Dartmouth surprised everyone when the Big Green won a share of the Ivy League title last year.

This team has the experience and talent to do it again.

On Monday, coach Sammy McCorkle, linebacker Braden Mullen, and quarterback Jackson Proctor met with the media to discuss the upcoming season.

McCorkle on last season, and the death of coach Buddy Teevens

“Last season was definitely an emotional rollercoaster. I think it really showed the resilience of our program, our players, our team. I think that was something that we learned and was taught by coach Teevens. That was part of his blueprint. That was part of who he was, part of his DNA. We always talked about A and I: adjust and improvise. I think, just the individuals involved, it took a village. It really did. The support that we received from all over, the coaches in the Ivy League, from the office of the Ivy League, it was phenomenal. I can’t thank our president Sian Beilock, our athletic director, Mike Harrity, for what they’ve done for this football program, and what they’ve doing for the athletic programs here at Dartmouth College. And also the alums just across the country. Everybody knows how passionate Dartmouth alums are. But it was just unbelievable how everybody stepped up, and was a huge part of helping us. And we took it one day at a time. That’s what we did. We focused on each day. Not every day was easy. There were some really tough times. But the culture that has been built here at Dartmouth College, it allowed us to come together, and really come together and accomplishing our goals each day. I have the best staff in the country. Coaching staff, and our support staff, them being there and being together as long as we’ve been together, that was a big part of it. That allowed us to know what we needed to do. The way the season ended, you couldn’t ask for a better gift to give to the Teevens family, for sure.”

Proctor on the strengths of the offense

“We’re very experienced. I think in collegiate football, that’s a very important trait to have. Especially on our offense, we have three of five offensive linemen coming back. We have Paxton Scott, a fifth-year receiver, a lot of receivers coming back that played significant time in the season last year. I think that’s going to be the biggest thing for us, just to lean on our leaders and the guys that have that experience, because they’ve been in those moments, and they’ve been through the adversity we’ve been through last year. I think if we can just lean on them, and trust what we’ve been doing in the past, I think we’re going to be all right.”

Mullen on the strengths of the defense

“I definitely think our strength is definitely our experience. We’re returning a lot of starters as well on the defensive side of it. That’s just huge for taking it to that next step, and that’s big for that aspect with that player-led accountability. Maybe the coaches don’t see everything, but it’s about players holding each other accountable in the locker room, in the classroom, on the field. Keeping everyone at that same level, at that same expectation, just continuing to set that standard every day. The experience on both sides of the ball really allows for that envelope to be pushed, and the season that we want it to be. We know we left some on the table last year. So looking forward to it. Building every day. Taking it one day at a time.”