Big Stage

Coach Yukica wasn't feeling adventurous at Giants Stadium 25 years ago

Game of the Day (Day 34)

November 6, 1983

Columbia 17 Dartmouth 17

The large crowd that turned out at Giants Stadium last night to see Brett Favre's Jets debut was probably the biggest preseason crowd for a Jets preseason game not against the Giants.

It reminded me of the other end of the spectrum, when Columbia hosted Dartmouth at cavernous Giants Stadium in 1983. 1983 was the year when Columbia had to play at other venues while Wien Stadium was being built. Hofstra's Stadium in Hempstead was the de facto temporary home, and the Lions played one or two more road games than usual.

But the Dartmouth game was set for Giants Stadium. And the Big Green got the scare of their lives in front of the light crowd at the 76,000 seat arena.

Dartmouth was in a tie for first in the league with three games to play. But Columbia QB John Witkowski and wide outs Bill Reggio and Don Lewis were all seniors looking to break more records before their careers were over.

The game looked like it would be a shoot-out when both teams lit it up in the second quarter. It was tied at 14-14 at the half after Witkowski had two TD passes, one each to Reggio and Lewis.

But the third quarter was scoreless after Lion Kicker Larry Walsh missed a short field goal attempt, and Witkowski was intercepted twice in the Big Green end zone.

The fourth quarter was less error-prone. Witkowski led Columbia on one last drive that ended with a 42-yard field goal by Walsh and the 17-14 lead.

But Dartmouth stayed alive. Starting at their own 23 with just 2:30 left, Big Green QB Frank Polsinello started a drive that wore the Lions down. On one third down, he completed a huge 16-yard pass to put the ball at the Columbia 18 with time for a couple more plays. When a running play gained just three yards to the 15, Dartmouth coach Joe Yukica wasted no time and went for the tie. Kicker Craig Saltzgaber made the 32-yarder and the Big Green had averted defeat.

Witkowski finished the game with 337 passing and those two TD's. Columbia went on to lose the next 44-straight games.

Dartmouth's caution did not pay off in a championship. The Big Green finished 1983 tied for third with Brown with a 4-2-1 Ivy record. Harvard and Penn tied for the title. It would be five years before Dartmouth would post another winning Ivy record.