WITH THE BIG GREEN TEAMS

A COLD October rain continued to fall upon a deserted Memorial Field . stadium. Gone were the 9,000 rain-coated fans who had watched Dartmouth's third victory of the season. Instead of cheers, only the steady clicking of typewriters could be heard as sports writers in the press box put the finishing touches to another football story.

Five times on that rainy afternoon the Dartmouth supporters, students, alumni and all, had stood to sing the "Touchdown Song." And each time as the score continued to mount one could ask, "Are we really this good?"

When the final whistle had blown on that rain-swept field the Brown football team should have been ready to answer that Dartmouth did have a "fine" team, for a band of scrappy, determined Indians outclassed the Bruins, 34-0.

If two factors could be singled out as the reasons for Dartmouth's success to date it would be, first, the sophomores, who have given the Green explosive power in the backfield, and second, depth, which enables Coach Blackman to rest his regulars and provides him with substitutes of starting caliber.

In the first three games the Indians have outscored their opponents 92-3; their goal line has yet to be crossed by an opposing ball-carrier; and the team to date has been the stingiest in the nation giving up less than 95 yards per game on defense.

An indication of the balance of this year's backfield is the fact that Dartmouth's first thirteen touchdowns were scored by no less than eight players. The highest scoring Indian, however, is end Bill Wellstead, whose educated toe has accounted for eleven out of a possible thirteen extra points, plus a 29-yard field goal against Penn, for a total of fourteen points.

The backfield picture has changed considerably since mid-September. Left halfback Greg Cooke has been sidelined with a leg injury and Tom Spangenberg, a sophomore, has stepped into his shoes. The fleet-footed, 19-year-old from Darien, Conn., scored twice in his first varsity game.

At right halfback, junior John Krumme is alternating with Gary Spiess, a senior, from Creve Coeur, Mo., whose ability was not to be denied. Spiess lettered as a sophomore, but was hobbled last year by a broken leg. In the Brown game his legs looked ready for any test as he raced 59 yards for a touchdown.

Captain Jim Lemen suffered a neck injury in the Brown game which may sideline him a while. His replacement at fullback will be Dave Evans, a senior with both experience and ability. Lemen, in the three games he played, showed excellent form as both a ball-carrier and a blocker. Quarterback Bill King has improved steadily. He mixes his plays and is a good ball-carrier.

Behind the starting backfield are several men who have already begun to make headlines. Two of these men, Chris Vancura, a speedy sophomore halfback from Lockport, Ill., and Dave Lawsoit from Knoxville, Tenn., a third-string; right half, have both scored two touchdowns.

The line has also seen some changes, since the opening whistle, but it remainsas rugged as a stone wall to the opposition. Don McKinnon, rated by the coaches as the team's best lineman, sustained an ankle injury against New Hampshire which will put him on the bench for the rest of the season. His duties at center have been taken over by Ed Boies, a 195-pound sophomore, who has done an outstanding job.

A second jolt was received in the Penn game when Bill Blumenschein, the team's; first-string left tackle suffered a leg injury. He'll also be out for the remainder of the season. Walt Grudi, a senior, has taken over the starting assignment.

The rest of the line-up remains the: same, with Carl Funke and Dave Usher the ends, Carter Strickland at right tackle and Bill Tragakis and Steve Lasch the guards. Now let's take a closer look at the Big Green's first three games:

Gary Spiess (38), with the ball under his arm, heads for the Brown goal line on a 59-yard punt return that all but broke the back of the Bruins in Dartmouth's 34-0 win.

Holy Cross 17, Dartmouth 13In its first real test, the Big Green met too much Holy Cross power (26 first downs, 427 yards gained) and lost, 17-13, at Worcester on October 21. Each team scored a pair of touchdowns, but the Crusaders added a safety and three points after for the winning margin.