Ivy League Lacks Major Game Today

Unless Harvard defles Olympus and topples Princeton today, the rest of the Ivy schedule, this afternoon and hereafter, will do no more than provide dating opportunities and determine the status of the also-rans. But a race between noncontenders can occasionally produce interesting moments, as the American League attempts to prove annually.

Suddenly finding itself unable to defend its Ivy crown of last year, Dartmouth today will attempt to end a small losing streak, secure a first division finish, and defeat Columbia.

Although by now it is clear to everyone that Dartmouth has deteriorated quite a bit in one year, the Green is probably able to handle the Lions. Columbia's line, which had a great deal of trouble holding Gary Wood last week, is neither strong nor swift enough to do the job against Dartmouth.

The return of Tom Spangenberg to Dartmouth's backfield should give quarterback Dana Kelly a much stronger offense than the one he showed here in the stadium. And two losses in a row could put some fire in the Indian's play.

Still sore and partially maimed from its encounter with Princeton last week, Brown travels to Ithaca to play hot-and cold Cornell. Rob Hall's broken leg has assured a starting job for quarterback Jim Dunda, which probably means Brown will pass on every other play at least.

It's hard to say just what approach Cornell will take. Last week against Columbia Tom Harp did some more experimenting with Wood at halfback, and the results were quite successful. Marty Sponaugle seems to have mastered several plays and appears to be an adequate quarterback. Wood, who is best at running, gets better opportunities when he doesn't have to handle the snap. He doesn't like passing all that much anyway.

Cornell may make the mistake of dismissing Brown and looking to Dartmouth next week, but it should be able to send the Bruins back to Providence unhappy.

Yale, which caught Dartmouth before the Green had fully recovered from its catastrophic visit to Cambridge, today encounters Penn, which may still be delerious from its upset win over Harvard last week.

The Quakers' dreams of glories should end quickly. It is asking too much to expect them to play four times better than capacity two weeks in a row, and that is what they would have to do to top Yale.

John Pont has built a sturdy defense and adequate offense from what had appeared to be insufficient material. While Yale probably should have fallen before Dartmouth, the Eli win was not completely a fluke. The only possible cause for a Penn win today would be Yale's making the same mistake that killed the Crimson; worrying more about Princeton than about the game at hand.