With the Big Green Teams

ONCE again football is upon us with its hustle signaling the coming of fall to the Hanover Plain. Since September 1 the hills around Chase Field have echoed the return of the Big Green. Coach Blackman greeted over 100 players who reported for pre-season drills.

Planning on 20 returning lettermen, after losing 14 All-Ivy players through graduation in the past two years, including three out of four starters in last fall's offensive backfleld, Coach Blackman learned that three other letter-winners would be out of action in 1967. Seniors Sam Hawken, defensive safety, and Dan Graves, defensive roverback, and junior defensive end Dan Cooperman had to be counted out. Hawken, who injured his knee in the final game of 1966 while returning an intercepted pass for a touchdown, is following medical advice. Sam is affectionately remembered by all who saw his leaping attempts to block Princeton field goal tries in the final game of the 1965 undefeated football season. Graves and Cooperman both decided to devote more time to their studies.

However, capitalizing on the excellent football weather this fall, the Big Green coaching staff worked quickly to remold offensive and defensive units. Building his multiple offense around shifty senior Gene Ryzewicz, Springfield, Mass., who moved over from halfback to graduated Mickey Beard's quarterback spot, Blackman filled out the Indian backfield with Captain Steve Luxford, McLean, Va., at left half, Bob Lundquist, St. Paul, Minn., at right half, and Vic Chaltain, Bronxville, N. Y., at fullback.

Captain Luxford, married, with two daughters, started every varsity game over the past two seasons and did an outstanding job as the Dartmouth "monster," or roverback, on defense. Juniors Lundquist and Chaltain won letters in '66 as stand-ins for seniors Paul Klungness and Pete Walton.

The offensive line, missing three All-Ivy men in right end Bill Calhoun, guard Bill Sjogren, and center Chuck Matuszak, as well as injured starter Bob MacLeod, provided the Indian mentors with a demanding rebuilding job. Senior John Franzen, Cleveland, Ohio, given the preseason nod at left end, sustained a painful neck injury in early practice and was forced out of action. Soph Jack Wimsatt, Chevy Chase, Md., leading receiver with the freshmen last fall, moved up. Randy Wallick, Dixon, Ill., Rick's twin brother, will be at right end. Dick Olmsted, Portland, Oregon, who saw limited action in '66, won the left tackle slot, with senior double letterwinner Hank Paulson, Barrington, Ill., returning to his favorite role at right tackle. Senior Skip Small, Dover, N. H., switches from tackle to left guard. Jerry Kirkpatrick, senior from San Rafael, Calif., remains at right guard. Senior Dave Skinner, Bellevue, Wash., is slated to start at center, but a painful nose injury may force him into limited service. Sophomore Mark Korotash, Ansonia, Conn., has been handling the heavy work in the meantime.

The defensive squad also had a severe case of graduation depletion. This was worsened with the news of Hawken's loss, along with that of Cooperman and Graves. The moving of Steve Luxford to offense was a big loss to the defense. Coach Blackman's cautious, though optimistic, assessment of the Indians' defensive strength prior to the season gave way to concern.

The defensive backfield, minus two-year All-Ivy halfback Wynn Mabry, Sam Hawken, Dan Graves, and Captain Luxford, retained only halfback Gordie Rule as an experienced veteran. Moving into the wide-open lineup is junior Rick Wallick, Dixon, Ill., at safety, and classmate John March, Dubuque, lowa, at right half. A third junior, Mike Vasey, Carmichael, Calif., captured the early call at roverback.

The defensive line features six lettermen, and has good depth in capable reserves. Junior Pete Lawrence, Cherry Hill, N. J., returns at left end, where he took over during the Holy Cross game last fall for injured senior Bill Brandt. Senior Randy McElrath, Syracuse, N. Y., has recovered from the knee injury that sidelined him after the Princeton game in '66, and should be a standout at right end. A scrappy pair of juniors have claims staked on the defensive tackle positions: Giff Foley, Winnetka, Ill., on the left side, and Jeff Norton, Albany, N. Y., at right tackle. At linebacker Norm Davis, Sedro Woolley, Wash., returns to his left linebacking spot following two campaigns of outstanding play. Right linebacker-in-residence at the moment is junior Jim Gardner, Bridgeville,Pa., who worked under defensive signalcaller Bruce Smith last fall. Middle guard is senior Mike Machan, Allis, Wis., who has fought off injuries over the past two seasons.

The kicking team is still open, except for points after touchdowns, which sophomore Pete Donovan, Chevy Chase, Md., has taken over following convincing demonstrations in early camp. Jim Burke, Phillipsburg, N. J., has been punting well to date.

The first test of the new Indian units came in the annual intra-squad game, "Green versus White," played September 9. This year Coach Blackman called for a full game in order to assess the sweeping changes throughout the team. Pitting the first offense and defense against the second two clubs, the plot proved conclusively that the 1967 Big Green squad knew how to move the ball.

Much of the glow that came with the offensive success was dispersed when it was discovered that starting right half Bob Lundquist had suffered a fractured right clavicle during the third period. Lundquist, 6-1, 185, scored the first Green touchdown from five yards out, and later picked up a two-point conversion. He was counted on to add experience to the thin backfield ranks, and his loss for at least six weeks was a serious setback to Indian plans.

If Bob is mended for the Harvard game, he should be an important asset to the Big Green.

Junior Bill Donovan, Concord, Mass., moved up to fill in for Lundquist, with several sophs fighting for the spot.

During the course of the scrimmage the offense scored five times. Following Lundquist's TD, junior Randy Wallick, 6-3, 195-pound right end, snared a nine yard scoring toss from quarterback Bill Kinschner, Cleveland, Ohio. Kinschner, lucky in the air, connected with soph halfback Tom Miller, West Allis, Wis., for the two-point conversion. Gene Ryzewicz, proving that he was in the right spot, tallied on a nine-yard sweep after skipping for two points earlier. Highlight of the ground action came when soph halfback Clark Beier, Brookfield, Wis., shook off several would-be tacklers and sped 74 yards for a TD. Tom Quinn, Massapequa Park, N. Y., threw a key downfield block for Beier.

Pete Donovan, soph PAT specialist, booted five for five as each team was allowed to try both conversion methods after each score. Pete, 5-11, 180 pounds, who kicked 14-14 last fall with the frosh, surprised everyone with a successful 40-yard field goal in the third period.

One week later the Big Green was back on Memorial Field to face Southern Connecticut State in their first pre-season practice game. Ivy rules do not allow a player to participate in more than one such game, so Coach Blackman divided up his squad in order to include a contest with Bowdoin the following Friday. Blackman called largely on juniors and seniors for the Southern Connecticut game, reserving sophomore talent for Bowdoin. QB Bill Kinschner, slated to back up Ryzewicz in the contest, gave way to soph Bill Koenig, Salem, Oregon, after sustaining injuries to his back muscles during practice.

Ryzewicz commanded the Indians in early action against the Owls, engineering the first Green tally as Captain Steve Luxford ripped in from the five. Soph Pete Donovan put the ball between the posts for the PAT, his first of five during the course of the afternoon. Southern Connecticut held fast however, allowing no Indian runners over its goal during the remainder of the half. QB Ryzewicz was shaken up on a hand-off, and called in his reserve, Bill Koenig.

Koenig proved that he was learning how to get along in a crowd. Long on passing ability, Bill has been adjusting to the complicated (from the QB's standpoint) offense that Dartmouth runs under Coach Blackman. He had some trouble with fumbles, and could not penetrate the Owls' defense.

Southern Connecticut was on the receiving end of the kickoff at the top of the second half. Following several quick plays, SC quarterback Fred Salvati unwound with a 47-yard scoring pass to back Jim Guercia. The PAT was good. All even, 7-7. Guercia, co-captain and punter for the Owls, played an outstanding game.

Dartmouth's attack then came alive, for on their first play from scrimmage in the second half they went out in front to stay. Junior halfback Bill Donovan, called up to replace Lundquist the week before, took the hand-off and fought off two tackles at the line of scrimmage before heading down field. Two & defensive backs had pursuit angle, meeting Bill at the twenty. Undaunted, Donovan came to an abrupt halt, scrambled out of the tacklers' arms, and continued untouched into the end zone. Pete Donovan connected with the PAT to give the Indians a 14-7 margin.

Ryzewicz and Koenig shared the signal-calling duties for the remainder of the afternoon, with Koenig demonstrating to the many early-season fans that he was quickly catching on. Luxford scored again from the five, before Koenig directed two scoring marches for a finale. Sophomore Tom Miller, leading rushing back with the frosh last fall, dashed over from the one-yard mark with the Green's fourth score. Shortly thereafter he was followed by QB Koenig, who rolled into the end zone for nine yards. Pete Donovan kicked his fifth PAT right at the close of the final period.

The final score, 35-7 in Dartmouth's favor, seemed a good indication of Indian offensive prowess. The other important point proven was that both Ryzewicz and Luxford are performing well at their new assignments. Soph talent, however, contributed in good measure to the team's success. While senior QB Ryzewicz connected on eight of eleven passes for 94 yards, soph Koenig threw for 54 yards on six completions in nine attempts. Junior Bill Donovan led the rushing statistics with 118 yards, followed by soph HB Tom Miller with 65. Both Ryzewicz and Donovan returned punts and kickoffs for good yardage. Junior Rick Wallick halted a strong & drive with an interception of a Salvati pass on the Indian nine. Sam Faber at roverback intercepted a second Salvati pass in the end zone thwarting another Owl threat. The Big Green totaled 483 yards for the day, with Southern Connecticut making 189 in all.

Dartmouth weakness in kicking was evident as several men, including end Jack Wimsatt, took turns at the kickoff tee. Two attempts at onside kicks by the Indians were both successfully covered by SC linemen. The powerful Dartmouth defensive line, however, kept SC quarterbacks in constant trouble with effective rushing tactics.

Following the scrimmage with Bowdoin on September 22, the Big Green made ready for their 1967 season opener in Amherst, Mass., against the University of Massachusetts. The 87th football season for Dartmouth College promises to be full of excitement.

This year both UMass and the Indians' next opponent, Holy Cross, have topflight teams. Coach Blackman anticipates hard-fought games in both cases, and hopes that both Indian defensive and offensive units mesh prior to September 30 and the opening kickoff.

One thing anyone who has watched this year's squad work out on the practice field can vouch for is that this team has spirit!

The Big Green's top sophomore quarterback prospects, looking over a play diagramwith Coach Blackman, are (l to r) Pete Donovan of Chevy Chase, Md.; Bill Koenigof Salem, Oregon; and Roger Landholm of Crosby, Minn.

Captain Steve Luxford '68 of McLean,Va., defensive star last year, is getting achance to carry the ball this season inhis new role as offensive halfback.