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

"We're not going to be picked very high, because we're thin," Columbia Coach Larry McElreavy says. "We do, however, have the talent that on any given day, we can beat any other team in the league."

This is the first time in a couple years that a Columbia coach can truthfully utter that cliche, because the last few Lions' squads have been woefully bad.

Last year the Columbia gridders went 0-10, were shut out three times, were out-scored 331-75, and were called "drug-addicted losers" by (now departed) Coach Jim Garrett.

Things can only get better.

And they probably will with McElreavy, a former assistant coach at Dartmouth, Yale, and Penn who was most recently the head coach at the University of New Haven. Columbia's top four ground-gainers return from last year, though quarterback (and team MVP) Henry Santos has graduated.

Homer Hill (27 catches in 1985) leads the Lions' receiving corps that looks to have some potential. However, McElreavy must come up with a quarterback from somewhere.

"We're not setting any specfic goals," McElreavy says. "We just want to get better each week, and if you do that, the wins will come."

And maybe the wins actually will come, this year, for the Lions.

Head Coach: Larry McElreavy (1st year)

Last Year: 0-10 (0-7 Ivy)

Last Year Versus Harvard: Harvard, 49-17

Series Versus Harvard: Harvard leads, 33-10-1

Captain: To be named

Lettermen lost: 22

Lettermen returning: 28

Returning players to watch: John Chirico (FB) Week 2: Holy Cross

Sept. 27, Harvard Stadium, 1:30 p.m.

People don't forget miracles very easily. Neither do football coaches and the teams which have been victimized by miracles.

After the '85 Crimson gridders crucified their Worcestor counterparts by scoring 21 points in 41 seconds (after trailing 20-7 with just over three minutes remaining) to nail down a 28-20 triumph, the contest was immediately dubbed "The Miracle at The Cross."

But that game was only one in a series of disasters which struck Crusader football last year, the least of which was its 4-6-1 record.

In mid November, All-American running back Gill "Thrill" Fenerty was lost for the season with a mysterious head injury.

Then in early February, Crusader Coach Rick Carter, who had led the Cross to four consecutive winning seasons before the 1985 campaign, was found dead in his Massachusetts home. He had taken his own life.

This, then, is the background to Coach Mark Duffner's inaugural 1986 season. Duffner will likely count on veteran quarterback Jeff Wiley (76-for-157, 984 yards last year) to provide much of his offensive punch.

The linebacking corps looks solid, although the rest of the defense will have to be rebuilt.

Head Coach: Mark Duffner (1st year)

Last Year: 4-6-1

Last Year Versus Harvard: Harvard, 28-20

Series Versus Harvard: Harvard leads, 26-12-2

Captains: Steve Southard '87, Jerry McCabe '87, Frank Kutschke '87 and Pat Barry '87

Lettermen lost: 23

Lettermen returning: 31

Returning players to watch: Lee Hull (SE) Week 3: William & Mary

Oct. 4, Cary Stadium, Williamsburg, Va., 1:30 p.m.

The Tribe seems poised to have an excellent year in 1986.

And it wouldn't be the first time.

The nation's second-oldest university ended the 1985 campaign ranked 18th in the NCAA Division I-AA polls and just missed a playoff spot. The Tribe owns a fantastic 19-3 mark in I-AA play since the sub-division's birth.

Nine starters return from last year's defensive unit which excelled at home (allowing 15.5 points per game) but struggled on the road (where it allowed nearly 32 points per game). The additional year of experience should make the Tribe's "D" consistently top-flight.

Indeed, the only real pre-season problem which nagged W&M was finding a quarterback to replace record-setting Stan Yagiello. And here, Coach Jimmye Laycock seems to have struck gold.

Making his first varsity start in this year's season-opener against Colgate, former third-string QB Ken Lambiotte was stellar, completing 24 of 34 passes for 300-plus yards and three touchdowns.

Joining Lambiotte in the offensive backfield is 5-ft., 5-in. Michael Clemons who rushed for 714 yards and seven scores while catching a school-record 70 passes for four more touchdowns.

Head Coach: Jimmye Laycock (7th year)

Last Year: 7-4

Last Year Versus Harvard: William and Mary, 21-14

Series Versus Harvard: Harvard leads, 4-1-2

Captains: Michael Clemons '87, Dave Pocta '87 and Dave Szydlik '87

Lettermen lost: 14

Lettermen returning: 30

Returning players to watch: Michael Clemons (TB), Reggie Hodnutt (FB), Harry Mehre (FL), Ricky Miller (LB), Dave Pocta (LB), Dave Szydlik (FL), Calvin Trivers (CB) Week 4: Cornell

Oct. 11, Harvard Stadium, 1 p.m.

1986 should be an exciting year for the Big Red. It marks the 15-year anniversary of Cornell's last Ivy title--a tie with Dartmouth in 1971--and Maxie Baughan's troops have been tabbed by several coaches around the league as top contenders to break Penn's four-year hold on the Ivy crown.

Cornell's greatest strength lies in senior quarterback Marty Stallone, who threw for over 800 yards and nine touchdowns in part-time duty his junior year. The running game will center on senior fullback Jeff Johnson since the Big Red lost its top ground gainer of a year ago, John Tagliaferri, to graduation.

The offensive line is a bit of a question mark, since the squad's only two All-Ivy selections (offensive guard Ken Johnson and center Mike Wagner) also graduated.

After losing its first six contests of the 1985 campaign, Cornell rebounded to triumph three times in its final four outings. It is worth noting that five of the Big Red's seven losses last season came by one touchdown or less, and that last year's next-to-last place finishers will have 33 returning lettermen--including all 11 defensive starters--giving the squad the experience it lacked in 1985 to win the close ones.

Head Coach: Maxie Baughan (4th year)

Last Year: 3-7 (2-5 Ivy)

Last Year Versus Harvard: Harvard, 20-17

Series Versus Harvard: Harvard leads, 30-18-2

Captains: Tom Bernardo '87 and Ken Johnson '87

Lettermen lost: 26

Lettermen returning: 33

Returning players to watch: Tom Bernardo (LB), Jeff DeLamielleure (S), Dave Dishaw (TE), Jim Frontero (CB), Jeff Johnson (FB), Mike Raich (CB), Marty Stallone (QB) Week 5: Dartmouth

Oct. 18, Memorial Field, Hanover, N.H., 1:30 p.m.

Joe Yukica returns for his last fall of coaching in Hanover after reaching an offseason settlement with the college, which wanted to release him after a disappointing 2-7-1 campaign in 1985.

Yukica believes his squad "has put itself in a position where it can beat any team on any given day," a position the Big Green certainly wasn't in when it was shut out by Brown, 22-0, the next-to-last weekend of '85.

Dartmouth's biggest bright spot is sophomore wide receiver Craig Morton, who caught 21 passes for 718 yards (a 34.2 yards per reception average) and nine touchdowns on the Green's freshman team. Yukica has already called Morton the fastest wide-out he has seen in his eight-year stint with the Big Green.

The offensive line is in transition, since the squad lost four of last year's starting five to graduation (nine offensive starters overall). The defense is anchored by a pair of outside tackles--Co-Captain Rusty Gardner, who missed all of last season, and Paul Michael, a promising sophomore.

Tailback Emie Torain, the Big Green's leading rusher in '85, and signal-caller and Co-Captain David Gabianelli (87-for-175, 1150 yards) will head up the Big Green backfield as both return for their senior campaigns.

Head Coach: Joe Yukica (9th year)

Last Year: 2-7-1 (2-4-1 Ivy)

Last Year Versus Harvard: Harvard, 17-7

Series Versus Harvard: Harvard leads, 47-38-4

Captains: David Gabianelli '87 and Rusty Gardner '87

Lettermen lost: 33

Lettermen returning: 28

Returning players to watch: Ron Dufresne (FB), John Fuhrman (LB), David Gabianelli (QB), Brett Matthews (ROV), Scott Rusert (CB), Andy Russell (FS)

Tiger Coach Ron Rogerson was much criticized atthe start of last season for installing thesomewhat old-fashioned Wing-T offense with his newteam.

The problem wasn't with the offense, but withthe team--the run-oriented Wing-T promised toneutralize Princeton's most effective offensiveweapon, quarterback Doug Butler.

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

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

A number of running backs are returning, andshould provide ample ammunition for Rogerson'soffensive set, but the loss of four offensivelinemen--including two second team All-Ivyselections--should make for tough sledding.

On defense, only the cornerback slots seem setfor the early going, as here again Rogerson mustdo 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 NedElton '87

Lettermen lost: 24

Lettermen returning: 34

Returning players to watch: KevinArmstrong (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 moretotal yardage than any other crew in the IvyLeague, and only winless Columbia gave up moretotal points. Last season, a more experiencedBruins defensive unit rated tops in the AncientEight, recording four shutouts and allowing Ivyopponents just over seven points per contest.

After losing six of 11 defensive starters tograduation, including first team All-Ivyselections Ted Moskala and Tom Catena, Coach JohnRosenberg finds his defense right back in a stateof transition.

Also gone are tailback Jamie Potkul, who rushedfor over 1000 yards last season, and quarterbackSteve Kettelberger, who averaged more total yardsper game than any other Ivy signal-caller in '86,Rosenberg, though, will have more depth at thesepositions than in recent years.

Look for junior Jamie Simone to spearhead theBruins' running game and for safety-turned-widereceiver-turned-quarterback Keiron Bigby to pickup where Kettelberger left off. An offensive linewhich boasts four returning 250-pounders is likelyto be Brown's greatest strength this fall as theBruins seek to improve on the 4-3 Ivy mark theyhave 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 MarkKachmer '87

Lettermen lost: 28

Lettermen returning: 32

Returning players to watch: Keiron Bigby(QB), Walt Cataldo (FS), Rick Collett (OG), DaveFielding (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 powerfuloffensive array in the pre-season. Nine starterswere returning from the Mass offense which sparkedthe team to a 7-4 record a year ago.

But then disaster struck.

First, quarterback Dave Palazzi, the YankeeConference and ECAC Rookie of the Year in 1985when he completed 53 percent of his passes for1152 yards, was struck down with a serious injury.He is expected to miss six to eight weeks of theseason.

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

All of which means that a walk-on named JimBryant will be in charge of the U Mass offense forat least the first several games of the year. Andthat turns a very rosy offensive picture into avery uncertain one.

How the Minuteman QB situation works itself outremains to be seen, and in fact the offensive setmay well be back to normal by the time the unitfaces Harvard in a late-season match-up.

The Mass defense looks very talented aswell--if a little thin. A fine linebacking groupis 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 PaulManganaro '87

Lettermen lost: 15

Lettermen returning: 39

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

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

Former Defensive Line Coach Ed Zubrow steps into replace miracle worker Jerry Berndt (whodeparts for Rice) as the Quakers set out to matchDartmouth's record string of five consecutive Ivytitles this fall. (The Big Green ruled the AncientEight from 1969-1973).

Tailback Rich Comizio (the league'ssecond-leading rusher in '85), fullback ChrisFlynn (1985 Rookie of the Year), and quarterbackJim Crocicchia all return to their starting rolesof a year ago and together make up the most solidbackfield in the Ivies.

The Quakers return seven starters on offensebut lose seven starters on defense, includingthree first-team All-Ivy performers.

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

The Quakers' fourth consecutive league titledid not come easily last year: the squad struggledpast Cornell, 10-6, in the season opener, needed amiraculous 31-point comeback to down Princeton,and fell to Harvard at the Stadium by a convincing17-6 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 BradHeinz '87

Lettermen lost: 19

Lettermen returning: 30

Returning players to watch: Rich Comizio(HB), Jim Crocicchia (QB), Dexter Desir (DT), JimFangmeyer (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'sbiggest mystery throughout the 1980s. In 1983,Coach Carm Cozza's charges limped home to a 1-9mark. Two years later, the Elis were thought tohave made full circle and were picked by many tochallenge Penn for the Ivy title.

But 1985 proved a big disappointment, as theBulldogs stood 3-4-1 on the final weekend of theseason with only The Game to play. Once again,Cozza's troops did the unexpected, denying theCrimson a share of the Ivy title with a convincing17-6 victory.

So what gives? And what will the Bulldogs dothis year? Frankly no one--especially the Yaliesthemselves--have any clue.

Yale's 1986 fortunes were dealt a severe blowover the summer when tailback Mike Stewart waslost for academic problems. Stewart destroyedHarvard with 103 yards, and had been expected toteam with fellow runner Ted Macauley and QB KellyRyan to form a solid backfield. Now that is up inthe air.

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