Completed Event: Football at Fordham on October 18, 2025 , Win , 30, to, 13
Final
Football
at Fordham
30
13
Week One of Spring Ball a Success for Dartmouth Football
4/13/2025 12:57:00 PM | Football
The Big Green received their championship rings last Sunday at their banquet, then got to work to open the spring
HANOVER, N.H. — The Dartmouth football team opened spring practice this week, looking to keep the momentum going from its four Ivy League Championships in the last five seasons. Week one featured three practices, including some time indoors in the state-of-the-art Graham Indoor Practice Facility, along with an outdoor practice on Thursday.
Sammy McCorkle, the Robert L. Blackman Head Football Coach, was happy after day one.
"With the weather we had out here today and what we were expecting this afternoon, we moved practice from this afternoon to 6 a.m. this morning," he said. "And I thought the guys responded great — the coaches, the players, everybody came here ready to roll. We actually started a little bit early. Everybody was anxious to get going on the first day."
The spring features plenty of people in new and increased roles. With it, McCorkle knows mistakes will come.
"The effort was exactly what we're looking for, had a great sense of urgency," he said. "Obviously, there were some mental mistakes out there with some new guys at some positions, first time being out there and at that fast pace. But I thought guys did a heck of a job.
"If they made a mistake, they made it full speed."
As defensive coordinator and AFCA national assistant coach of the year Don Dobes explained, it's a fun group to coach.
"Number one reason is they love being a team," he said. "They love the brotherhood. They love the family culture that we've established and created here. They have grown to be so close with each other that they can hold each other accountable and at the same time, be a person who really gravitates to be the best at everything they do."
Spring is a valuable time for adjustment on a number of fronts, including offensively with new offensive coordinator Shane Montgomery.
"Obviously, adjusting to our new offensive scheme and getting better with that with each day [is important]," said McCorkle. "We also have a couple new coaches on the defensive side of the ball.
"We're going to be installing stuff every single day, but the biggest thing we want to try to do is eliminate mental mistakes with each practice," McCorkle continued. "Make sure we take care of the football… and then on defense, we want to create turnovers. So, with each day, our expectations need to rise."
The makeup of the Big Green's spring roster is balanced, with significant veteran returners at various positions, but also plenty of youth.
"We've got some guys who are going to get some more opportunities, because we lost some guys in certain positions," said McCorkle. "A couple guys up front on the offensive line, a couple guys on the defensive line, but I thought the guys who have stepped up, who've been waiting for this opportunity, did a really good job."
The word experience is key. The spring will provide valuable experience heading into the fall, 2025 campaign.
"This spring is to make sure that we're teaching the guys the fundamentals, the techniques that that we use to become a great defense," said Dobes. "The one thing you know about experience, there's only one way to get it, and that's by coming out here, performing under pressure situations. Coach McCorkle and the rest of the staff, I believe, do a great job of setting a high bar, but also setting a sense of urgency to the guys that we have to play fast."
As Dobes said, he preaches playing fast, but not being in a hurry.
"They'll look at me and give me a look of okay, what are you talking about there? And it's the whole thing about being locked in at that moment, giving your all, then reloading, getting locked in again and giving your all," said Dobes. "Learn how to do that, and learn how the previous snap, good or bad, can affect the next step.
"Because it's a game of now."
Right now, Dartmouth football isn't focused on the past, but rather how to be great this spring heading into next fall.
Week two of spring practice begins on Tuesday, as the Big Green prepare for their spring game on Saturday, May 10.
Sammy McCorkle, the Robert L. Blackman Head Football Coach, was happy after day one.
"With the weather we had out here today and what we were expecting this afternoon, we moved practice from this afternoon to 6 a.m. this morning," he said. "And I thought the guys responded great — the coaches, the players, everybody came here ready to roll. We actually started a little bit early. Everybody was anxious to get going on the first day."
The spring features plenty of people in new and increased roles. With it, McCorkle knows mistakes will come.
"The effort was exactly what we're looking for, had a great sense of urgency," he said. "Obviously, there were some mental mistakes out there with some new guys at some positions, first time being out there and at that fast pace. But I thought guys did a heck of a job.
"If they made a mistake, they made it full speed."
As defensive coordinator and AFCA national assistant coach of the year Don Dobes explained, it's a fun group to coach.
"Number one reason is they love being a team," he said. "They love the brotherhood. They love the family culture that we've established and created here. They have grown to be so close with each other that they can hold each other accountable and at the same time, be a person who really gravitates to be the best at everything they do."
Spring is a valuable time for adjustment on a number of fronts, including offensively with new offensive coordinator Shane Montgomery.
"Obviously, adjusting to our new offensive scheme and getting better with that with each day [is important]," said McCorkle. "We also have a couple new coaches on the defensive side of the ball.
"We're going to be installing stuff every single day, but the biggest thing we want to try to do is eliminate mental mistakes with each practice," McCorkle continued. "Make sure we take care of the football… and then on defense, we want to create turnovers. So, with each day, our expectations need to rise."
The makeup of the Big Green's spring roster is balanced, with significant veteran returners at various positions, but also plenty of youth.
"We've got some guys who are going to get some more opportunities, because we lost some guys in certain positions," said McCorkle. "A couple guys up front on the offensive line, a couple guys on the defensive line, but I thought the guys who have stepped up, who've been waiting for this opportunity, did a really good job."
The word experience is key. The spring will provide valuable experience heading into the fall, 2025 campaign.
"This spring is to make sure that we're teaching the guys the fundamentals, the techniques that that we use to become a great defense," said Dobes. "The one thing you know about experience, there's only one way to get it, and that's by coming out here, performing under pressure situations. Coach McCorkle and the rest of the staff, I believe, do a great job of setting a high bar, but also setting a sense of urgency to the guys that we have to play fast."
As Dobes said, he preaches playing fast, but not being in a hurry.
"They'll look at me and give me a look of okay, what are you talking about there? And it's the whole thing about being locked in at that moment, giving your all, then reloading, getting locked in again and giving your all," said Dobes. "Learn how to do that, and learn how the previous snap, good or bad, can affect the next step.
"Because it's a game of now."
Right now, Dartmouth football isn't focused on the past, but rather how to be great this spring heading into next fall.
Week two of spring practice begins on Tuesday, as the Big Green prepare for their spring game on Saturday, May 10.
Day 1 in the books‼️#TheWoods #GoBigGreen pic.twitter.com/sZfOAmgYGX
— Dartmouth Football (@DartmouthFTBL) April 8, 2025
Reigning @IvyLeague champion @DartmouthFTBL opened spring practice this morning and after it, we caught up with @Coach_McCorkle, the Robert L. Blackman Head Football Coach!#GoBigGreen | #TheWoods🌲 pic.twitter.com/8aKstpzcT4
— Dartmouth Athletics (@dartmouthsports) April 8, 2025
Never left#TheWoods #GoBigGreen pic.twitter.com/zNnaNL1YO1
— Dartmouth Football (@DartmouthFTBL) April 9, 2025
Attacking the day with a sense of urgency‼️#TheWoods #GoBigGreen pic.twitter.com/w0vMNKBoil
— Dartmouth Football (@DartmouthFTBL) April 11, 2025
Poetry in (slow) motion#TheWoods #GoBigGreen pic.twitter.com/sXPgkEHBSQ
— Dartmouth Football (@DartmouthFTBL) April 11, 2025
Week 1 of spring ball down#TheWoods #GoBigGreen pic.twitter.com/46p0hXgRde
— Dartmouth Football (@DartmouthFTBL) April 12, 2025
As @DartmouthFTBL wraps up week one of spring ball, hear from defensive coordinator and @WeAreAFCA assistant coach of the year Don Dobes who shares his insight into the Dartmouth way!#GoBigGreen | #TheWoods🌲 pic.twitter.com/RSJj2IUD0k
— Dartmouth Athletics (@dartmouthsports) April 13, 2025
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