After Years in the Ivy Cellar, Brown's Bruins May Run Off With the 1975 Football Title

Trying to predict any upcoming Ivy season is always hard, but the task is even more difficult this year because of a cast of unknowns. Last year everybody knew that Harvard, Yale and Penn had strong offenses, and that Brown and Dartmouth were tough on defense. But this year, about the only certainty is the quality of the Brown defense.

Only one team has a quarterback of proven ability and that's Princeton, with standout Ron Beible. Departed are Holt of Harvard, Vaughan of Penn, Snickenberger of Dartmouth, Sigler of Cornell, Beatrice of Brown, and Doyle of Yale, all of whom performed outstandingly at some time in their careers.

Almost everybody has strong players and the potential to win the title, but the team that comes up with the best quarterback the quickest will win the title.

So here goes another attempt at predicting the Ivy League: Many people picked Brown to win it all last year, and even more are doing so this season, with good reason.

Brown got off to a slow start last year with some tough losses, including a 7-6 heart-breaker to perennial antagonist Dartmouth. But the Bruins won their last four Ivy games, and things look ripe for Brown to pick up where it left off.

The Bruin strength is at defense, where nine starters return, including a big defensive line that Harvard fans saw throttle the Crimson in last year's 10-7 Brown upset victory.

Seven starters are back on offense, but the big key to the Bruin attack will be the addition of quarterback Bob Bateman, who transferred from Vermont when that school ended its football program. Bateman stands 6-5 and has pro potential, passing last year for 1800 yards to place him second in University division two statistics. Soccer player Jose Violante also gives Brown the best kicking game in the Ivies. Brown has suffered through mediocrity for the last 15 years, but the end of 1-8 and 0-9 seasons is at hand. From what they showed last year, the Bruins look like the best bet to win the Ivy title, its first ever.

If the Crimson can latch onto a quarterback and a defensive line, it should be in contention for a second straight title.

After five straight Ivy crowns, the proud Big Green suffered last year through a 3-6 season, its worst since 1955. But Dartmouth men take their football too seriously to let that happen again, so look for the Big Green to rebound with a strong year.

The defense is led by one-man wrecking crew, All-East middle linebacker Reggie Williams, and should be strong. The offense has problems, but if a quarterback can be found to toss the spheroid to receiver Tom Fleming, the Big Green should prove as tough as always.

Yale last year had one of its finest teams ever, and by right should have been 9-0 had not an underdog Harvard team thrown a monkey wrench into the Elis' dreams.

Yale's defense, which was second in the nation, allowing only 6.8 points per game, should again be one of the best in the Ivies, and keep the Bulldogs in every contest.

Offense is the big question mark, with most of the awesome running attack gone. But if Carm Cozza can find a running back in the Yale tradition of Calvin Hill, Dick Jauron, and Rudy Green, and come up with a quarterback to hit excellent receiver Gary Fencik, the Blue will again challenge for the title.

The Tigers lead the list of the Ivies also-rans. Princeton football has fallen on hard times the last five years, but a revival of sorts is due this year. A fine quarterback, Ron Beible, leads the offense, which will miss standout halfback Walt Snickenberger. The defense, with many returning starters, should be improved.

Cornell has a new coach, but things won't be much brighter than the last two 3-5-1 seasons. Tailback Don Fanelli is an excellent back if he's injury free, and wide receiver Bruce Starks is among the best in the East. But replacing nationally ranked quarterback Kevin Sigler is a task that is likely to prove overwhelming.

Penn has had excellent teams the last two years, but the people who made the Red and Blue go are gone: halfback Adolph Bellizeare and quarterback Marty Vaughan have graduated, leaving the offense without its explosiveness. The defense, never a Quaker strength, should be porous once again.

My grandmother always told me, "If you have nothing good to say about anyone, it's better to say nothing at all." So as far as the Lions are concerned, the less said the better about the Ivy League's annual doormats.