Quarterback Josh Cohen '09, who earned the right to start in the last six games of the 2005 season as a freshman, will not be returning to Dartmouth this fall due to unsatisfactory academic performance. He will be suspended for two terms with the earliest return date in spring. A replacement has not yet been announced.
The only statement that Cohen has released was printed in a Valley News article, in which he said, "I had academic issues during this past school year, and I won't be in school for the Fall and Winter terms. I have every intention of returning to classes and football in the spring." He could not be reached for further comment.
The quarterback whom Cohen replaced last season, three-year starter Charlie Rittgers '06, graduated in June, leaving Cohen as the only returning quarterback with starting experience. In the wake of Cohen's suspension, Tom Bennewitz '08 and Mike Fritz '07 will fight for the starting job along with Max Heigis '10, Alex Jenny '10 and Jordan Kling '10, who will all join the program in the fall.
Head Coach Buddy Teevens '79 expressed confidence in the team's ability to perform in the fall without Cohen.
"Josh's absence creates a great opportunity for a number of people," Teevens said. "I am optimistic about the upcoming season. We have three bright young men who are coming, in addition to Tom and Mike."
"I don't think [Cohen's] suspension will negatively affect our team this upcoming season whatsoever," Bennewitz said. "We have a lot of great guys at each position starting or backing up. If one guy goes down, we have another ready and able to hop right in."
Teevens contacted the five quarterbacks following news of Cohen's suspension. Teevens did not, however, tip his hand as to the current status of the quarterback depth chart. In the meantime, the opening appears to be inspiring the workouts of at least one of the quarterbacks fighting for Cohen's spot.
"Coach wanted us to see an opening in the lineup and to use that as motivation to work harder before the season," Jenny said.
Cohen's teammates expressed differing opinions on the significance of his absence.
"I don't think this issue is a large problem and there is not much needed to be done to solve the issue. Mike Fritz and myself are very able to jump right into the starting role and turn some heads." Bennewitz said. "I think everybody is looking forward to this upcoming season. We have great leadership in our captains and a lot of great guys returning."
"Obviously, you never want to see one of the guys go down," Fritz said. "Josh took a lot of snaps last season and it hurts to lose that experience, but I am confident that Coach Teevens will put us in the best position possible to win next season."
Fritz, who has recovered from an injured thumb this off-season, is described by Teevens as "athletic but lacking consistency."
Bennewitz has played at the JV level since his freshman fall, but may have secured the first-string quarterback spot following some impressive performance in the spring workouts.
Cohen, a three-time letter-winning captain at Conestoga High School, completed 58.5 percent of his passes for 1,529 yards and eight touchdowns in the 2005 seasons.
