As traditional Big Green spring sports come to a close, the anticipation for next fall is growing on the football practice fields. Spring practice, used by the NCAA's Division I schools for years but just instituted by the Ivy League three years ago, kicked off last Monday for the Big Green as they try to get ready to improve on last year's 7-2-1 record.
Dartmouth enters spring practice riding a seven game unbeaten streak, the longest current streak in the Ivy League.
However, this spring, unlike last year, there are expectations for that title as the nucleus of the team remains intact. Forty-one letter-winners return for the fall season, with only six starting spots being left vacant by graduation.
"Spring practice is a very helpful tool, giving us additional opportunities to evaluate our talent and schemes," Head Coach John Lyons said.
The agony of last year's season-ending tie to Princeton has lingered throughout the post-season, but hope springs eternal that this fall will bring the Big Green football team its 17th league championship -- something that eluded the team by four seconds last year.
"I told the players to remember how they felt after that game. That should be all the motivation we need for the upcoming year. We know what it's like to play in the big game, and now we're doing everything we can do to get back to that position to win. We have a full roster of players who have seen playing time and know what it takes to get it done," Lyons said.
Lyons, who is entering his fifth season at the helm of the Big Green, posts a 26-13-1 record in Hanover, 18-9-1 in the Ivy League with one championship and a second place finish to go with last year's near title.
While the Big Green used a powerful running game as their main attack throughout last year's campaign, this year's offensive goal is to improve the passing game to balance the offense.
Running back Greg Smith '97 and offensive tackle Brian Larsen '97, two of the tri-captains, will return to anchor an offense that brings back nine starters from last year.
Smith led the Big Green with 826 yards on the ground after taking over the starting duties midway through the season. Like last year, the Big Green will be deep at tailback, as Ambrose Garcia '97 and sophomore Dylan Karczewski '99, key contributors down the stretch last season, return.
Pete Oberle '96 will be back in the fall as the starting fullback. Oberle led the team in rushing in the 1994 season before suffering a knee injury that limited his playing time last season. The running game will have an experienced offensive line blocking in front of them with four returning starters, led by All-American candidate Larsen.
Jon Aljancic '97 led the team last season at quarterback by throwing for 693 yards, but most notably gave the running-based offense a boost as the team's second leading rusher with 506 yards, while leading the team in scoring with nine touchdowns.
However, Aljancic must improve on the Big Green's 40 percent completion rate of last year to secure the job, as Pete Sellers '98, Matt Margulies '99 and Mike Coffey '99 wait in the wings.
"I think we are going to make a concerted effort to get the ball in the air more," Larsen said. "We know that we need to balance our running attack with some play action passes to keep the secondary honest."
All of the receivers from last year's squad return, which should help keep passing consistent. Eric Morton '97 and Ken Bollens '98 finished as starters last year, but they should be challenged by Zach Ellis '98, who was second on the team with 13 catches last season after moving from tailback to wideout, and Will Bergman '97, who at the time of injury was leading the team in receptions.
Darren Gefney '97 and Will Harper '98 will fight for the starting tight-end job, but both should expect to see playing time as the Big Green's Multiple Pro-I offense utilizes many two-tight-end sets.
The biggest hole to fill on either side of the line of scrimmage for the Big Green will be the defensive line, which lost three of the four starters in the squad's 4-3 alignment. Only defensive end Scott Hapgood '97 returns, although Hapgood did lead the team with 12 sacks and 13 quarterback pressures returns, earning first team All-Ivy honors.
"It would appear that the defensive line will be a weak spot for the defense in the coming season because of the loss of some great seniors, however there are a lot of strong players ready to step in," Hapgood said. "Brandon [Smith '97] should replace Taran Lent ['96] at left end. He saw a lot of playing time last year and has enough experience to start producing immediately at that position."
"The defensive tackle positions will also see two new starters in Adam Nelson ['97] and Keith Lockwood ['98], but there are a couple of players that got a lot of playing time at those positions also last year and are ready to step into the starting role," he said.
The linebacking corps, the strength of last season's defense, remains intact and returns two first team All-Ivy performers in tri-Captain Mark Abel '97 and Zach Walz '98. Abel led the team with 136 tackles last season, while Walz finished second on the team with 116 tackles and added five sacks. Brian Schmidt '97 finishes out the league's top trio, which keyed a smothering rush defense that was eighth in Division I-AA, 15th in overall defense.
"With the three returning starters in the linebacking corps, the front seven should prove to be one of the strongest aspects of the defense and the team," Hapgood said.
Just like the linebackers, the secondary has a wealth of experience. Both starting cornerbacks Marlin Twitty '98 and Brad Jefferson '98 will be back, along with strong safety Lloyd Lee '97. The rover position is left open by graduation, but the most likely candidate to take the spot would be Matt Dancewicz '98, who was a starter for parts of last season.
"This is the most speed we've had in the secondary since I've been here," Lyons said.
Dave Regula '98, who tied an Ivy League record with 11 field goals in league play last year, will remain place kicker, while Adam Weigold '98 should take over the punting duties.
The schedule opens up September 21 as the Big Green will host Pennsylvania.
