1967 Football Forecast
THE coming season must be considered a rebuilding year for Dartmouth, which has won or shared the Ivy League title in four of the last five years. The graduation of three of the four starters in last fall's record-setting offensive back- field, and an unprecedented 14 All-Ivy players in the past two seasons, faces the Indians with a major rebuilding job. Although there is a possibility that the Big Green defensive unit could be stronger than last fall's, both the quality and quantity of the offensive losses are so great that it appears the Indian offense must suffer as a result. The uncertainty of the kicking game must also be listed as a definite liability. All in all, it is apparent that a great many sophomores will have to come through in a hurry if Dartmouth is again to make a bid for the Ivy League title.
Here is Coach Blackman's preview of the 1967 squad's potential:
OFFENSIVE BACKFIELD: Losses include All-East fullback Pete Walton; three out of the first four halfbacks (Klungness, Menter, and McNeely), and outstanding All-Ivy quarterback Mickey Beard, as well as both reserve signal callers (Bill Robb and Wally Bowman). The big question which must be answered is whether to play the one returning standout back, Gene Ryzewicz, at quarterback or at halfback. Gene will probably draw the qb assignment until it is determined if anybody else can handle the job. This means that there wouldn't be a really experienced man at either halfback spot. Four soph quarterbacks have potential (Bill Koenig, Roger Landholm, Bob Mlakar, and Pete Donovan), though none of them had an impressive passing record as a freshman. Koenig has a strong throwing arm and could develop into a fine passer. At the wide-open half- back positions we may try Captain Steve Luxford on the left side. Steve has played strictly on defense for the past two seasons. Probable starting rhb is Bob Lundquist who improved rapidly at the end of last season. We will have to depend heavily on sophomore backs such as Clark Beier, Tom Miller, and Doug Karp. Attempting to fill the big shoes of Pete Walton at fb will be junior Vic Chaltain, who is a strong runner but must improve his blocking. He will receive help from sophs Jim Chartrand and Paul Friedman.
DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD: Three-fourths of last year's starting backfield will be gone with the graduation of two-year All-Ivy dhb Wynn Mabry, the moving of rover Steve Luxford to offense, and the loss of safety Sam Hawken due to a serious knee injury suffered in the final game of last season. Gordie Rule at left half is the one returning veteran. The rest of the backfield will probably be made up of Rick Wallick, Jim Provencher, Dan Graves, or John March. Sophs with the best chance of breaking into the line-up are Bruce Saylor, Dan Hoar, and Jon Nistad.
OFFENSIVE LINE: Losses here include All-Ivy Bill Calhoun and Bob MacLeod at ends, All-Ivy guard Bill Sjogren, and two-year All-Ivy center Chuck Matuszak. Lack of size will be a handicap as Dartmouth will undoubtedly have the smallest starting line in the Ivy League. It appears that there won't be a single man on the first line who will top 200 pounds. Senior non-letterman John Franzen and junior Randy Wallick are the best bets for the starting end positions, with Jack Wimsatt, up from the freshmen, expected to see action. Hank Paulson, a fine blocker during the past two seasons, will be the starting right tackle with his last year's backup man Deke Olmsted switching over to fill the starting left tackle spot. Andy Kemper and John Ritchie are rated as good soph prospects. Jerry Kirkpatrick, who played last fall at 176 pounds, will start at right guard again, with Skip Small moving in from tackle to fill the left guard vacancy. Best guard prospects from the freshmen include Charlie Johnson, Daves Mills, and Tim Schad. Dave Skinner will probably be the starting center and will be backed up by soph Mark Korotash.
DEFENSIVE LINE: Key losses include defensive signal-caller and linebacker Brace Smith, tackles Bill Eggeling and Corky Johnson, middle guard Mike Westfall, and end Bill Brandt. Returning linebacker Norm Davis has the potential to be a real standout. The other line-backer spot should be a battle between juniors Jim Gardner and Mike Rieder, along with sophomores Rich Lease and Ted MacConnell. Mike Machan should be the starting middle guard. He played well on occasions last fall, although missing most of the season with injuries. Soph help could come from Ed Smith, Larry Killgallon, or T. J. Rodgers. Returning tackles with some experience are Jeff Norton, Giff Foley, and Jim Eldridge. Best defensive tackles from the freshmen are Ernie Babcock and John Wojtowicz. Last fall's starting defensive ends missed most of the season with injuries, so Pete Lawrence and Dan Coop, erman were able to pick up considerable playing experience. Along with senior Randy McEIrath and sophs Bob Ano and Lou Maranzana they should make for a solid defensive end corps.
KICKING SPECIALISTS: Last fall Dartmouth enjoyed good punting by Tom Pyles and outstanding place kicking by All-Ivy Bill Hay, backed up by Phil Davey. All these men have graduated and the top punter on last year's freshman team has left school. This means the very important kicking-game will be a real question mark this fall.
THE BONFIRE CRISIS
Dartmouth's football bonfires, vividly remembered by nearly all alumni, are in danger of extinction unless some answer is found to the acute difficulty of getting railroad ties, traditionally used to build the bonfires. In recent years the freshman class and the Interdormitory Council have had to go farther and farther afield, at greater expense, to locate ties for framing the giant fires in the center of campus; and one rally last fall had to rely entirely on "fill" with no longburning framework.
For the final home game last fall the Dartmouth Club of New Haven came to the rescue by shipping a boxcar full of ties to Hanover. It is hoped that at least for Dartmouth Night, October 13, the night before the Dartmouth-Penn game, alumni might again come to the rescue by being tie-spotters or, even better, tie-contributors. There will be three home football rallies in all, and bonfire help will be welcome for any or all of them.
Communications concerning the great bonfire crusade may be directed to the Interdormitory Council, College Hall, or to Nick Perencevich, bonfire chairman, 306 Strasenburgh Hall, Hanover, N.H.
DCAC FOOTBALL NEWS
During the coming football season the DCAC will continue to publish the BigGreen Football News. This year, however, the DCAC is pleased to announce expansion of the News to include the coverage of all Dartmouth sports seasons. The FootballNews will be published ten times and will contain an account of each game, coaches' comments, scouting reports on future opponents, statistics, locker room quotations, and a play-by-play chart of the game. An inclusive brochure will be mailed on September 1 when the Big Green arrives for pre-season training.
The Big Green Sports News will be published on the first of every month, December through June, and will include information on all Dartmouth winter and spring sports. A winter sports brochure will be mailed at the beginning of the winter season.
The Football News and Sports News, plus the two brochures, are available on subscription for $6.00 (please note if you desire air mail). Make your check payable to the DCAC and mail to the Big Green Football News, Box 111, Hanover, N.H. 03755.
