Football Preview
The Indians will have their hatchets honed and ready next fall.
The 1962 Dartmouth football squad is being picked anywhere from first to third in the Ivy League race by the pre-season magazines which will be on the stands next month.
First official group to tab Dartmouth as the coming champion were the league publicists headed by this optimistic reporter.
When word of this ballot reached Coach Bob Blackman during the Ivy football meetings in New York, he was almost as shocked as at the loss of star halfback John Krumme.
The poll places the coaching staff somewhat on the spot. If they win, everyone says they were supposed to. If they don't, everyone asks why not.
And yet it is a tribute to the Blackman varsity staff (which, incidentally, has stayed intact as the group which came here from Denver in 1955) that Dartmouth is rated so high.
On paper you can find these flaws in the Big Green football machine:
A. Fewer returning lettermen (15) than any other Ivy team except Columbia;
B. A freshman squad which lost two (Brown, Yale) out of three games with other Ivy foes, beating only Harvard;
C. Loss of first two right halfbacks, first two fullbacks, first two ends, first three guards, best tackle;
D. The usual question marks because of developments such as knee operations for qb Ron Schram, end Bill Wellstead, guard John McElwaine, center Whit Foster and halfback Dan Connelly, a shoulder operation for tackle Dale Runge, the choice between fall baseball and football for ends Mike Nyquist and Ted Friel, between crew and football for tackle Herb Goodrich.
In fact, looking over these "paper" flaws you wonder just why Dartmouth is rated so highly.
Here are some of the positive factors of the '62 football picture at Hanover:
A. The Blackman record. Bob never has finished worse than third since the '56 formalization of the Ivy League, currently is tied with Princeton's Dick Colman for the best winning percentage (.714) in league play.
B. Possession of the best quarter back in the Ivy League in Capt. Billy King. Last year he was a unanimous All-Ivy choice, led the league in total offense and passing, was probably its best safety man and has not yet fully exploited his running ability.
C. Possession of the best center, linebacker and defensive captain in the league in Don McKinnon. In two previous seasons - because of leg injuries-this 6-3, 215-pound pivot has played only one complete game at his natural position, center, but anyone who saw that Princeton victory last fall realized that Don was by far the best lineman on the field.
D. Exciting prospects at other spots ... boys who also could become the league's best at their positions with nat- ural development. In this category are left halfback Tom Spangenberg, left end Chuck Greer, breakaway runner Chris Vancura, 250-pound tackle Dave Stenger.
Here is a mid-summer peek at each position, a brief examination but some football to think about until the blocking dummies and practice uniforms appear on Memorial Field Sept. 1.
ENDS: Last year's starting pair (Carl Funke and Dave Usher) are graduated but this position should be strong. Chuck Greer, a 6-3, 200-pounder from Ft. Collins, Colo., should be a standout. Sensational receiver Frank Finsthwait is back again. Much depends upon Mike Nyquist's decision on football because the burly lad from Hartford could be a starter. Bill Wellstead has the ability to be more than a place-kicking specialist if his knee comes round. So does Scott Creelman who broke an ankle last season. Jaan Lumi, 6-1, 190, looms as best of sophomores.
TACKLES. A question mark position Surprising Bill Blumenschein who came up from jayvee ranks to win left tackle job before mid-season injury is back and rock-hard at 208. Dale Runge, soph letterwinner, was down to 195 after spring shoulder operation but should rebuild during summer. Darkhorse could be sophomore John Matzke, who missed freshman numerals because of injury but is fine physical specimen at 227. On the right side Jan Dephouse may be switched from end. He's tough on defense. Big Dave Stenger was a year away last fall but coming along.
GUARDS: Hard hit on both sides by graduation. Letterman Bill Curran is heir apparent at right guard with Dave DeCalesta and Gerry Raczka as sleepers. Freshman captain Jim Carr must recover from leg operation. Left guard, which carries linebacking responsibility, is up for grabs with lettermen George Hellick and Ed Boies plus rookie Ed Keible available.
CENTERS: Don McKinnon, as noted above, is best in league. Vaughn Skinner and Jim Grace are strong offensively. Whit Foster has knee prob- lem but could surprise. Cantey Davis and Bob Komives are best sophomores.
QUARTERBACKS: Keep your fingers crossed that Billy King stays healthy. He should be the best in modern Dartmouth history. Junior Ron Schram has size (6-4) and intelligence but medics are dubious about his knee operation recovery. Dana Kelly was beginning to realize his early promise at season's end in '6l. Bill Madden is valuable on defense, a fine all-round athlete. Sophomore Dick Horton (6-3, 200) is about where Kelly was last year but has tremendous potential.
HALFBACKS: At left half Tom Spangenberg is a fine two-way player, rates as the most experienced halfback after cracking starting lineup early last season. Little Chris Vancura provides breakaway threat, could mature into most exciting back in league. The loss of leading runner John Krumme and Gary Spiess at right half puts burden on Dave Lawson, most improved player last season. Bob O'Brien was best freshman halfback, a future star, while three other sophomores, Gary Wilson, Jack McLean and Dave Perin-chief, have latent promise.
FULLBACKS: A toss-up with both Jim Lemen and Dave Evans graduated. But healthy competition exists among Pete Benzian (who stepped into breach in final two games in '61), big Tom Parkinson and Lee Bateman. Bateman is getting first varsity opportunity and has size, speed and agility to be big factor.
SUMMARY: Dartmouth's outlook is brightest in three years. There are more experienced players and several outstanding men to form nucleus. Key to the Indians' run for the title will be good health for King and McKinnon and the development , of the interior line.
