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Dartmouth Community Gathers to Remember Buddy Teevens '79

Posted on September 24, 2023

A candlelight memorial on the Green honors the revered football coach, who died last week.

About 400 people gathered on the Green Saturday evening to remember Buddy Teevens ’79, the Robert L. Blackman Head Football Coach, who died last week following injuries from a bicycle accident in March.

Among the attendees were Teevens’ widow, Kirsten Teevens, their two children, grandchildren, longtime friends, current and former players, and Dartmouth President Sian Leah Beilock.

A moment of silence for Teevens was also held on Memorial Field before the kickoff on Saturday, the first home game, where Dartmouth defeated Lehigh, 34-17.

A New York Times obituary this weekend called Teevens a “pioneering” coach who “took the extraordinary step of banning tackling during all practices, which reduced concussions at a time when brain trauma in football had become a crisis.”

Aerial view of the Green during Buddy Teevens' memorial service
About 400 people attended a memorial gathering and lit candles Saturday evening to remember Buddy Teevens ’79, Dartmouth’s winningest football coach. He was known nationally for his innovation, including his work to eliminate tackling in practices, reduce concussions, and make the game safer. (Photo by Robert Gill)
Football players listen to Kirsten Teevens at the memorial service.
Kirsten Teevens talks with football players at the gathering on the Green. (Photo by Robert Gill)
Members of the Teevens family at the memorial service
Kirsten Teevens, in the white jacket, and other family members attend the candlelight gathering on the Green. (Photo by Robert Gill)
Mike Harrity and Sammy McCorkle attend the service for Buddy Teevens
Haldeman Family Director of Athletics and Recreation Mike Harrity, left, and Interim Head Football Coach Sammy McCorkle stood next to the Teevens family at the gathering. McCorkle was a longtime assistant coach for Teevens. (Photo by Robert Gill)
Students attend the service for Buddy Teevens
Defensive lineman Dakota Quiñonez ’26 shares the flame from his candle during the memorial. (Photo by Robert Gill)
Tevita Moimoi at the service for Buddy Teevens
Running back Tevita Moimoi ’24, one of four football captains this year, speaks during the remembrance for Buddy Teevens ’79 on the Green. (Photo by Robert Gill)
Jason Barabas '93 at the service for Buddy Teevens
Jason Barabas ’93, director of the Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for Public Policy and the Social Sciences, speaks at the gathering. The professor of government played linebacker for Teevens on teams that won the Ivy League championship. (Photo by Robert Gill)
Staff attend the service for Buddy Teevens
Special Assistant to the Head Coach Curt Oberg ’78, speaks at the gathering. Oberg played with Buddy Teevens ’79 at Dartmouth, was captain of the team in 1977, and was a first team All-Ivy running back. (Photo by Robert Gill)
Friends and former players attend the service for Buddy Teevens
Dartmouth Trustee Jeffrey Blackburn ’91 was also at the gathering. Blackburn was an All-Ivy outside linebacker and played on the 1990 team that won the Ivy League title, the first under head coach Buddy Teevens ’79. (Photo by Robert Gill)
Kirsten Teevens hugs football players at the memorial service.
Kirsten Teevens hugs members of the football team at the gathering on the Green. (Photo by Robert Gill)
Cheryl Bascomb and Scott Brown
Vice President for Alumni Relations Cheryl Bascomb ’82, who was captain of the track and cross-country teams and played rugby while an undergraduate, and Dean of the College Scott C. Brown show the emotion of the day at the memorial service. (Photo by Robert Gill)
The Rev. Nancy Vogele '85 leads gathering
The Rev. Nancy Vogele ’85 , chaplain and director of the William Jewett Tucker Center, leads the gathering on the Green. (Photo by Robert Gill)
Football team members wear shirts honoring Buddy Teevens '79
Placekicker Matisse Weaver ’27 and his teammates wear shirts honoring Buddy Teevens ’79 at warmups before the football game against Lehigh earlier in the day. There was also a moment of silence before kickoff. (Photo by Justin Lafleur)
Athletics Director Mike Harrity and President Sian Leah Beilock join in the moment of silence.
Athletics Director Mike Harrity and President Sian Leah Beilock join in the moment of silence for Buddy Teevens ’79 before kickoff at the game against Lehigh on Saturday. (Photo by Chloe Broeker)