Harvard Football Prospectus 1986: Over 100 Years of Hands-On Action

Oct. 25, Palmer Stadium, Princeton, N.J., 1 p.m.

Tiger Coach Ron Rogerson was much criticized at the start of last season for installing the somewhat old-fashioned Wing-T offense with his new team.

The problem wasn't with the offense, but with the team--the run-oriented Wing-T promised to neutralize Princeton's most effective offensive weapon, quarterback Doug Butler.

Well, Rogerson had the last laugh last year. His defense forced 34 turnovers, Butler completed his conquest of the Princeton record books, and the Tigers finished in a second-place tie (with Harvard) for the Ivy title.

Now Rogerson is faced with a new dilemma: how to replace Butler, leading rusher Butch Climmons, and the other 12 starters who have graduated.

A number of running backs are returning, and should provide ample ammunition for Rogerson's offensive set, but the loss of four offensive linemen--including two second team All-Ivy selections--should make for tough sledding.

On defense, only the cornerback slots seem set for the early going, as here again Rogerson must do some major rebuilding work.

A bright spot continues to be the kicking game.

Head Coach: Ron Rogerson (2nd year)

Last Year: 5-5 (5-2 Ivy)

Last Year Versus Harvard: Princeton, 11-6

Series Versus Harvard: Princeton leads, 43-28-7

Captains: Kevin Armstrong '87 and Ned Elton '87

Lettermen lost: 24

Lettermen returning: 34

Returning players to watch: Kevin Armstrong (CB), Jeff Baker (SE), Dean Cain (DB), Ned Elton (DE), Craig Fitchett (RB), Steve Foster (RB), Doug Struckman (TE) Week 7: Brown

Nov. 1, Harvard Stadium, 1:30 p.m.

In 1984, the Brown defense surrendered more total yardage than any other crew in the Ivy League, and only winless Columbia gave up more total points. Last season, a more experienced Bruins defensive unit rated tops in the Ancient Eight, recording four shutouts and allowing Ivy opponents just over seven points per contest.

After losing six of 11 defensive starters to graduation, including first team All-Ivy selections Ted Moskala and Tom Catena, Coach John Rosenberg finds his defense right back in a state of transition.

Also gone are tailback Jamie Potkul, who rushed for over 1000 yards last season, and quarterback Steve Kettelberger, who averaged more total yards per game than any other Ivy signal-caller in '86. Rosenberg, though, will have more depth at these positions than in recent years.

Look for junior Jamie Simone to spearhead the Bruins' running game and for safety-turned-wide receiver-turned-quarterback Keiron Bigby to pick up where Kettelberger left off. An offensive line which boasts four returning 250-pounders is likely to be Brown's greatest strength this fall as the Bruins seek to improve on the 4-3 Ivy mark they have recorded each of the past two campaigns.

Head Coach: John Rosenberg (3rd year)

Last Year: 5-4-1 (4-3 Ivy)

Last Year Versus Harvard: Harvard, 25-17

Series Versus Harvard: Harvard leads, 62-21-2

Captains: Rick Collett '87 and Mark Kachmer '87

Lettermen lost: 28

Lettermen returning: 32

Returning players to watch: Keiron Bigby (QB), Walt Cataldo (FS), Rick Collett (OG), Dave Fielding (WR), Mark Kachmer (CB), Jeff Watts (DE), Pete Zidlicky (TE) Week 8: Massachusetts

Nov. 8, Harvard Stadium, 1:30 p.m.

The Minutemen looked to have a very powerful offensive array in the pre-season. Nine starters were returning from the Mass offense which sparked the team to a 7-4 record a year ago.

But then disaster struck.

First, quarterback Dave Palazzi, the Yankee Conference and ECAC Rookie of the Year in 1985 when he completed 53 percent of his passes for 1152 yards, was struck down with a serious injury. He is expected to miss six to eight weeks of the season.

Then, only days later, the Minutemen's second string signalcaller went down with a jammed thumb. He will miss about a month.

All of which means that a walk-on named Jim Bryant will be in charge of the UMass offense for at least the first several games of the year. And that turns a very rosy offensive picture into a very uncertain one.

How the Minuteman QB situation works itself out remains to be seen, and in fact the offensive set may well be back to normal by the time the unit faces Harvard in a late-season match-up.

The Mass defense looks very talented as well--if a little thin. A fine linebacking group is backed up by a tough secondary.

Head Coach: Jim Reid (1st year)

Last Year: 7-4

Last Year Versus Harvard: Harvard, 10-3

Series Versus Harvard: Harvard leads, 11-6-1

Captains: Stan Kaczorowski '87 and Paul Manganaro '87

Lettermen lost: 15

Lettermen returning: 39

Returning players to watch: Dave Palazzi (QB), John McKeown (LB), Al Neri (FB), Paul Manganaro (LB), John Crowley (FL) Week 9: Pennsylvannia

Nov. 15, Franklin Field, Philadelphia, Pa., 1 p.m.

Former Defensive Line Coach Ed Zubrow steps in to replace miracle worker Jerry Berndt (who departs for Rice) as the Quakers set out to match Dartmouth's record string of five consecutive Ivy titles this fall. (The Big Green ruled the Ancient Eight from 1969-1973).

Tailback Rich Comizio (the league's second-leading rusher in '85), fullback Chris Flynn (1985 Rookie of the Year), and quarterback Jim Crocicchia all return to their starting roles of a year ago and together make up the most solid backfield in the Ivies.

The Quakers return seven starters on offense but lose seven starters on defense, including three first-team All-Ivy per-formers.

"We're returning a lot of people on offense, and our running game with Comizio and Flynn should be very strong," Zubrow says, "but I am worried about our large losses on the other side of the ball."

The Quakers' fourth consecutive league title did not come easily last year: the squad struggled past Cornell, 10-6, in the season opener, needed a miraculous 31-point comeback to down Princeton, and fell to Harvard at the Stadium by a convincing 17-6 score.

This year doesn't look to be any easier.

Head Coach: Ed Zubrow (1st year)

Last Year: 7-2 (6-1 Ivy)

Last Year Versus Harvard: Harvard, 17-6

Series versus Harvard: Harvard leads, 36-18-2

Captains: Steve Buonato '87 and Brad Heinz '87

Lettermen lost: 19

Lettermen returning: 30

Returning players to watch: Rich Comizio (HB), Jim Crocicchia (QB), Dexter Desir (DT), Jim Fangmeyer (DB), Jeff Fortna (LB), Brad Heinz (SS), Brent Novoselsky (TE), Ken Saunders (WR) Week 10: Yale

Nov. 22, Harvard Stadium, 1 p.m.

The Yale Bulldogs have been the Ivy League's biggest mystery throughout the 1980s. In 1983, Coach Carm Cozza's charges limped home to a 1-9 mark. Two years later, the Elis were thought to have made a full circle and were picked by many to challenge Penn for the Ivy title.

But 1985 proved a big disappointment, as the Bulldogs stood 3-4-1 on the final weekend of the season with only The Game to play. Once again, Cozza's troops did the unexpected, denying the Crimson a share of the Ivy title with a convincing 17-6 victory.

So what gives? And what will the Bulldogs do this year? Frankly no one--especially the Yalies themselves--have any clue.

Yale's 1986 fortunes were dealt a severe blow over the summer when tailback Mike Stewart was lost for academic problems. Stewart destroyed Harvard with 103 yards, and had been expected to team with fellow runner Ted Macauley and QB Kelly Ryan to form a solid backfield. Now that is up in the air.

Even more uncertainty is found on defense, where Cozza must deal with seven new starters and a number of returnees who will be trying new positions. Yale's defensive secondary will be entirely new.

But Cozza expresses optimism.

Head Coach: Carm Cozza (22nd year)

Last Year: 4-4-1 (3-3-1 Ivy)

Last Year Versus Harvard: Yale, 17-6

Series Versus Harvard: Yale leads, 56-38-8

Captain: Ken Lund '87

Lettermen lost: 28

Lettermen returning: 32

Returning players to watch: Troy Jenkins (FB), Yves LaBisssiere (DT), Ted Macauley (TB), George Matthews (OG), Kelly Ryan (QB), Mike Ryan (LB)