Big Green Teams

Jake Crouthamel walked to the microphone at the quarterback luncheon that usually attracts more than 150 of Dartmouth's football faithful to Alumni Hall each week.

It was October 17, three days after Dartmouth had won its third game of the season. Normally, beneath his deadpan countenance, Jake is restlessly counting the minutes until he can get back to his drawing board and plot the dissection of the next adversary.

Not so this particular Tuesday. His team was basking in glory after a superb 35-14 victory over Princeton, a win he had not expected to come nearly so easily. He showed the faintest trace of a smile and said, "Princeton ... I could talk about that game all afternoon."

If you were near Jake during the Friday night rally before the Princeton game, the man you saw was Mr. Hyde. He was walking in a semi-daze, created by a rotten head cold and an equally rotten injury report. Al Capp's buddy, Joe Btfsplk, would have looked like Mary Sunshine beside our man Crouthamel.

Dartmouth had won its opening games, beating New Hampshire (24-14) and Holy Cross (17-7). They were wins, which matters most to the players and coaches, but they weren't the works of art that people have come to expect from Dartmouth every time it takes the field.

They had taken their toll, especially on the offensive unit. Ellis Rowe, the sensational fullback who was a one-man gang in the opener against UNH, was still out with a hamstring pull. So was Jim Johnston, the tackle, who banged an ankle and knee in the opening minutes of the UNH affair.

Added to the list a week later was Dan Bierwagen, Johnston's running mate at the other tackle spot. The senior from DeWitt, N. Y., had been playing with a bothersome pain in the neck and shoulder. It caught up with him early in the Holy Cross game and three days later it was determined that he had a ruptured disc. The injury has ended his playing career.

Also banged up in the UNH game was Steve Webster, Rowe's alternate at fullback and still not back at this writing. Those were the primary known injuries and as he watched the Princeton bonfire surge skyward, Crouthamel was greeted with news that soph quarterback Tom Snickenberger and the backup center, Jim Evans, were out with virus ailments.

The Green was solid defensively but the offense, preparing for a Princeton defense that had held Columbia (no weak sister these days) to a scoreless tie the week before, was obviously thin.

"As the team dressed on Saturday morning, I told our players that we are champions and we will be champions until we're beaten," said Crouthamel.

"I told them we were hurting and that we'll probably be hurting for the rest of the season and I told them we were asking for 110 per cent from every man every day for the rest of the season, starting today.

"We got it against Princeton," said Crouthamel, "and we had about 75 men who played in that game. When I saw players reviewing their game plan material during the training meal, I knew we'd be all right."

The guy who gave closer to 150 per cent against the Tigers was Steve Stetson, the quarterback from Laconia, N. H., who, Crouthamel feels, "... is successful because he's so unpredictable in his play-calling."

"Steve knows what we want to use and when it will work best," said Crouthamel. "He was mixing plays so well against Princeton that he even had me guessing on the sidelines as to what he was calling. I think I know our offense better than Princeton's defensive team, so you can imagine how they must have felt."

Stetson, who concedes that he wasn't at his best against either New Hampshire or Holy Cross (even though he was named most valuable player at Worcester), put it together against Princeton—better than he did a year ago against Cornell and the Tigers in the final drive to the Ivy co-championship.

"Dartmouth's offense is so diverse that it should be unpredictable," said Stetson, who seems to have mastered all of the variations that flow from the minds of Crouthamel and his staff. "I just hope we can keep people guessing."

There was no guesswork when it came to tapping Stetson for a myriad of honors after his performance against Princeton. He was named the Ivy League back-of-the-week, was picked to the ECAC's weekly all-star team, and became Dartmouth's first Gold Helmet recipient, an award initiated this year and presented to the top college player in New England.

Here's what he did to earn the accolades:

Ran for three of Dartmouth's touchdowns with jaunts of six, 32 and one yards;

Completed eight of 17 passes for 125 yards and launched long gainers of 31, 33 and 35 yards to Chuck Thomas, Sam Watkins and Ben Bridges;

Was at his best in the clutch, producing first downs on seven third down situations and twice on fourth down.

"Princeton has an exceptional defensive tackle in Carl Barisich," said Crouthamel. "Their defensive line is solid but we felt we could pass against them. I'm not sure if I've ever seen a game where everything we wanted to do in the air worked so well."

If Princeton's secondary was suspect, it became apparent midway through the first period when Stetson set up "Alumni Play '72."

It was third and five at Princeton's 40 and Stetson called the play that was installed earlier in the week. Doug Lind, the halfback who shifted to fullback after Rowe and Webster were hurt, took Stetson's pitch and headed toward the left on what appeared to be a routine sweep play.

As he reached the corner, he pulled up and uncorked an option pass. Rick Klupchak, streaking down the sideline, curled into the end zone behind the Tiger safety and made a super catch. It had to be as demoralizing for the Princeton contingent as it was exhilarating for the Dartmouth partisans who packed Memorial Field.

That was the beginning of the touchdown parade that saw Dartmouth run up its third straight 30-plus point day against Princeton. Stetson scored twice before the half, making it 21-0 in the final minute on a classy 32-yard swing around right end that included a bit of hipper-dipper at the line of scrimmage and then a mad dash for the end zone.

Dartmouth's final touchdown came on a run that Crouthamel called "one of the finest I've ever seen in college football."

Bridges, the junior halfback from Evanston, Ill., already had a fine pass reception that set up Stetson's third touchdown early in the fourth period. Princeton finally got on the scoreboard midway through the final period and on the first play after the Tiger kickoff Bridges went to work. He hit the middle on a simple dive play that suddenly opened. It began at Dartmouth's 31-yard line. Bridges was hit twice and near midfield appeared to be going down. It seemed that every part of his body touched the ground except his knees. He recovered balance, cut to the right sideline and led a merry chase from there.

"No one was going to catch him after he got going," said Crouthamel. "I've been waiting two years for Ben to show that kind of running."

"Me, too," said Bridges.

After playing on rain-soaked fields for two weeks, it was nice to get a dry day and a chance to see what this Dartmouth offensive unit can do. It showed that it has the ability to do plenty.

The opportunities the attack received in the first three games were due in large part to the efforts of a defense that seems as unrelenting as ever.

Dartmouth's secondary was considered to be a potential weak link when the season began but pass coverage has become the Green's defensive forte.

Against Princeton, the Green intercepted four passes. In the UNH opener, they had snared one and against Holy Cross, Dartmouth swiped five passes. In many instances, this thievery has opened the door to points for the Green.

The keys to the defense have been the linebacker corps plus ends Fred Radke and Tom Csatari. The ends have closed the door impressively, especially at Holy Cross when the Crusaders' fine fullback, Joe Wilson, tried to turn the corners and met with little success.

The linebackers—Pat Stone in the middle, Doug Jaeger and John Leibert on the sides, and rover Bob Bialas who's all over the place—have been the premier opportunists.

Against New Hampshire, Dartmouth found itself in an unexpected struggle. The gang' from Durham battled the Green to a 7-7 standoff at halftime despite some super running by Rowe who had 153 yards in 12 carries before he injured his leg.

It was Rowe's running that set up Dartmouth's second touchdown, scored by Webster on a 17-yard sprint up the middle, but again UNH came back quickly to tie the game.

Ted Perry, the premier placekicker, gave Dartmouth the lead for good as he booted a 47-yard field goal (a yard longer than his dramatic boot at Harvard last year and third longest in Dartmouth history).

Then it was Stone's turn to provide the setting for the cushion tally. He intercepted a UNH pass and ran 16 yards to the Wildcat 29. In two plays, Lind had the touchdown.

It wasn't an impressive win and the defense looked a bit porous in the process. The wet field had tempered Dartmouth's attack, too, and there was some concern with the overall picture as the Green headed toward Holy Cross.

Defensively, the concern was unfounded. Playing in a steady rain, the Green limited Wilson to 25 yards in 15 carries (he had set a Holy Cross record with 274 yards against Rutgers three weeks before). And then there were those five interceptions. The only way that Holy Cross got on the scoreboard was in the final 90 seconds when the Green reserves were wrapping it up. The touchdown came on a blocked punt that found its way to the end zone and was recovered by a Crusader tackle who won a mad scramble.

Meanwhile, the offense still looked inconsistent but all right. It was due in part to the terrible weather which contributed to nine Dartmouth fumbles (four were lost).

Stetson bobbled the snap the first two times he touched the ball and Holy Cross covered the second one. It put Dartmouth in bad field position but a field goal was short and then Klupchak's quick kick moved the Green out of the danger zone.

Two plays later, Dale Pope intercepted the first Crusader pass and in a minute Stetson unloaded a 38-yard paSs to Klupchak that reached the Holy Cross two. Stetson scored from there and Perry added a 29-yard field goal to make it 10-0 after a period.

Chuck Thomas, a steady performer in the three games so far, got the clinching touchdown on a power play around left end early in the third period. Lind provided a crushing block that cleared the way for Thomas to jaunt 78 yards along the sideline. It was the seventh longest scoring run in Dartmouth history.

"It sure makes the trip home a lot shorter when you return with a win," said Crouthamel. "The defense was outstanding under pressure of Wilson and the weather. They forced the turnovers that made the difference."

If there's one characteristic about this year's team, it's the way the statistics are spread over so many people. After three games, 14 men have shared in the rushing phase while nine men have been on the receiving end of Stetson's passes. The ten pass interceptions have been made by seven different people.

It says something for Crouthamel's approach to football at Dartmouth.

In the Holy Cross game, every man who dressed saw action. Against Princeton, nearly 80 men were involved in the Green win. It demonstrates Crouthamel's statement:

"There are a lot of players who are working to make this team successful, guys who put in long hours of practice and personal sacrifice. Sure, we might have been able to shut out both Holy Cross and Princeton but I couldn't care less about seeing Dartmouth's name among the national statistical leaders.

"If we're going to win this year and in seasons to come, we're going to do it with the help of men who are young and learning," he continued. "The best way to learn is by playing and if they can get that experience without making too many mistakes we'll be better for it. A player is happy when he knows he's going to get into a game—and I like happy players."

Dartmouth's win over Princeton on October 14 marked the 102nd straight game in which the Green has scored, a string that is the longest in the nation.

The streak began after the 1960 finale in which Dartmouth was beaten

by Princeton, 7-0. Since then, the Green has built an impressive record of 83-19 while averaging more than 26 points per game. At the same time, the defense has allowed less than 12 points per game to 102 opponents.

The NCAA record for consecutive games played without being shut out is 123, set by Oklahoma from 1946 to 1957.

Quarterback Steve Stetson (11) following blockers around right end for one ofthe three touchdowns he scored in the 35-14 win over Princeton.

Fullback Ellis Rowe (39) had a big daywith 153 yards to pace the Green backsin the opening win over New Hampshire.

Out of the murk comes Chuck Thomasin 78-yard scoring run at Holy Cross.

Sophomore Frank Gallo, top scorer insoccer, in action against Springfield.

Dartmouth 49, Brown 20 The Big Green won its fourth game October 21 by walloping Brown 49-20 in Hanover. Brown had a 6-0 lead on two field goals but a five-touchdown outburst in the second quarter settled matters. Stetson had another big day, completing six of eight passes, three for touchdowns, and scoring himself on a 26-yard option dash.

Sports Schedule FOOTBALL—Nov. 4, Yale away; 11, Columbia; 18, Cornell away; 25, Pennsylvania away. J.V. FOOTBALL—Nov. 3, Yale away; 10, Connecticut away. FRESHMAN FOOTBALL—Nov. 3, Middlebury; 4, Yale away; 10, New Hampshire; 17, Boston College. SOCCER—Nov. 4, Yale away; 11, Columbia; 17, Cornell away; 25, Pennsylvania away. CROSS COUNTRY—Nov. 3, Heptagonals at New York; 6, New Englands at Boston; 13, Intercollegiates at New York.