Indians Football 2006: Bringing it Back

By Maxwell L. Copello | Sunday, October 1, 2006

“Bringing it back.” That is Dartmouth football’s credo this year and they are on their way to return to the glory days when Dartmouth the Ivy League record 17 Championships. The Indians are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2-8 season last year. Heading into his second year as head coach, Buddy Teevens ’79 is looking to turn heads in the Ivy League by waking the recently sleeping Indians.

The Dartmouth offense is looking to rebuild after giving up a league high of 54 sacks and earning just 1.4 yards per carry rushing. After last year’s starting quarterback, Josh Cohen ’09, was suspended last spring for academic reasons, this season begins with a heated battle for the starting job between Tom Bennewitz ‘08 and Mike Fritz ’07. Teevens commented on the quarterback position saying, “The element that Tom Bennewitz and Mike Fritz add, which we saw in the spring game, is that they are very athletic individuals who like to carry the football themselves. That’s a dimension that they bring to the quarterback spot. I was impressed with the completion percentages during spring practice. It is a quarterback-friendly system that allows people, if they are accurate and decisive, to get the ball out of their hands quickly. There’s not a favorite (to start).”

An improved offensive line will be integral to a successful campaign this year and, after graduating only one starter, the unit boasts plenty of experience. And with eight guys on the roster weighing in at three hundred pounds or more, the Indians are not lacking in size either. Returning starters Jered Dowdakin, Taylor Layman, Ben Goeke, and co-captain Preston Copley hope to make an immediate impression on Ivy League defensive lines. Teevens admits that this will be the toughest part early in the season but has faith in his players. Whether the unit can improve upon last year’s dismal running game and pass protection will be the X-factor this season. Even with marginal improvement, Dartmouth should have no trouble clawing its way up the Ivy League standings.

Behind Bennewitz or Fritz in the backfield, fifth-year senior running back Jason Bash, who carried the ball for 320 yards even with last season’s shaky line, leads the rushing corps this year. With junior Chad Gaudet, a freshman sensation two years ago, still healing from an injury in last year’s opener, a platoon of underclassmen will back up Bash. Sophomores Milan Williams and Hudson Smythe, as well as junior Julian Collins, look to be the main factors in the rushing equation, as all boast significant natural talent and strong Green and White game performances last spring.

The receiving corps is stronger than ever with 6-foot-5, fifth-year senior Ryan Fuselier, second team all-Ivy last season, leading Dartmouth with 51 catches a year ago. Senior Sam McDonald had a strong spring and will likely be the starting second receiver. In the Indians’ pass-happy offense, Brian Evans, Andrew Von Kuhn, and Eric Paul will all fill out the remaining slots in most formations. Juniors Mark Brogna and Brett Lowe, with 14 and 8 catches last year, respectively, and are expected to be threats at tight end.

The Dartmouth defense will be strong again this year with a tough linebacking corps and two fifth-year seniors on the defensive line.

The Indians boast a strong collection of seasoned, effective linebackers. Senior Joe Gibalski was third on the team with 87 tackles in 2005 while classmate Justin Cottrell had 38 stops. Sophomore Andrew Dete had 20, tackles and junior Mike Whitticom had 14. Junior Joe Battaglia also figures in the picture. “There are four or five guys who have played,” said Teevens, “some not as much as others, but we have more experience which will certainly help.”

In the secondary, returning starters Ian Wilson, who led the 05 squad with 90 tackles, and Kyle Cavanaugh, who started last year as at true freshman, hope to repeat their huge performances of last season. They will be joined at safety by John Pircon and senior Joe Scola, both of whom bring in considerable experience. The cornerback position isn’t quite as deep, but Chris Blanco, John Manning, Steve Hunt, and Jason Blydell have all seen spot duty last fall and during spring ball. By Teevens’ own admission, corner will probably be the biggest question mark on the defensive side of the ball.

The defensive line is strong with two fifth-year players, Brian Osimri and co-captain Mike Rabil in the middle, and Jack D’Angelo and Dan Cook at the ends. Senior Mike Presti, junior Matt Dratch, and sophomores Max Copello, Rich Cummings, and Rehan Muttalib will all see significant time in the rotation as well. Teevens hopes that strong play from the experienced tackles will help the untested ends to hold their own.

The Indians kick off their season with a trip to upstate New York to play Colgate University on September 16th. Dartmouth defeated Colgate at home last year and looks to make it two in a row against this nationally ranked opponent. Dartmouth opens at home on September 30th in the Granite Bowl against the preseason #1 ranked team in Division 1-AA, the University of New Hampshire. Dartmouth has not defeated UNH since 1976.

Dartmouth football is entering a new era. Losing seasons will no longer be tolerated. Buddy Teevens has been a part of three Ivy championships, one as a player and two at the helm as a head coach. He knows what it takes to win and will ultimately lead Dartmouth to its unprecedented eighteenth Ivy Championship. Teevens has also added a new assistant coach to the wide receivers position, Jarrail Jackson, a standout arena football player who played at the University of Oklahoma.

This year’s homecoming game is against College of the Holy Cross on Saturday, October 14th at 12:30 PM. Freshmen are required to rush the field during halftime.

Indians Football 2006: Bringing it Back

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