Junior quarterback Frank Polisinello won five of six games for the Green (which finished 6-4 overall) last season, after taking over for injured starter Rick Stafford.

Stafford underwent knee surgery, and Coach Joe Yukica says, "I have not designated Rick as my No. 2 in the preseason. I really have to see him be more active before counting on him."

A knee injury also sidelined All-Ivy punter Rick Bayless at the beginning of the Dartmouth training camp, but Yukica expects Bayless to be ready for the opener with Penn.

Polsinello's chief responsibility will be handing off to halfback Sean Maher, who tied for second place in the league in scoring last season.

The outcome of the 1982 Ivy League race could hinge on the Dartmouth defense. If Yukica can construct an adequate squad from the unit that returns only one player. Dartmouth will become the team to beat.

Dave Neslund, who started as a linebacker in '81, will probably move into the line at noseguard, while Yukica searches among the younger players for an entirely new secondary.

"We are seeing some really interesting battles in the secondary, but nothing has been resolved. Only one guy [cornerback Jim Bloomer] has a job so far," Yukica said.

Three coaches Cozza Brown's John Anderson and Penn's Jerry Berndt--have referred to Cornell as the "sleeper of the Ivy League." With 16 players back, the Big Red has several reasons to expect an improvement on last year's 2-5 (3-7 overall) mark.

At the top of the list is junior tailback Derrick Harmon, who rushed for 893 yards in nine games as a sophomore, despite an injury that prevented him from practicing regularly.

We're still hesitant to push him really hard in a practice. Coach Bob Blackman said. "He is so important to us that we have to be very careful."

Blackman is equally cautious when discussing the quality of the rest of his personnel.

"We have standouts at a couple positions and then there is a drop-off," he notes. "We are also extremely thin in some positions because of injuries."

Cornell lost first-string roverback Mike Beekman in a preseason scrimmage, further weakening a defense that, after ranking seventh last year, is Blackman's primary concern.

"We have three fellows at each position in the secondary, but there are very few standouts," he says. "On the other hand, at the positions where we have talent--quarterback, tailback, center--we have nobody behind them."

Brown coach Anderson faces a similar situation. The Bruins return five offensive and eight defensive starters from an identical 2-5, 3-7 1981 season. The offensive line is deep and stronger than Cornell's, with returning tackles Bob Mangiacotti and Bob Giunta. Defensively, the Bruins are solid although "hurting at linebacker," according to Anderson. Captain Dan Nelson is out for the season with torn ankle ligaments, and to compensate Anderson plans to insert speedster Jeff Rolley at one of the outside spots.