Wednesday's Practice: Postponed

The new 2006 Dartmouth schedule card with fifth-year seniors Brian Osimiri (96) and Ryan Fuselier (13) on it is now out.

By Bruce Wood
www.biggreenalert.com

Hanover -- Soggy conditions and a forecast for more rain led to the postponement of Wednesday's practice (it will be made up Thursday, weathering permitting).

"(The practice fields) were a mess this morning," said coach Buddy Teevens. "Memorial Field was OK this afternoon but there was a lot of mud out there. Rather than risk anything we decided to put it off.

"It was touch and go what we would do but it was good. We got a little more film taken care of. If it keeps raining and we have to, we'll go a day next week."

In a late-afternoon meeting in his Davis Varsity House office, Teevens reported that:

* Josh Cohen, who took over the starting quarterback midway through the season last fall but slipped a step on the depth chart this spring, is back practicing with the first team. "He threw the ball better Monday," the coach said.

* Monday's practice was spirited. "We corrected some mistakes we saw Saturday," Teevens said. "Guys moved around well and we continued to progress."

* The center-quarterback exchange remains a lingering concern: "We're struggling some with the snap Teevens said. "It's correctable and we've got to get it fixed. It's incumbent on the QB's to stay under. First opportunities they are dropping it and long snaps have been inconsistent."

* The 2006 captains will be revealed at the conclusion of Saturday's Green-White scrimmage. The rising sophomore and junior classes will have offensive and defensive representatives to serve as liaisons with the coaches.

* The Green-White will kick off at 11 a.m., Saturday and run until sometime between 12:30 and 1 p.m.

Scrimmage Format Revealed

With concerns about a lack of depth, Teevens had been considering running the scrimmage as an offense versus defense affair until he offered his players an alternative.

"I said to the seniors, 'I'm thinking about going offense-defense or drafting,' " he said, "and they were going, 'draft, draft.' They were really into it."

One reason: He made it fun by having the seniors choose someone to head up each team and letting them conduct the draft. Quarterback Mike Fritz headed up the "war room" for the Green team while defensive lineman Dan Cook got the nod for the White team.

Running backs coach Adam Hollis played the role of Mel Kiper, announcing the picks, while defensive coordinator Chris Wilkerson was Paul Tagliabue, the draft commissioner who made sure everything went smoothly and according to Hoyle.

"The guys really got into," Teevens said with a smile. "They were up there scheming. They had their little papers and everything. It should be fun. As I'm going through the teams I think it's a fairly balanced team. Some of them traded up. They got into it.

"It was fun for those guys and interesting to see. Once you were selected you huddled with your new teammates. We gave them 45 seconds to make their selection. There were also allocations. With Fritz being one of the quarterbacks, we allocated Cohen to the (White) team and Tom Bennewitz to the Green."

The first selection of the draft was potential game-breaking tailback Milan Williams, who went to the White team. Nose tackle Mike Rabil won the honor of being the No. 1 pick of the Green.

"It worked out fairly well," said Teevens. "We didn't draft guards because we only have three so we'll swing those guys in different colored jerseys.

"(Tight ends coach) Mike Hodgson will coach one team and Wilkerson the other. I'll be ubiquitous. I may be in the stands for a bit. I may walk down on the field. We'll see."

While all the details haven't yet been finalized, Teevens said the game will likely consist of two 12-minute running-time quarters in the first half and two 10-minute quarters in the second.

There will be a kickoff to open the game and another to start the second half, although returns will not be "live."

Punt protection will be live, but the rushing team will not be allowed to block punts. There won't be punt returns, but with the line of scrimmage where the ball is caught or stops rolling, it will be to the returner's advantage to catch the ball in the air.

According to Teevens, the coaches will, "vanilla up what we are doing offensively and defensively and just watch the guys play. Everyone will have a chance to play."

And more than just bragging rights will be at stake in the scrimmage, which will be followed by a hot dog and hamburger barbecue.

"The winners will be served lunch on Saturday by the losers," Teevens said with a grin.

Tomorrow: Check back Thursday for the Green and White rosters.