With the Big Green Teams
lAMBAST those Lambert Trophy guys!" "Maul those poison ivy champs!" Such bombastic yells from a small, but loud, group of Southern Connecticut State College students who had accompanied their team to Hanover for a controlled scrimmage gave early notice to the 1966 Dartmouth football team that it will be THE target of the season for its opponents.
The men from Southern Connecticut tried hard. They were obviously "up" for the encounter, despite the fact that it was just pre-season fun, and they gave the Big Green stalwarts some rough moments. But the final tally, 43-16 in favor of the white-helmeted good guys, proved once again that being "up" may not be quite enough against the skills of Mickey Beard, Gene Ryzewicz, Bob MacLeod, and Coach Bob Blackman.
But, nevertheless, the heat will be on, and this, along with, the considerable talents of Dartmouth's veteran performers, should make the 1966 gridiron season of more than average interest to Big Green football enthusiasts.
Prior to the home opener at Memorial Stadium with a good University of Massachusetts team, Dartmouth had the longest major college victory run in the nation. Ten straight victories in and out of the Ivy League in this modern age of the "live" ball and the unusual shifts of fortune is outstanding. The longest run by Big Green squads is fifteen. Two different sets of talent established this Dartmouth record, the '24-'25-'26 clubs and the '61-'62-'63 teams.
One man holds the key and the early answers when discussing Dartmouth's chances this fall. Veteran coach Bob Blackman, fourth-best major college victory leader in the land (115-39-8 for seventeen seasons as a head coach) has a robust list of statistics, as did his 1965 star team. Blackman's .735 winning percentage ranks with those of the most famous personalities in the game today. At Dartmouth he is 69-27-3 for eleven seasons. His Ivy summary is 52-16-2, a league-leading .765 and four championships.
There are 22 returning lettermen in Dartmouth's plans, including ten men in the offensive lineup, nine in the defense, and punter Tom Pyles and placekicker Bill Hay. Another "D" winner ran into academic trouble and is not with the club. This sounds good, but a listing of returning lettermen does not tell all the tale. Gone from the front ranks are six of the seven defensive linemen. In all, six of eight All-Ivy award wearers have graduated. Wynn Mabry at defensive halfback and Chuck Matuszak at offensive center are the only Ivy leaders back from last year's 9-0-0 log.
The major problem this season is depth through the ranks at each position. There are only five defensive ends on the team. Halfback, filled with exciting possibilities this summer, has been cut down to questionable dimensions. Three players counted upon for first-class relief for Ryzewicz and Paul Klungness didn't make the reporting call on September 1. Baseball whiz Bob Thomas was requested by major league scouts not to try football this fall. Two talented runners, junior John McNamara and sophomore Steve Amundson, were injured early and are out for the season. Injuries are slowing down several other backs also.
Many experts regard Dartmouth as a heavy favorite to capture another Ivy championship. Look magazine picks the Big Green to rank 19th nationally with another 9-0-0 record. Other respected media give the Green high recognition and an 8-1-0 summary.
The Lambert Trophy was awarded to a team last season that ranked in seven different "Top Ten" statistical summations in the major college ranks. Coach Blackman had his best overall success both on the field and on paper last year. The Indians were eighth in total offense (359.9 yards a game), seventh in rushing (234.1), ninth in rushing defense (89.0), sixth in scoring (30.1 points a game), sixth in scoring defense (7.9) and first in kickoff returns. Dartmouth averaged 26.8 yards on each return. If there are enough of 1965's bread and butter boys left, 1966 could be sensational.
Dartmouth is not new to national ratings, having been the only team in the nation in the "Top Ten" for total offense three of the past four seasons. Michigan State, Arkansas, and Dartmouth were the only three teams in the nation last year in both "Top Ten" rushing and rushing defense. Notre Dame, Nebraska, and Dartmouth were the only three teams in both "Top Ten" scoring and scoring defense. The Greens have something going.
Although these ingredients are impressive, there is another, more pessimistic, approach possible too. A fine returning crop of experienced players, some may develop into stars or superstars, cannot do it all by themselves. On the minus side, along with the depth problem, are a poor freshman team last year, a schedule that includes three rugged opponents at the outset - including an early date here with Princeton - a new coaching lineup, plus the added fireworks brought to each contest by being the prime target - the team to beat.
The real name of the game should be "horses and coaches," and a lucky "bounce" at the right moment. The new coaching corps includes defensive line coach John Petercuskie, the nation's longest victory runner with 51 straight high school wins before joining the Green, and Bob Casciola, in charge of defensive ends and linebackers. Coach Casciola, one of Princeton's crack, modern linemen, has victory associated with his background as end mentor in Tigertown. John Curtis heads the freshman program, with Quent Currie from Army in charge of the line. Hamilton, Anderson, and Crouthamel are proven Blackman staffers.
The horsepower in '66 is rich in the backfield. Little 5-10, 170 lb. ("leave the long driving to me") Ryzewicz is unquestionably the College's most exciting, modern runner. In heavy traffic or in the open spaces, Gene is a born zig-zagger. After his brilliant sophomore season he should shine as a junior. He is second among the nation's top returning rushers with a 7.57 average. He leads returning kickoff scramblers with a 34.8 average.
Gene should be one of the top real estate dealers around in '66, with senior fullback Pete Walton right up there with him. Experiencing growing pains this summer, Walton has filled out to a firm 232 on his 5-11 frame. His team-top record of 641 yards in '65 helped earn him his All-ECAC award. Paul Klungness, a senior from Thief River Falls, Minn., could turn into one of the great land stealers from that area.
The latest edition of the NCCA OfficialFootball Guide displays one of the nation's best quarterbacks on the cover. Senior Mickey Beard (24 touchdown tosses in two campaigns) is back with a strong arm and good receivers. He is the Ivy's top returnee in total offense. Beard stayed with football all summer. He conducted evening pigskin clinics in association with the Culver City Recreation Department, his regular daytime employer. Mickey is one of the best ball handlers around.
"I wouldn't trade them for any other pair of ends in the country," is the way Coach Blackman tags seniors Bob MacLeod and Captain Bill Calhoun. MacLeod is healthy again after missing all but the first two contests of '65. In the remainder of the offensive front with star Matuszak are the league's lightest starting tackles, Hank Paulson and Skip Small. Bill Sjogren returns at guard. Juniors, but not lettermen as yet, Jerry Kirkpatrick and John Sullivan are battling for the opposite slot.
On defense, juniors Bill Brandt and Randy McElrath have impressed early at ends. Bill Eggeling and Roy "Corky" Johnson are the tackles. Johnson has been labeled "the best we've got." Mike Westfall takes over at middle guard. The linebackers are Norm Davis and Bruce Smith. Davis is of the all-star variety. Rover Steve Luxford is back in the same role. Gordie Rule will team with Mabry at halfback, with Sam Hawken and Randy Wallick, a sophomore, contesting for safety.
Of the above on defense all but McElrath and Hawken are letter-winners from last season.
The first taste of '66 action actually came September 16 when Southern Connecticut, the small college giant from New Haven, arrived to scrimmage. Over five periods of play it was Dartmouth 43-16. It was a beautiful day for throwing the ball so the Indians worked mostly in the air. All five touchdowns were aerials. Beard tossed three for scores, while seniors Bill Robb and Wally Bowman also connected on touchdown strikes. Beard caught Ryzewicz on a 79-yard bomb, and countered later with a 52-yarder. Captain Calhoun caught a 27-yard gameopener from Beard. Hay kicked a 30-yard field goal. The Big Green scored ten points on conversions. Hay converted twice and other Indians collected eight points on a pair of passes and two runs.
The scrimmage was a controlled affair, minus kickoffs and punts at the request of the visiting Owls. Southern Connecticut scored from the four-yard line after a Green lateral went astray and on a 99-yard interception return. Southern Connecticut was a good test. Dartmouth's scoring was hard-earned against this big club.
The annual intrasquad game, staged the Saturday before, was a rugged "grind 'em out" exchange. The "Whites" defeated the "Greens" 31-16 over four regular quarters in a full-game situation. The White Team was composed of the first defensive unit and the second offensive group. The Green Team featured the first offensive club and the second defense. Most of the, heavy fireworks came during the battles between the seconds. The first offensive club regarded the first defensive club as "the toughest defense we'll meet this season," and vice versa for the defense.
Robb and Bowman each threw a pair of touchdown passes. Beard tossed to Klungness and sophomore halfback Bob Lundquist raced over from six yards for the Green Team.
Attention on the University of Massachusetts opener was heavy. A new 21-station Dartmouth Football Network went into effect as well as a TV delay broadcast. Ned Martin, a Red Sox voice, handled the play-by-play for the network. All of the stations were New England outlets.
Here on Dartmouth gridirons during 1966 there is much to gain and much to lose. Not since the national championship team of 1925 has Big Green football been involved in such a coast-to-coast web of coverage.
Gene Ryzewicz (l) heads into familiar territory. White-shirted defenders are JimProvencher and Gordon Rule. End Bob MacLeod (r) is another standout on offense.
Second team quarterback Bill Robb passes as Blackman and teammates follow play
Mickey Beard prepares to start a playas the first offensive line charges thefirst defensive line in scrimmage.
Guard Bill Sjogren protects Beard from teammates on hard-charging defensive unit.
