Big Green Teams
“Dartmouth should be good but so should the rest of the Ivy League” is the way Bob Blackman assessed the fortunes of his 1970 football team early in the fall.
Dartmouth usually is good. In fact, the Indians usually are very good. In his 15 seasons on the Hanover plain, Blackman has won more than twice as many games as any of his predecessors at Dartmouth.
In the Ivy League, his teams have won more times than any of their seven foes. This fall, though, the task will be rugged and the climb to the top of the Ivy ladder steeper than ever. Back in 1969 (it seems so long ago) the Indians celebrated the centennial of college football by whipping together a fine 8-1 record. Not perfect, but not at all bad, especially considering that it came on the heels of the frustrating 1968 campaign that was the first losing effort in more than a decade.
“There’s only one way to improve on an 8-1 record,” said Blackman, who knows only too well the combination of luck, breaks, and general good fortune that must accompany a talented effort through nine long weeks.
The word from the pre-season pun- dits (and from the coaches, too, who most certainly should know) is that 1970 should be Dartmouth’s year. Again, though, the balance of power indicates that Yale and Princeton will have their say in the matter and Cornell may make its strongest bid for the title that never has been carried to Cayuga’s shore.
The reasons for the words of promise are numerous but the biggest has to be Jim Chasey, the senior from Los Gatos, Calif., who was the coaches’ selection as the Ivy League’s best quarterback in 1969.
When the bubble named perfection was burst last November 22 in Palmer Stadium, the day couldn’t have been blacker for anyone than Chasey. Mid- way in the fourth period he was ridden to the ground near the Princeton bench. In the process he suffered a shoulder separation. Two days later he under- went surgery and then began the slow task of restoring strength and mobility to the shoulder (which happened to connect to the arm that has made him one of Dartmouth’s most exciting passers). By late spring, Chasey was flipping the ball gingerly. By the time he returned to Hanover for pre-season practice there wasn’t much question of his progress.
“Actually, Chasey seems stronger than before,” said John Short, himself an All-Ivy halfback in 1969 (he came within 18 yards of A 1 Rozycki’s season rushing record set in 1960 but we’ll tell more of him later).
Chasey is the key to the offense. He has developed the poise that comes only from pressure situations. He reacts with equal facility to the drop-back pass or to the rollout option (his exceptional peripheral vision permits him to scan the action and see every potential receiver).
With the possible exception of Black- man, himself, no one has a better command of the diversified Dartmouth offense and he has demonstrated his ability to use it to maximum efficiency.
Chasey was a strong candidate for election as one of the co-captains of this team. He chose not to pursue the honor because of the demanding job that lay before him as field general. With the election of Bob Peters, the offensive tackle from Oglesby, 111., and Murry Bowden, the spirited rover back who hails from Snyder, Texas, the Indians have two fine leaders. Chasey only serves to give the command level another dimension of quality.
In this “Year of the Quarterback” (as they’ve dubbed the 1970 college season) Chasey clearly ranks with the finest—including Manning of Mississip- pi, Reaves of Florida, and Plunkett of Stanford.
“Jim is so far ahead of our other quarterbacks it’s frightening,” said Blackman. “So much of our success depends on Jim and our ability to avoid injuries,” he continued. “We have some sophomores who show promise but they’re far behind players like Chasey, Short, and Stu Simms (the junior fullback)
It seemed almost fitting that Chasey should score the first touchdown of the season for the Indians. It came midway through the first period of the scrim- mage game with Vermont when he wheeled around the right flank and outraced the Vermont defender to the corner of the end zone.
Just as his left foot hit the end zone, though, Chasey was hit by a diving tackle. The blow caused his ankle to twist and the resulting sprain was the worst he has encountered in seven years of high school and college football. At this writing, Chasey’s recovery was steady and his availability for the season’s opener with Massachusetts seemed probable. The dimension of such an injury, however, illustrates the fine line between success and dilemma.
Short is another player who is fundamental to Dartmouth’s success.
“John must rank as one of the most versatile backs in the East this season,” said Blackman. “He can run, pass from the option, and is probably our best receiver. He’s also a good punter and can help us on quick-kick plays.”
The senior from Glendale, Ariz., got his chance a year ago when Clark Beier was injured during the Holy Cross game. By the time Beier returned, Short was established. He averaged 6.1 yards per carry in 1969, a full yard better than Cornell’s heralded Ed Marinaro, another All-Ivy choice.
Working alongside Short is Brendan O’Neill, who showed streaks of promise as a sophomore last fall and has the inside track at succeeding reliable Bob Mlakar. He scored twice during the Vermont scrimmage that ended in a lopsided 46-6 win for the Indians.
The fullback is Simms, a player who showed amazing development as a sophomore. The junior from Baltimore probably will be perpetually unsung because his primary duties are to block. If he does his job as well in 1970 as he did in 1969, there’s no way he’ll be anything but awesome—and sung.
Beyond this quartet, Blackman has great concern. Brad Houser is a senior halfback who converted from quarter- back and will be effective but not outstanding. Except for reserve fullback Mike Roberts, the stage belongs to sophomores—and they all have long roads to travel. The soph who will inherit much of the burden if Chasey is encumbered is Steve Stetson, most valuable player on the undefeated freshman team last year.
“Steve makes many mistakes but shows promise,” said Blackman. He took over when Chasey was injured against Vermont and moved the Indians effectively, scoring himself on a 44-yard sprint from the pocket when his receivers were covered.
In so many instances, sophomores are the leading reserves on both offense and defense this fall—a factor that obviously has Blackman concerned.
“There’s no substitute for experi- ence,” said the dean of Ivy coaches. “If everyone is healthy, we have a good first team. After that, the dropoff is serious.”
The offensive line includes five re- turning starters headed by Peters, the left side tackle who weighs 235. The center is Mark Stevenson, another senior who Blackman feels can improve on his All-Ivy second team billing in 1969.
“Mark is probably the lightest center in the league,” said Blackman, “but I wouldn’t trade his quickness and drive for 20 pounds.”
Also back is Bob Cordy, who took over at right guard a year ago. On the left side, two seniors, Dan Radakovich (a converted tackle) and Jim Wallace are dueling to succeed Dave Mills, the departed All-East and All-Ivy selection.
At the ends. Bob Brown (the track co-captain-elect) is back along with 230-pound Darrel Gavle, the tight end who is a substantial blocker and seems to be improved as a receiver. Behind them are a pair of sophomores—Gregg Brown and Sam Watkins.
The right tackle is a newcomer, Joe Leslie, a 235-pound junior from Ari- zona who saw limited service behind John Ritchie last year. With Peters, he gives the Indians an imposing pair of blockers.
Defensively, the question is whether the Indians can retain the performance level that saw them rank second nationally in pass defense, ninth in total defense, and tenth in scoring defense last year.
“We’re no different than the offense,” said Bowden, who seems to have come straight from the set of Medical Center. “I think the defense can be good and the team can be good if we’re lucky and stay away from injuries.”
He sounds just like a coach.
Bowden is an amazing athlete who has played most of his football career with nagging knee and shoulder in- juries. Both required surgery after last season (his right shoulder now includes a stainless steel screw and a piece of bone transplanted from his hip).
The season will be a question of pacing for Bowden, who is regarded as Dartmouth’s most flexible defender and proves it with his quickness and unusual strength.
“Everyone talks about Yale’s great defense but I have to think we’re as good or better,” said Barry Brink, the 235-pound Californian who developed improved quickness by earning a dou- bles slot on Dartmouth’s tennis team. Brink and Bill Skibitsky are defensive tackles, the top men at a position Blackman feels is the most solid on the team. Skibitsky, at 230, is the small man at this position.
“It took Hank Paulson until his senior year to get anywhere near 200 pounds,” said Blackman of his All-Ivy standout of the 1967 season. “That’s the size tackle we’ve been used to.”
Things are changing—fast. Behind Brink and Skibitsky are three sopho- mores and a junior. Bud Lynch, the junior is a 230-pounder. The sophs almost dwarf him.
Tom Tarazevits stands 6-5 and has trimmed down to a hard 245 (when Blackman met Tarazevits as a Long Island high school junior, he weighed 310). He took over Skibitsky’s job on the right side for a day during preseason practice, then strained a knee and should now be about ready to regain his earlier form.
“Tom 'can be great,” said Gary Golden, the defensive line coach. “He just needs to develop a little meanness on the field and not try to rely exclusively on his size.”
Working behind Brink is 260-pound Josh Holloway from Chesapeake, Va.s while 240-pound Jim Ryan, another Long Islander, is on the left side.
The defensive ends are two seniors, Tom Price and Tim Risley. Both lettered behind Ernie Babcock and Lou Maranzana in 1969 but, as is happening at tackle, sophomores are already applying the pressure. The names here are Fred Radke, a 6-5, 215-pounder from Maine, and a Montana standout, Gary Overfelt, who is 6-3 and 205. Both bear watching.
Among the linebackers, Bill Munich and Joe Jarrett are returning starters and Wayne Young is moving in at the middle spot where he pressed three-year starter Rick Lease last season. Before it’s over, last year’s freshman captain, Doug Jaeger from Mapleton, Minn., will be heard from.
In the secondary, All-Ivy halfback Russ Adams returns to the left side (he’ll also be Pete Donovan’s successor on placements and kickoffs) while Jack Manning seems to be the man to succeed All-America Joe Adams on the right wing. Manning ranks with Bow- den as a hard hitter.
The safety is Willie Bogan, the 6-4, 205-pound senior from Albion, Mich., who seems to be intact after two years of problems with a chronic back injury. A dean’s list student throughout his first three years at Dartmouth, Bogan has the range and speed to be considered a legitimate professional prospect (as do Brink and Chasey). Like Bowden, he’s exciting to watch in action.
The punting game is a critical matter at this stage. As in the placement department, no player on the team had kicked in a varsity game. Adams appears to be the strongest of the placement hopefuls. Among the punt- ers, Jim Knox, a senior from Florida who has spent two years as a reserve linebacker, is a maybe but he could be overtaken by Jay Bennett, another senior who has missed two seasons of play after suffering a kidney dislocation during the first week of practice in 1968. Bennett may be the answer.
Dartmouth co-captains are Murry Bow-den (I), defensive rover back, and BobPeters, left tackle on the offense.
Dartmouth’s starting offensive backfield: (from left) All-Ivy quarterback JimChasey, All-Ivy halfback John Short, fullback Stuart Simms, and halfback BrendanO’Neill, only newcomer in the first attack unit.
