Harvard Game Relaxer

At a Quarterback Luncheon the week before the Harvard game in 1969, Coach Bob Blackman mentioned that he wished he could think of something to break the tension for players between dinner and bedtime the night before the game. The nfeXt morning found Roy Blanchard '27 knocking on Blackman's door with three carved place-kickers and the idea that a contest among the squad members might take their minds off Harvard and provide a lot of fun.

Blackman was enthusiastic, the foot-high kickers went along to Cambridge as night- before relaxers, and no doubt they helped create the mood for Saturday's 24-10 victory. The Blanchard booters went along for the 1970 Harvard game as well, and with that much success, there had to be a silver cup. Roy_ Blanchard therefore donated the Pete Donovan Bowl, named for Dartmouth's great kicker who won the 1967 Harvard game with a second-chance field goal.

Roy Blanchard, who was in the toy business before his retirement to Norwich, has made his Pinocchio-like kickers by hand. The kicker's foot is cocked back and when released by a trigger near the top of a steadying rod it sends a ping-pong ball arching toward a miniature goalpost, which has a square opening for argument-free scoring. Getting the ball through the opening, especially at Some distance, is not easy and two scores in three tries has been enough to win the Donovan Bowl.