DDARTMOUTHARTMOUTH''SS WWINNINGINNING TTRADITIONRADITION DARTMOUTH'S WINNING TRADITION In the fall of 1876, when football was evolving from the game those who have played and coached at Dartmouth, many of of rugby and rules were uncertain, a group of Dartmouth stu- whom took their gridiron experience to other colleges across dents erected the first goal posts on the campus green. They the country. remained in place for several months but were removed The Green's overall record–643 wins versus 410 losses before commencement in 1877. and 46 ties–is among the best in the nation and includes nine undefeated seasons, a national championship and 13 inductees in the College Football Hall of Fame. The Great Eras There has been a succession of great eras in Dartmouth football: From 1901-09, Dartmouth had a record of 58-9-7 under the coaching of Walter McCornack, Fred Folsom and John O'Connor. From 1911-16, Frank Cavanaugh guided Dartmouth to a 42-9-3 record, then became known as the “Iron Major” for his heroics in World War I. One of his best players, Clarence (Fat) Spears, continued the success as the war ended but it was Jesse Hawley who took Dartmouth to unparalleled heights from 1923-28. In early 1900s, Alumni Oval, with campus buildings in background, Under Hawley, Dartmouth went 22 games without a loss was home of Dartmouth football. from 1923-26, including the undefeated (8-0-0) national championship team in 1925 led by two Hall of Fame Students arriving as freshmen in 1878 brought with them inductees, Swede Oberlander and Myles Lane, and a Rhodes experience with the new game. In 1880, another freshman, Scholar, Captain Nathan Parker. Clarence (Cap) Howland '84 joined them and proved to be the catalyst for the sport that sought recognition on campus. Football suits were purchased from Princeton and a season of practice unfolded. On November 16, 1881, Dartmouth football began when Amherst visited Hanover. After scoring the game's only touch- down for Dartmouth, Charles Oakes '83 was carried across campus, the center of a jubilant celebration. On November 25, Thanksgiving Day, the teams met again in Springfield, Mass. The game was scoreless when play was terminated due to snow. Dartmouth's newest sport was established and its first football team finished undefeated. Dartmouth immediately sought out the nation's best teams to learn the intricacies of the game. In 1882, the Green lost to Harvard (53-0). In 1884, Yale visited Hanover (they would not make a return trip until 1971) and tutored Dartmouth to the tune of 113-0. During the next 20 years, against teams with comparable experience, Dartmouth usual- ly won in equally convincing fashion. The Harvard game in 1903, marking the dedication of Harvard's new stadium, brought Dartmouth football to national prominence. Winless in 18 previous meetings with the Crimson and scoreless in the first 16, Dartmouth won, 11-0. All-America halfback Jim (Swede) Oberlander ran for 12 touchdowns Dartmouth's winning tradition over the past 126 seasons and passed for another 14 scores as a leader of Dartmouth's nation- is measured in achievement on the field and contribution by al champions in 1925. P AGE 123 DARTMOUTH'S WINNING TRADITION Though the Green had a record of 27-14-3 under Jack coach, Buddy Teevens, was named the Ivy League's player of Cannell from 1929-33, eight losses in his last two seasons the year. prompted a search for a new coach. President Ernest Martin Teevens revitalized Dartmouth football during his five Hopkins's choice was Earl Blaik who would guide Dartmouth seasons (1987-91), leading the Green to Ivy titles in 1990 to a record of 45-15-4 over the next seven seasons, then and 1991. When Teevens departed, his defensive coordinator, moved on to lead West Point. Blaik's teams at Dartmouth John Lyons, took the reins. produced another 22-game unbeaten streak from 1936-38. During 13 seasons, Lyons added two more Ivy champi- The 1937 team was undefeated but Dartmouth declined an onships, the first in 1992 and another in 1996 when invitation to play in the Rose Bowl. The Blaik years included Dartmouth finished with a 10-0-0 record, the centerpiece of Dartmouth's first-ever win over Yale (1935) and the famous another 22-game unbeaten streak that ran from 1995-97. “Fifth Down” game in 1940, a 3-0 win over previously unde- Since formal Ivy League round robin play began in 1956, feated Cornell. Dartmouth has won the most league games (217) and cham- The post-World War II years under Hall of Fame coach pionships (17 outright or shared). The Big Green has the Tuss McLaughry included the first years of an exclusively Ivy's best won-lost record in 52 seasons of round robin play. “major” schedule. The Green has produced 187 All-Ivy first team players, a standard it shares with Harvard. In 2005, Buddy Teevens returned as head coach to con- tinue the great tradition of championship football at Dartmouth. Over three seasons (1957-59), Jake Crouthamel ran for 1,763 yards and averaged 4.6 yards per carry. He coached the Big Green from 1971-77. The Ivy League Years In 1955, as formal Ivy League play was about to begin, another Hall of Fame coach, Bob Blackman, succeeded McLaughry and launched a 16-year tenure at Dartmouth that included: 104 wins, three undefeated seasons, selection twice as the East's best team (1965, 1970), and seven Ivy League titles. Blackman's last team, in 1970, was undefeated, ranked 14th in the nation, and shut out six opponents en route to outscoring nine teams, 311-42. Jake Crouthamel, a standout halfback under Blackman (1957-59) and later one of his assistants, became head coach in 1971 and led Dartmouth to three straight Ivy titles and missed an undefeated season in 1971 by two points. The championship tradition has continued over the past quarter-century. Under Joe Yukica (1978-86), Dartmouth won three Ivy titles, including in 1978 when Yukica's successor as In the 1970 undefeated season, Dartmouth's defense shut out six of nine opponents, allowed only six touchdowns and led the nation in scoring defense. P AGE 124 DARTMOUTH FOOTBALL TIME LINE 1867 1886 Various institutions begin to adopt a special college Bill Odlin '90 is captain and coach from 1886-89. His color. The Dartmouth reports, “...Dartmouth claims innovations include introduction of the wedge style of green.” At the time, “Whole Division,” is Dartmouth's rushing offense and calling of signals by numbers. distinctive predecessor to football, pitting seniors and Odlin's leadership firmly establishes the fledgling sport sophomores against juniors and freshmen in the free at Dartmouth. pursuit of a ball by every student not physically incapac- itated. 1890 Charles Gill, an All-America tackle at Yale, is Undefeated Teams Dartmouth's first paid coach, albeit for only three Dartmouth has had five undefeated-untied teams-1925, weeks. He returned to New Haven to coach the Yale 1962, 1965, 1970, 1996. The 1925 team was named line. Team captains continue in the dual role of coach. national champion. The 1965 and 1970 teams were awarded the Lambert Trophy as the outstanding 1893 Division 1-A team in Eastern college football. Wallace Moyle, a substitute end for Yale, is hired as Dartmouth's first “all-season” coach. Losses to Harvard (16-0) and Yale (28-0) are measures of the Green's 1876 improved play. John Ingham '77, Chalmers Stevens '77 and Lewis Parkhurst '78 erect rugby-style goal posts on the cam- 1894 pus Green but Dartmouth isn't prepared to support the In its first quest for national prominence, Dartmouth fledgling sport of football. The goal posts are torn down travels to Chicago. Playing the Chicago A.C. on prior to commencement in 1877. In 1910, Mr. Thanksgiving Day, Dartmouth loses, 4-0. Parkhurst, now a trustee, donates the funds for Parkhurst Hall (today it is Dartmouth's principal admin- 1895 istration building). Dr. William Wurtenberg, a four-year player on Yale teams that were 46-1-1 from 1886-89, is Dartmouth's 1880 new coach. The Green plays a 13-game schedule (7-5- The arrival of Clarence (Cap) Howland '84, familiar 1), the most games in any season. with the game, inspires creation of a football squad that practices but is unable to schedule a game. Howland is 1901 regarded as the “father of Dartmouth football.” Walter McCornack '97 becomes Dartmouth's coach. The Green (9-1) shuts out six teams and loses only at 1881 Harvard, 27-12, but scores for the first time in 17 On November 16, Dartmouth plays its first game, games with the Crimson. defeating Amherst, 1-0 (touchdowns were valued at one point). Charles Oakes '83 scores the touchdown. His 1903 grandson, Abner Oakes '56, will later be a captain and Harvard dedicates the nation's first concrete stadium in coach of the Dartmouth men's hockey team. Cambridge. Dartmouth beats the Crimson for the first time, 11-0, highlight of a 9-1 season. 1882 Harvard visits Hanover and beats Dartmouth, 53-0. The 1904 Dartmouth comments, “...if there is any other game that A scoreless tie at Harvard is the only blemish on Dartmouth can play better than football, it would be Dartmouth's first unbeaten season (7-0-1) of the centu- well to encourage it.” ry. From 1903-05, Dartmouth builds a 23-2-3 record. 1884 1907 Yale, considered the best team in the country, is invited A scoreless tie with Vermont keeps Dartmouth from a to Hanover and wins, 113-0.