Big Green Teams
You MIGHT CALL it Clockwork Green. The middle of the month rolls around, and the halfway point is when this column on athletics comes due. Usually, we spend a week or so with it in the back of our mind, pondering the angle that will make readers want to proceed at least a little bit farther.
Normally, it's a lot of fun to prepare this piece because in the routine of publicizing Dartmouth's teams much of the writing becomes pretty mechanical. It's especially fun during the fall because the focus is on football and everybody knows how things have gone on that front for the past five years - win, win, win, win, win.
Last year it was a bit different at the outset, and as we reached this point in the calendar things appeared moderately tenuous. But then the Green got things going and the stretch run was something to behold - a helluva lot of fun to watch and write about.
The pattern is being duplicated again this fall. If it weren't for the fact that there are too many sharp memories around, we could probably pick up last year's script, plug in a few different names, places and comparable situations, and provide a carbon copy of that missive.
How will things have turned by mid-November? Obviously the hope is positive, but the facts aren't quite so encouraging as they were a year ago. Don't think we aren't the first to admit that this sounds like a startling about-face from a month ago, when the talk was of a rare air of confidence.
The record at the moment is three losses and naught on the win side. The culprits have been Massachusetts (14-0), Holy Cross (14-3), and Princeton (14-7). There is a positive aspect to all of this - the defense. This gang of Greens has performed admirably under some thoroughly trying circumstances. Led by Reggie Williams, the awesome All-Ivy middle linebacker who has averaged nearly a dozen tackles per game (he had 17 against Holy Cross), and Brian Wroczynski, the co-captain and tackle, this gang so far has given up only one touchdown that generated from a drive beginning outside Dartmouth's end of the field.
That was the first touchdown allowed this season, and UMass got it en route to its first win ever over Dartmouth. Since then, five opponent scores have come on drives of 18, 18, 41, 34, and 15 yards. That's not a long way to have to go for points, and in each instance the ball was turned over as a result of a fumble by Dartmouth's rebuilding backfield.
To measure how effectively the defense has been performing, consider that the Green was ranked seventh nationally in total defense in 1973 and, if the current pace were maintained, Dartmouth would climb to fifth place in comparable rankings.
So, say you, the problems must rest with the offense. Sounds reasonable, although it's not the complete answer. It's a combination of factors including some injuries that have cost the services of the likes of halfbacks John Souba and Tom Fleming, split end Mark McAleenan and guard Len Nichols, four of the most experienced folks in the attack, and the need to turn to some untested players who, for all their heart, can't quite match the speed and poise of the absentees.
Don't think Jake Crouthamel isn't as miserable as everyone else. At this moment, things are at the point where they should swing upward á la 1973. The hitch, however, was noted in Crouthamel's post-Princeton comments: "People have started to compare this situation with last year because we were 0-3 at this time. The difference is that our third loss last year was to a very good Penn team. We played a good game that day and nearly pulled off an upset.
"We lost to Princeton this year. They are not as good a team as was Penn a year ago. We came close but we didn't pull it off. I have to rate five of the next six teams that we play as stronger offensively than Princeton."
While it sometimes appears that opposing defenses have got Dartmouth's patented option series cased completely, Crouthamel feels there is nothing wrong that can't be corrected by time and restoration of the best available personnel to working status. "We're at a difficult time in the season," he said, "much like last year only perhaps more so. The best solution is easily said: The offense should start scoring and take the pressure off the defense. Quite obviously, that's what we're trying to accomplish."
Eliminate those dastardly fumbles and things would be a lot different. A year ago it was a matter of timing and inconvenient penalties that provided the problems. Now, it's simply a case of hanging onto the ball. Against Massachusetts, Dartmouth did just about everyting except score points. The Green held an almost absurd statistical advantage, doubling the Minutemen in total offense, first downs and, unfortunately, turnovers.
At Holy Cross, it was a different story. The offense had one of its longest days against a Crusader defense that had already demonstrated its credentials against Brown, being responsible for most of the Holy Cross points in a 45-10 win. The Green managed a scant 53 yards of total offense (47 by passing, six by the rush). Perhaps the game would have finished in a dead heat but for two Holy Cross fumble recoveries at the Dartmouth 41 and 18.
The Princeton game was heralded as the final meeting of the brothers Snicken-berger, Tom of Dartmouth and his older brother Walt, the Tigers' nationally ranked running back. After a couple of years of trying (Dartmouth hadn't fallen to Princeton since 1969), Walt finally had his day. He gained 100 yards rushing (actually his lowest total to date), scored one touchdown, and was involved in eight straight plays that moved the Nassaus from Dartmouth's 34 to the five (another fumble opened this door) to set up their first touchdown.
It was a game that saw Dartmouth consume more than 15 minutes with two sustained drives. The second march covered 79 yards in 15 plays and closed with Tom Snickenberger's eight-yard toss to tight end Alex Kandabarow, a senior who has become Dartmouth's most reliable receiver. The first drive, late in the second period, had a frustrating conclusion. Moving nearly 70 yards and using up nearly eight minutes, Dartmouth advanced to the Tiger five-yard line. During a time out, Crouthamel and his Snickenberger called two plays; in the process of transmitting the plays in the huddle, Dartmouth took too much time and was penalized for delay.
Despite the setback, the first play saw Souba regain the five yards over left tackle. Dartmouth immediately lined up without a huddle, and Snickenberger launched an option right against a disorganized Princeton defense. He chose to keep rather than hand off to fullback Frank Wilson (who had an avenue to a first down, maybe a touchdown) or pitch to Souba (who had an undefended flank beckoning). Snickenberger was stopped about six inches short of a first down. End drive. End hopes for a 7-7 tie at halftime. End much of the momentum that the Green had been building.
"We run the play many times," said Crouthamel, and in eight of 10 instances, Tom will make the right choice. This time he didn't. I can't fault him because he thought he could get what we needed."
So here we are after three games, with fingers crossed and hope still springing eternally for a repeat of the little miracle of 1973. By the time you read this, you should know.
SOCCER
When Frank Gallo, the Ivy League scoring leader last year, was lost for the season with a broken leg, the void created in Dartmouth's soccer scoring potential was apparent. Tom Griffith, the first-year head coach, had a lot of folks with experience and ability, but no proven scoring threat to compare with Gallo, the senior from St. Louis.
Through the first four games of the season, things were going well on just about every front except goal production. It was discouraging because on defense and general overall play Griffith's team was doing things right. "We just weren't able to finish off the plays," he said as Dartmouth dropped a succession of one-goal decisions to Middlebury, Springfield, Amherst, and Williams (three by 2-1 scores, the fourth by a 1-0 count).
When Princeton arrived at Chase Field, all of that changed. The Green erupted for a 5-0 win with Mark Porto and Guy Beckles sharing in the shutout at goal and four men getting a piece of the scoring action. Steve Alford got two. Bruce Hutchinsion, Steve Shoemaker and Keith Mierez each had one. Diminutive Bruce Bokor set a Dartmouth record as he assisted on three of the goals against the Tigers.
"It was a long time coming," said Grif-fith as his team headed for Brown to meet the nation's fourth-ranked team and defending Ivy League champs.
CROSS COUNTRY
At this writing, Dartmouth's runners have but one race behind them, a good win over Columbia and Yale in New York that may provide a most interesting measure of things to come. The win over Columbia (22-23) is noteworthy because Columbia had already beaten Harvard, a team scheduled at Hanover later in the season and a team that Dartmouth hasn't beaten in 15 years.
The Green did it with a fast-found youth movement. When Captain Chris Peisch came up with cramps and fell to the back of the pack, the burden went to junior Andy Walker who turned on the juice and came home a winner by 19 seconds. Teammate Rich Axtell was second in the five-mile tour of Van Cortlandt Park.
"It's encouraging to have the underclassmen come through when the guys you figure to be our leaders have problems," said Coach Ken Weinbel.
FIELD HOCKEY
It's unlikely that you'll ever see anything quite like it in an athletic contest involving men's teams. It's just a different atmosphere when women's teams compete, at least at Dartmouth. Really, what are the odds on this one:
Dartmouth is playing Smith. The score is tied, 1-1, in the final minute of play. Dartmouth takes a shot that finds the Smith goal. Problem: The shot came from beyond the attacking circle, requiring that a Dartmouth player inside the circle touch the ball for the goal to count.
The official faced with determining if contact was made with the ball is Chris Clark. So what? Well, Chris also is coach of the women's basketball team at Dartmoth. She asks the Dartmouth captain if the ball was touched. The response is indecisive. The goal is disallowed. The game ends in a tie and the Dartmouth marching band, which has completed practice nearby and has been watching the proceedings, picks up the chorus of "Men of Dartmouth."
The tie goes with a pair of shutout wins for Aggie Kurtz's team thus far. They've come along rapidly during the development of Dartmouth's women's sports program over the past two years.
FENCING
The appointment of Dale Rodgers as Dartmouth's head coach of fencing this fall marks the first step toward providing increased stature for a sport which has operated informally and on a club basis for most of the past 50 years.
Rodgers' appointment and the expanded support planned for Dartmouth's fencing program has been made possible by an anonymous gift presented to the College this summer.
Due to budget limitations in the past, Dartmouth's fencing program has operated with part-time and volunteer coaches. The sport, established in 1920, flourished for about 20 years but has been conducted informally since the end of World War II.
Rodgers, from Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, graduated from Montclair State in 1970. He was captain of fencing for four years and a finalist in the NCAA epee championship. He has trained extensively for the modern pentathlon and participated in a tour of Europe with the United States team. In addition to his work with the intercollegiate program. Rodgers will aid in development of Dartmouth's physical education fencing program.
GREEN JOTTINGS
Jerry Daly is one of the hottest properties on the Dartmouth scene. The junior from Middlebury, Connecticut, posted a 73 to finish in a seven-way tie for the lead in the ECAC fall golf tournament, then proceeded to win the first hole of a sudden death playoff to walk away the winner. It marked the fifth tourney in a row he has entered and won, including three club championship events in Vermont during the late summer and the Yale Invitational Tournament in late September.
Linebacker Jim Vailas from Manchester, New Hampshire, and offensive tackle Jeff Immelt from Cincinnati. Ohio, are co-captains of the freshman football team that opened its season with a 16-6 win over the Maine frosh, a team coached by Dartmouth's former All-East tackle, Joe Leslie. Three field goals by Nick Lowery from McLean, Virginia, helped that win, and Lowery already has folks talking about another Ted Perry in the wings.
Paul Sanderson and Cliff Fitzgerald, both from Connecticut, are co-captains of frosh soccer which got away to a 2-1-1 start.
By the time this appears, the winter season will be at hand. Dartmouth's hockey team opens against Merrimack on November 25 and launches the Ivy League season on November 30 against Princeton. In basketball, the Green gets started with the Hall of Fame Tournament at Springfield, Massachusetts, on November 29-30, joining Massachusetts, Centenary, and North Carolina-Charlotte.
Linebacker Reggie Williams (above) cutsloose after intercepting a Holy Cross pass.Below, a halfback John Souba providesone of the few bright moments of offenseagainst frinceton, Playing with severelybruised rops, Souba still gained 86 yards.
Bruce Bokor: a career record for assists.
Field hockey captain Sandy Helve (center) discusses the non-goal against Smith.
