Football Team Elects DeMars 1972 Captain

Helfback Ted DeMars has been elected captain of the 1972 Crimson football team. Coach Joe Restic made the announcement yesterday after balloting by this year's lettermen.

DeMars was the workhorse of the Harvard offense this season, carrying the ball 135 times for 704 yards. He capped the season against Yale with 139 yards in only 14 carries to become the eighth leading rusher in Crimson history.

DeMars listed the election as captain an his second greatest thrill--next to Saturday's Yale game--and immediately set a 9-0 season as next year's goal.

"We had some dissension on the team this year, mainly due to the change from last year's offense to the new one," DeMars noted. "The best way to cure all that is to have a perfect season."

DeMars came to Harvard from Classical High in Providence, R.I., where he was captain of the football team and Rhode Island All-State in his senior year.

After a "not very good" freshman year. DeMars was on the second string during the first few games of the 1970 season.

But against Dartmouth that year, DeMars took a swing pass 75 yards for a touchdown in what was to be a losing cause. He started the Penn game and established himself as a first-string back by rushing for 138 yards.

DeMars, who tosses the hammer for Harvard during the outdoor track season, started this season at fullback when Steve Hall suffered a sprained ankle in preseason practice.

"I wasn't very effective inside," he said. "I didn't like fullback because you don't see your way into the hole, you have to feel your way."

Restic finally switched DeMars back to half for the Columbia game, and he responded with a 132-yard performance.

"I couldn't be happier with the selection of Teddy as captain." Restic said. "He's had an elbow bruise since the Dartmouth game, but he's still out there giving you everything. Teddy's the kind of guy who gives you the most when you expect it the least," he said.