The 2004 Dartmouth football team will be looking to harness the momentum it built during the second half of last year's campaign.
Despite an overall 5-5 record (4-3 Ivy), Dartmouth won five of its last six games and finished in a second-place tie in the Ancient Eight.
Vital to the Big Green's late-season success was quarterback Charlie Rittgers, who was first installed into the offense Oct. 4, against Penn. He responded with 28 completions for 277 yards and two touchdowns in a 33-20 loss to the Quakers.
"We went to Charlie Rittgers in our third game," Dartmouth head coach John Lyons said. "As he started playing and getting comfortable, the confidence we got really helped us."
Rittgers was indeed a spark plug for the Dartmouth offense, as he compiled 2,138 yards and 15 touchdowns in eight games, five of them victories.
This year's challenge for Dartmouth, and especially Rittgers, is duplicating those numbers without his two favorite targets in 2003, wide receiver Jay Barnard and tight end Casey Cramer.
Barnard, a first-team All-Ivy League selection, recorded 861 yards and five touchdowns, while Cramer chalked up 695 yards and six touchdowns en route to an All-Ivy second-team selection.
Lyons believes replacing these two players is his team's highest priority.
"They were obviously a real big part of our offense," he said. "We are going to be spreading the ball around a little more."
Lyons cited seniors Andrew Hall and Bobby Murphy as players who will need to step up in larger roles.
In addition, the Big Green return senior running backs Chris Little (538 yards and four touchdowns in 2003) and Pat Risha (351 yards and three touchdowns). Lyons hopes that his veteran running attack will take pressure off of the quarterback and wide receiver positions.
Overall, Dartmouth returns 19 starters from 2003, giving the team invaluable experience.
"We have a number of guys who have played significant amounts for us," Lyons said. "Their understanding of what goes on on both sides of the ball should really help us."
The Big Green defense is one area Lyons believes must improve. The team gave up 26.1 points per game in 2003 and graduated two linebackers.
This unproven defense will be tested early, as Dartmouth's first three games are against stiff competition.
"Our challenge is the schedule we play early," Lyons said. "We start the season with [No. 13] Colgate, who made the I-AA finals last year, [No. 9] New Hampshire, who just beat Rutgers and [No. 24] Penn, who was picked to win our league."
Perhaps giving the team its greatest motivation will be junior offensive lineman Michael Shannon, who nearly died this summer when an infection in his left calf suddenly exploded into septic shock.
While in the hospital, Shannon was sedated and put on a ventilator. When news of his life-threatening affliction reached the Dartmouth football community, the team rallied behind him. Players began sitting with him in one-hour shifts and prayer vigils were set up.
After 12 excruciating days, Shannon was breathing on his own again and on his way toward recovery.
Lyons believes that this serious situation brought his team together in a profound way. He is also happy to see Shannon getting better.
"Mike is doing well," he said. "He's working to get back next year."
After such a grave ordeal, getting back on the gridiron and competing for an Ivy League championship should be therapeutic for the Big Green.
