Dartmouth Loses A Football Pioneer

The first game of the season kicks off Saturday against Colgate. If you haven't yet signed up for Green Alert Premium, there's still time to catch all of the action. Just click here. And if you have signed up and like what you see, please spread the word! Already this fall there have been 40 full-length stories about the 2007 Dartmouth team and season.

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A couple of notes I meant to include this morning. ...

Joseph W. Handrahan Sr., who helped the 1934 and '35 Dartmouth teams go a combined 14-5 -- and beat Yale for the first time -- has died at the age of 94 in Western Pennsylvania.

From his obituary in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

Mr. Handrahan played for legendary coach Earl "Red" Blaik at Dartmouth. He was a starting guard in 1934 and doubled as the Big Green's placekicker in 1935, his senior season.

Mr. Handrahan, a former Shaler resident, played a big role in helping Dartmouth break a long losing streak to Yale during his senior season. From 1884 until 1934, Dartmouth was 0-15-3 against Yale.

In addition to his blocking duties on the offensive line, Mr. Handrahan kicked two extra points in a 14-6 Big Green victory. Dartmouth finished 8-2 that season.

Also, I had a nice phone conversation with Anthony Gargiulo '06 from Calgary over the weekend. He reports that his balky ankle is coming around and that he hopes to be back at defensive end for the Calgary Stampeders when the Stamps return to action Saturday against Saskatchewan. It's been quite a first year of professional football for Gargiulo, who won a spot on the roster and started the first several games before knee and ankle problems sidelined him. Calgary is currently 5-4-1.