Sport: The Tie That Binds

All last year Yale’s Nicholas John Kangas was an unnoticed, third-string freshman halfback. This year, still stubbornly trying to make the grade, Nick had carried the ball exactly four times for the Eli varsity. Coach Jordan Olivar could not seem to find a spot for the light (160 Ibs.), little (5 ft. 9 in.) scrapper. Only an act of desperation sent Nick into the big game with undefeated Dartmouth last week.

It was the third quarter, and Yale was losing 7-0. Its scat backs were slipping all over the rain-drenched turf; Quarterback Dick Winterbauer had tried only one pass, and that had been intercepted. Then Halfback Dick Winkler was injured, and there was nobody left but Nick. For all but ten seconds of the time that remained he was more than enough. His sure-footed drive carried Yale to two touchdowns, and he helped hold off the Indians until the clock had almost run out. But Dartmouth’s desperate Quarterback Dave Bradley, wobbling passes everywhere, connected for a last-second touchdown. In a 41-game series, shot through with spectacular finishes, no Yale-Dartmouth contest has seen both teams so satisfied to save a 14-14 tie.