opening game. Two sophomore centers - Bob Virostek and Duncan Lanum - both have the potential to make the varsity by opening day. Sam Bowlby is a rugged tackle prospect who should help, while sophomore quarterback Bill Gundy could give both Dave Bradley and Doug Fusonie a battle for that all-important berth.
Coach Blackman admits he may well make a number of switches in positions this fall. He'll try junior Brian Hepburn, a hard-charging halfback, in the fullback post; and Bernie McAdams, a rugged center, will switch over to plug one of the tackle holes. Other changes will be tried during the early scrimmage sessions.
There are a lot of "ifs, ands, and buts" in Dartmouth's backfield situation. Right halfback, with Jim Burke, Jim Hernander and Don Klages, looks strong, but all three men have been hampered by in- juries, some requiring surgery, and it's a question as to how long any of them can hold up. At left halfback are lettermen Dave Bell, Joe Graham and Jim Mueller - a fairly talented trio, but none has played outstanding ball for any length of time. At fullback, a very important blocking post in Blackman's V-system, Dave Pratt returns and Brian Hepburn moves over from halfback to give him some support. But there is not much depth here.
Most lamentable of all for a Dartmouth team, and for the first time in some six or more years, is a real lack of talented operatives for the quarterback spot. Dave Bradley and Doug Fusonie gained some experience last year behind Mike Brown, but neither showed the passing ability or generalship of their predecessors. Freshman Bill Gundy could help, but it's a fair guess that he's a year away at least. Not much beyond these three unless a "sleeper" comes along and this doesn't happen often, particularly at Dartmouth.
The Big Green line, equally hard hit by graduation, faces a major facelifting for 1957. Dave Moss and Steve Toth, both right ends, are the only two lettermen returning to the end position. Roger Hanlon is the best freshman prospect here. A pair of tackles - Bill Pettway and Bernie McAdams - return, but McAdams is a converted center. Sam Bowlbv, a sophomore, may move in here to help. Guards are better off with Captain Joe Palermo and Al Krutsch backed up by veteran Jim Riffle, while center Walt Fogarty can expect a battle from sophomores Bob Virostek and Duncan Lanum.
Both in the backfield and line there are a number of men with some varsity seasoning plus a host of sophomores all fighting for the starting posts. However, it is obvious that even if men should develop rapidly next September, the 1957 Dartmouth team will lack both experience and depth in most positions.
While sticking basically with his "V-system," Coach Blackman admits he will introduce a number of changes and variations in both his offensive and defensive tactics this fall to adjust to the personnel available and to the situation.
In the Ivy League race next fall, Coach Blackman picks Princeton, Penn and Brown as the teams likely to be the most improved. Recalling the injuries which plagued the Big Green during most of last year, he declines to comment on Dartmouth's chances, but does feel that "the boys have the spirit and morale and should keep it in the competition for a spot on the team. If they do and some of them develop as we know they can, Dartmouth can do well against any team in the league."
It doesn't take a long memory to recall the final game of the 1956 season - a thrilling 19-0 win over Princeton - and should Dartmouth start in 1957 where they left off in 1956 — it could be quite a season.
Dartmouth Athletic Records, 1956-57
Varsity Freshman T otalW L Tied W L Tied W L Tied Pet. Football 5 3 1 410 941 .679 Cross-Country 140 230 3 7 .300 Soccer 3 7 5 2 0 8 9 0 .471 Indoor Track 3 2 0 4 1 0 7 3 0 .700 Basketball 18 7 0 12 2 0 30 9 0 .769 Swimming 8 3 0 3 3 0 11 6 0 .647 Hockey 13 11 0 11 4 0 24 15 0 .615 Squash 9 5 0 3 3 0 12 8 0 .600 Tennis 9 6 0 5 4 0 14 10 0 .583 Lacrosse 6 6 0 3 4 0 9 10 0 .475 Outdoor Track 2 2 0 3 1 0 5 3 0 .655 Baseball 12 8 0 8 1 0 20 9 0 .690 Golf 9 2 0 3 3 0 12 5 0 .706 Wrestling 5 3 1 1 0 0 6 3 1 .650 Crew 2 21 1 30 3 5 1 .389 Rugby 5 3 0 5 3 0 .655 Totals 110 74 3 68 35 0 178 109 3 .619
