OPPONENT SPOTLIGHT: Bushnell Cup candidate Abel poses threat to Quakers

The fact that Mark Abel is one of the defensive stars of the Ivy League should come as no surprise. After all, he has the prep background, the bloodlines and the inner drive that make quality football players. One of Dartmouth's tri-captains, the senior linebacker comes from one of America's best-known high schools. You may know Moeller High in Cincinnati for producing Ken Griffey, Jr., and and Barry Larkin, but it is also an Ohio football power. Like a college, Moeller employs special coaches for every position. Abel was lucky enough to work with former NFL linebacker Bob Crapple. "There's a long-standing football tradition, a lot of pressure," Abel said. "I guess you get a lot more attention." When it came time to look for colleges, Abel only knew he wanted to get away from his urban environment. His father William, a former quarterback for Cornell in the late '60s, pointed his son in the direction of the Ivy League. Although some Division I programs like Miami (Ohio) expressed interest, Abel focused on Cornell and Dartmouth. "My dad sent tapes around and then the coaches came and talked to me," Abel said. "A lot [of the decision] was just my recruiting trip." Abel's first year was primarily spent with the JV squad, but he did get a chance to participate on special teams and play one down against Yale, a moment he still classifies as a "thrill". The next year, however, a hamstring injury gave Abel a chance to step into the line-up. He took the opportunity and registered over 100 tackles. By this point, Abel had added nearly thirty pounds to his high school frame. In 1995, Abel stepped up his game and made himself one of the top defensive players in the Ivy League, earning first-team All-Ivy honors. Last season was Dartmouth first with a 4-3 defensive scheme and Abel occupied the crucial middle spot, forming, with Zack Walz, one of the best linebacker combinations in the Ancient Eight. Those two will be expected to anchor a defense, which lost several starters on the defensive line. "We have a lot of young players, and the linebackers are going to help them out a lot," Abel said. Penn remembers Abel well, after he enjoyed his finest statistical day in last year's opener at Franklin Field, recording 19 tackles. For the season, he racked up 134 tackles, including 73 solo. Abel also grew into the leadership role during his junior campaign. That's why the 6-foot-1, 220-pounder is quarterbacking the defense this season. "I make the huddle calls, I make all the adjustments," Abel said. "I have a pretty good feel for making reads." Abel knows that Saturday's showdown with Penn could determine whether the Big Green can pick up their first Ivy title since 1991. Last season, Dartmouth was able to stop Penn early in the game by unveiling their new 4-3 in place of the expected 50, only succumbing after a Quakers rally. Abel has already formulated an idea of this year's Penn attack. "I think they'll be potent," he said. "They have two great running backs, Abye and Scott. They'll probably throw a lot of 3-step drops to Fabish, who's probably one of the fastest players in the league." Crowds, like expectations, were low for Big Green football last year. This year, with what the Dartmouth faithful feel is a title contender, a good crowd of 10,000 is expected at Memorial Field. Mark Abel has collected about as many awards as possible. He has won awards as the Big Green's biggest contributing junior and sophomore, as well as being all-Ivy and a tri-captain. All that remains is a league championship.