Memorial Field Rededicated to Honor Buddy Teevens ’79

Much to the chagrin of confused freshmen during Orientation, the College has an unusual affinity for christening individual buildings with multiple names.  The Rockefeller Center and Silsby Hall are two halves of the same building.  The dividing line between the Haldeman Center and Kemeny Hall is even more nebulous.  Many dorm buildings across campus (particularly in North Park) are in similar situations.  The Rauner Special Collections Library is located entirely within Webster Hall.  Our baseball team plays at Red Rolfe Field at Biondi Park.  

And one more location recently joined this list when the name of the home of Dartmouth football was lengthened from “Memorial Field” to “Buddy Teevens Stadium at Memorial Field.”  

However, this particular double name is an excellent example of how to best make use of this nomenclature.  The original name dating back to the stadium’s construction was preserved, maintaining a connection to generations of past Dartmouth football teams and preserving the tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our great nation.  However, it adds a new tribute to a man whose impacts on Dartmouth football and the Dartmouth community more broadly have continued to outlive him.

Coach Buddy Teevens ’79 was a team captain when Dartmouth won the 1978 Ivy League championship, and as a coach he led the team to five titles.  His willingness to experiment led to his developing ways to build players’ technique without tackling each other in practice.  

He strongly advocated for players to bring the work ethic and skills they develop on the field into classrooms and the community.  In myriad ways he made his love for his alma mater clear, and in turn he was a beloved figure on campus himself.  

His leadership also extended beyond Dartmouth: he has served on an NCAA committee about player safety, and he has taught aspiring players in the Manning Passing Academy.  

Coach Teevens left his mark on the stadium, including pushing for the installation of an artificial turf field, lighting, and new West stands during his coaching tenure.  

After each snowstorm, he would shovel the snow to clear off the “D” in the field’s center; it is fitting that the stadium for which he felt so passionately now bears his name.

The first full game in the newly-named stadium was a 20-17 victory over Penn made possible by strong Dartmouth defense in the second half.  A sizable portion of the spectators were able to leave with a miniature stadium replica to commemorate this milestone in Dartmouth football history.  And Coach Teevens’s name will remain emblazoned above the gridiron for decades to come.