Buddy Teevens on 2019 Football Season

The Dartmouth Review: Can you give a brief update on the team’s progress going into preseason?

Buddy Teevens: We’ve got some talent and we’re going to make sure that we’re as productive as possible. We may be a little bit different offensively we were very dominant in the run game last year. We feel like with a younger front, we’re going to have to mix and match a little bit. I think that we are mature enough as a team to do that to the quarterback and receiving corps.

TDR: Are there any major outlying injuries the team is dealing with?

Buddy Teevens: We’re in good shape. The injury situation was very fortunate last year, we had one player miss a single game. Jack Traynor ’19 banged up his knee but it wasn’t anything serious so, he’s back and ready to go. I think the way we practice is certainly helpful for the health of our team. Our players really do get it; they protect each other. We can play at a high level for an extended period time with a number of different contributors.

TDR: What are some up and coming players we should look out for in the 2019 campaign?

Buddy Teevens: Jamal Clooney ’23 is a wide receiver out of Florida that we think has the ability to make a difference. Seamus O’Connnell ’23 is another receiver we expect to make an impact. We have a couple of other talented guys, at defensive lineman or offensive lineman, but it’s just tough for those young guys who contribute early, especially if there is size and seniority involved.

TDR: Can you give some insight into the work that goes into developing players?

Buddy Teevens: I think one thing that has surprised a lot of people is the physical development of our team. Our staff does a really good job. Spencer Brown, our strength and conditioning coach, is exceptional. A lot of the guys who are working towards the professional try-out opportunities have put in a lot of hours with him. The alumni that are playing professionally will come back and work out with him. There are a number of different people who come to train here. Folks with the Calgary Stampeders the Montreal Alouettes, Los Angeles Rams and New York Jets have all been here recently.

TDR: Has there been much turnover within the coaching staff over the past year?

Buddy Teevens: There wasn’t really much staff transition we needed to deal with this year. We needed to fill a quality control position that was open and brought in Vaughn Johnson to do the job. We also elevated Callie Brownson [the first woman appointed as full-time NCAA Division I football coach] to a recruiting coordinator position. She’s really sharp and good at what she does. The other guys have been here for a while, they understand that they are good coaches and they take care of the players.

TDR: This year’s matchup with Princeton University will be played at Yankee Stadium. Being that it’s last year’s de facto championship game, does this matchup mean a little more this year.

Buddy Teevens: Yeah definitely, it was a big game last year. The regret I have is it wasn’t the last week of the year after the shuffling of the schedule. We’ve had some great competitions through the course of time. We do a pretty good job of coming out to play those guys but they got us last year. So you look back and wish things could have gone differently, but you have to give them credit. Their quarterback, receiving corps and defense all had a great day against us. We were not as productive on offense as we would have liked to be. Our defense on the other hand played lights out. Princeton had the most prolific offense in the NCAA Division I-AA last year and we held them to only 14 points. Offensively we just needed to be more efficient, obviously that didn’t happen. So, you reflect back on it but they’re a new team and a different experience. We play to win every game. It’s a long way off, but with every game we’re building towards that.

TDR: How reassuring is it to have Jack Traynor ‘19 and Isiah Swann ’20 both coming back both as captains being that they are some of the most dominant players in the Ivy League on the defensive side of the ball?

Buddy Teevens: Well, it conveys confidence across the board from a coaching standpoint. These guys have played a lot of football for us and have really developed a strong knowledge of the game. They’re coaches on the field who understand how we run our system. People trust and rely on them, and they make plays. That sort of security can really boost a team immediately. In terms of leadership they have very contrasting styles. They are both relatively quiet, but Isiah Swann really leads through action as opposed to what he says. He often works with players in one on one situations. He is very thoughtful, supportive, and is a good teacher. He helps young guys and the other people who may not necessarily understand something. On the other hand, Jack is a fiery guy. As a leader, he really gets into the game. He’s jacked up, intense, and provides a physical presence on the field. We also have the tremendous defensive leadership of Dave Chalmers ’19, Jackson Perry ’19, and D.J. Avery ’20. All these guys have a lot of experience and are prominent leaders on the team. It was one of the most difficult Captain votes I’ve seen and to give it to my players for selecting a good group of guys. A whole host of different players received votes, which is really encouraging. Symbolically you have two captains, but the reality is the more leadership you have on a football team, the better off it’s going to be. We have a lot of players who have played frequently for us, and they generally complement each other. We expect them to continue that and improve in the future.

TDR: Last season, Dartmouth started off strong winning each of the first 5 games by at least 20 points. Do you believe that has anything to do with the team’s non-contact training regimen?

Buddy Teevens: I think it has a lot to do with the fact that we do a good job in offseason preparation. I think our guys bought in and appreciate what we do and how we do it. There’s a rhyme and a reason or rationale to the fact that we play a lot of people throughout a given game. The main reason is because we can, but also philosophically we like to rotate players on the field so that our guys maintain a high level of play. The fact that we don’t hit our guys ad nauseum in preseason practice or during the season also makes a difference. That constant contact takes a toll on a football team over the course of time. My personal belief is that you can only take so many hits to your body, so, why expend them on the practice field? Those things coupled together create a great attitude towards practice. We practice at a high tempo, we get a lot of work done, and we do it very efficiently. I do think that has something to do with our conditioning in the third and fourth quarters and certainly later in the season.

TDR: What was the biggest key to staying in control of games when leading last season?

Buddy Teevens: Well, the offensive line was fantastic. They really did a good job up front. Across the board, they all played a role in securing the ball. We played multiple offensive packages, but they were able to adapt. There’s a level of unpredictability to football, but for a lot of the season we weren’t in the position where we had to throw the football. In these situations, we were able to consume clock, wear people down, and put points on the board. I think this year will be different. We always want to establish the run, but realistically we have some guys with limited experience. We may have to mix and match a little bit, but I think we have the capability to do that. Hopefully we’re more of a balanced offensive presentation and put people a little bit more back on their heels. I mentioned Jared Gerbino ’20, who can mix it up between the running and throwing game. Last year, when people saw him come in they assumed we would run. We were able to successfully do so, but to have that element of doubt adds an extra layer of depth to our offense. So, I really believe creating more balance on offence can be very fruitful for us.

TDR: Last year, Derek Kyler ’21 started the season as a young and inexperienced leader of the offense. However, he put up fantastic numbers, completing 70 percent of his passes. How will his experience from last year help him improve during his second season?

Buddy Teevens: It’s just invaluable. The more snaps you take, the better you get. He played at a high level and we expect him to continue to. There’s a general confidence you get when you execute successfully like that. He’s a hard worker, a quiet guy, but a dedicated football player. He’s conscientious about expanding his knowledge of the game. When you see a guy play early on and play well, we generally expect to see more going forward. What he did last year was a big deal. Now I want to see him grasp it, learn from it, and build off it.

TDR: Are there any personal goals that you have for the season?

Buddy Teevens: I want to win as much as we can, that’s always the coaches deal. I like our team. I like the attitude they have, the work ethic they have and the acceptance of our system. They have embraced the things that we do for the betterment of a lot of folks. To see all of it come together and to experience the team’s enthusiasm is truly exciting for me.