Football Preview

Four straight Ivy League football championships is unprecedented. Five in a row is unheard of.

Even though 15 starters have departed from the 1972 team that brought Dartmouth its ninth title since formal Ivy play began in 1956, the Green has a couple of things going as it prepares to defend the crown.

Thirty-one lettermen have graduated - the seniors who had a 31-2-1 record in freshman and varsity games from 1969 to 1972. They were the largest senior group in Dartmouth football history and it's obvious that the Green will field its most inexperienced team in a decade this fall.

The graduates are history but the top returnees are prime talent. Heading group are the co-captains - Tom Csatari the two-time All-Ivy defensive end from South River, N.J., and guard Herb Hopkins from Southampton, Pa.

There is also strength among the running backs. Rick Klupchak, the exciting halfback from Olympia Fields, Ill., has averaged over six yards per carry for two seasons and needs only 375 yards to break the career rushing record set by Crouthamel from 1957-59.

Put Klupchak in a backfield with three other seniors - halfback Ben Bridges fullback Ellis Rowe and Doug Lind (who plays either spot) - and it's apparent that the Green has the potential for a sharp ground game. They can do much to put veteran kicker Ted Perry in field goal range.

Hopkins, center Bob Funk (another All- Ivy returnee) and tackle Jim Gleason are the anchors of an offensive line that Crouthamel will be rebuilding to protect the runners and quarterback Tom Snickenberger, the junior from Ithaca, N.Y., who is the front runner to succeed Steve Stetson.

Defensively, there is another rebuilding task in store: Nine starters and three second team players have departed.

Csatari, linebackers Pat Stone and Rick Gerardi, tackle Kim Wehrenberg and defensive back Don Smith have the most experience. Crouthamel will be looking for quick assistance from the sophomores and much of it may come from linebacker Reggie Williams. As many as eight sophomores could fit into the starting picture.

One asset appears to be the schedule. The three teams ranked as the best bets to unseat Dartmouth will be playing the Green on Memorial Field. Penn, Yale and Cornell have legitimate title aspirations and each will be more than aware of Dartmouth's home win streak that stands at 17 straight.

"We're the champion until someone takeit away from us," said Crouthamel who will bring a two-year record of 15-2-1 into his third season as Dartmouth's football coach.