A number of you asked me to let you know what happened so rather than leaving you hanging for a month ...
After falling behind in the top of the sixth, the Hanover Green Machine scored two runs in the bottom of the inning to win the Connecticut Valley Little League championship by an 8-7 score. If it were any earlier I'd post pictures of the fan turnout because the handmade posters, the T-shirts, the parents and friends singing our theme song, the others banging the drum and using noisemakers had to be seen to be believed. It was an absolute love-fest and as a coach of the team and the parent of the starting catcher who was in his last Little League games, it was a tremendously special and memorable evening. ...
Now for some more packing and an early getaway tomorrow. Talk to you in late July.
Friday, June 23, 2006
Off to See the Country
Today's flurry of posts will be the last until July 22. After featuring posts every day since Green Alert started last July, the site is on hiatus because, well, because we are on the road seeing America.
With gas prices being what they are this may not have been the best year to take a cross country driving trip with the kids. But it seems everyone we talked to about our plans said something along the lines of, "That's something we always meant to do with our kids and never did," and we don't ever want to have that regret. Kelly and Matt are 14 and 12, old enough to remember what we see, not so old that they don't want to go with us. If we don't go this year, we may never go.
So the 1984 Volkswagen Westfalia camper (sleeps two in the "poptop" and two below) has been tuned up by the best VW bus mechanic in the East. (No promises, he said, because it's a 22-year-old vehicle, but it's as ready as it can be.) We've raided our savings account. The dog-sitter seems to get along with 2-year-old Cooper the Golden Retriever. All systems are go.
We're sprinting (as much as you can in a VW bus) to Dallas for a quick visit with my sister and then will hit the blue highways. We'll stop by El Paso so we can cross over into Mexico and let the kids say they've been there. We're going to Mesa Verde National Park to see the cliff dwellings and have reservations at the bottom of Grand Canyon. (We're hiking in.) Then it's up to Zion National Park, Yellowstone and the Badlands. Depending on time and the VW, we might spend some time in the Tetons or at Craters of the Moon. I've been to all of those places before and can't wait to share them with the kids.)
Keep your fingers crossed that the VW holds up (I'm not exactly a mechanic), but no matter what happens, it will be a memorable adventure.
Enjoy a safe and healthy start of summer with your family and I'll see you in late July.
Bruce Wood
With gas prices being what they are this may not have been the best year to take a cross country driving trip with the kids. But it seems everyone we talked to about our plans said something along the lines of, "That's something we always meant to do with our kids and never did," and we don't ever want to have that regret. Kelly and Matt are 14 and 12, old enough to remember what we see, not so old that they don't want to go with us. If we don't go this year, we may never go.
So the 1984 Volkswagen Westfalia camper (sleeps two in the "poptop" and two below) has been tuned up by the best VW bus mechanic in the East. (No promises, he said, because it's a 22-year-old vehicle, but it's as ready as it can be.) We've raided our savings account. The dog-sitter seems to get along with 2-year-old Cooper the Golden Retriever. All systems are go.
We're sprinting (as much as you can in a VW bus) to Dallas for a quick visit with my sister and then will hit the blue highways. We'll stop by El Paso so we can cross over into Mexico and let the kids say they've been there. We're going to Mesa Verde National Park to see the cliff dwellings and have reservations at the bottom of Grand Canyon. (We're hiking in.) Then it's up to Zion National Park, Yellowstone and the Badlands. Depending on time and the VW, we might spend some time in the Tetons or at Craters of the Moon. I've been to all of those places before and can't wait to share them with the kids.)
Keep your fingers crossed that the VW holds up (I'm not exactly a mechanic), but no matter what happens, it will be a memorable adventure.
Enjoy a safe and healthy start of summer with your family and I'll see you in late July.
Bruce Wood
Tampa Bay Bound?
OK, so maybe I was wrong about Jay Fiedler going to Tampa Bay. Way wrong. It hasn't happened but apparently the courtship between Fiedler and Jon Gruden, his QB coach with the Eagles, is getting pretty serious. Here's what Jay had to say in a story (with a photo of him and Gruden) on buccaneers.com:
“I would love to get back together with [Gruden] again and work with him. He does a great job coaching the quarterback position and making it easy on the quarterback to be successful. Right now, I’m just looking at this situation as well as a few others and trying to determine where the best spot for me is going to be.”Here's what Gruden had to say:
“He’s won a lot of games. If you look at his won-lost record in Miami, it was pretty solid. He’s a smart, quick study and he’s a good guy and right now he’s looking for a team to help out. We’re looking into his situation and everything else is just speculation at this time.”Incoming quarterback Alex Jenny will don the pads tonight in the Massachusetts Shriners Classic at Bentley College. From a story in today's Daily News Tribune:
"On the other side of the ball, the North squad has the luxury of having a Division I-AA recruit at quarterback in Jenny, who is bound for Dartmouth in the fall.For a note about Jenny and his baseball season, click here.
'It should be a lot of fun,' said the 2005 MetroWest Daily News Tribune Player of the Year. 'Show what you got, get ready for college. Good to end with one of my fellow captains.'
The Mystery Golfer Was ...
Hanover -- And the mystery golfer at the Dartmouth Football Classic last weekend at Hanover Country Club was ... Jordan Kling, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound quarterback/defensive back from Tuscola, Ill..
Kling (lower right corner with the black collar in photo above) flew into Hanover with his father on Friday, in time to sneak in a little golf before the Saturday fund-raiser.
"I couldn't come out for the spring game because I was kind of busy doing baseball and track," explained Kling, who lettered in five sports this year. "I think my dad read about (the golf fund-raiser) first. I'm a big fan of golf and we live on a golf course, so we thought this would be fun."
Not only is Kling a big fan of golf who lives on a golf course, he also played high school golf last fall (between football practices) and is working this summer at the course on which the family lives, Ironhorse Golf Club, a 7,100-yard layout that will host the 2007 Illinois State Am. While he doesn't have a handicap, Kling guesses it would be in the range of an eight.
"Golf is one of those sports you have with you for the rest of your life," he said. "I'm very fortunate I got to start playing at such a young age and have a love for the game."
Kling, whose best round at Ironhorse was a 75, can hit the ball a long way, something Jay Fiedler found out on the first tee. While Fiedler won the long-drive contest, Kling was every bit his match when the two squared off against each other for a little extracurricular fun on the first tee.
"That was great," said Kling. "I met him just about two minutes before that. I was excited to shake his hand and then to get out here and let it rip with him was a neat experience.
"The one I hit again him was maybe 295. I kind of missed it a little bit but it was in the fairway. I'll take it. Then I put one down there pretty far."
Kling had his picture taken with Fiedler and had a chance to talk a little football and track with the NFL quarterback, who used to be a decathlete. He admitted to a few nerves on the first tee with Fiedler looking on.
"I stood over the first one a few seconds longer and said to myself, 'Shake it off,' " he said. "But it was all fun."
Kling is eager for the fun to continue on another venue in Hanover come fall.
"I want to get out here and get started with everything as soon as I can," he said, "but I also want to enjoy the last summer."
A busy last summer before college, at that.
"I'm working at the golf course and have another job," he said. "I'll be working out for football, doing conditioning and then I'll play some golf when I'm done with that."
Kling, who threw for 2,259 yards and ran for 926 last fall while helping Tuscola to a 12-1 record and its first state semifinal berth, was recruited by Dartmouth as an "athlete" who could play in the offensive backfield or the defensive backfield.
"Right now I'll probably stay at quarterback," he said. "I'll probably play some special teams this year to hopefully get on the field."
An early decision admit to Dartmouth, Kling attended Coach Buddy Teevens' football camp last spring. Living 20 minutes for the University of Illinois -- where Teevens was once on the staff -- he considered going to school there as well as at the University of Chicago (coached by former Dartmouth assistant Dick Maloney) and at Washington & Lee (where former Dartmouth baseball coach Mike Walsh is the athletic director).
But a walk around the Dartmouth campus, a look at the extensive work going on at Memorial Field and meeting people like Fiedler and Brian Mann at the fund-raiser only served to confirm the conviction that he made the right choice.
"A lot of these guys, you can tell they are pretty passionate about Dartmouth," Kling said with a nod at the tent where the group was congregating. "Everybody I've talked to has said you are going to love it here. There's been nothing but positive stuff.
"If I can turn out half as successful as these guys that would be great."
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Airing Dirty Laundry
Dartmouth's dirty laundry is being waved in the public as this New York Times article looks into the election two years in a row of "outsider" trustees who were not endorsed by the alumni association but got on the ballot by way of petition. The Times writes about the turf war between "alumni critical of the college against loyalists who have risen through the ranks of the Alumni Association." At the heart of the battle, according to the Times: "The outsiders accused the college administration of sacrificing free speech to political correctness and of abandoning Dartmouth's historical focus on undergraduates to turn it into a 'junior varsity Harvard.' "
The Sporting News is the latest to suggest the Jay Fiedler-to-Tampa Bay scenario according to this Fly blog item. I'd send you to the link to the original story, but it doesn't work. My money is still on the Giants for Jay, but I've been wrong before ;-)
One more thing. In all the craziness of getting ready for our family cross country trip, I got our day of departure wrong. Today is Thursday. We leave Saturday so there will be a blog tomorrow. Before we leave I'll bore you with a little of our itinerary (so that if you see our '84 cream colored VW camper van with New Hampshire plates on the road -- or the side of it -- you can flash us the peace sign. {That's what people in VW buses do when they spot each other, sort of an homage to Jerry Garcia, I guess.})
Before I leave I'll have that last little piece on the Dartmouth recruit who was in town and played in the golf fundraiser last Saturday.
Finally, congratulations to the Hanover Green Machine Little League team that knocked off the only undefeated team in the Connecticut Valley Little League tournament semifinals last night. (True confession: I'm the co-coach and my son is the catcher and No. 3 hitter in the lineup.) The Green Machine goes for the title Friday night -- which is why our vacation was scheduled long ago to begin Saturday morning. Ya gotta believe.
The Sporting News is the latest to suggest the Jay Fiedler-to-Tampa Bay scenario according to this Fly blog item. I'd send you to the link to the original story, but it doesn't work. My money is still on the Giants for Jay, but I've been wrong before ;-)
One more thing. In all the craziness of getting ready for our family cross country trip, I got our day of departure wrong. Today is Thursday. We leave Saturday so there will be a blog tomorrow. Before we leave I'll bore you with a little of our itinerary (so that if you see our '84 cream colored VW camper van with New Hampshire plates on the road -- or the side of it -- you can flash us the peace sign. {That's what people in VW buses do when they spot each other, sort of an homage to Jerry Garcia, I guess.})
Before I leave I'll have that last little piece on the Dartmouth recruit who was in town and played in the golf fundraiser last Saturday.
Finally, congratulations to the Hanover Green Machine Little League team that knocked off the only undefeated team in the Connecticut Valley Little League tournament semifinals last night. (True confession: I'm the co-coach and my son is the catcher and No. 3 hitter in the lineup.) The Green Machine goes for the title Friday night -- which is why our vacation was scheduled long ago to begin Saturday morning. Ya gotta believe.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Dartmouth-UNH TV
It's no great surprise because the annual football game against New Hampshire has been regularly televised in recent years, but WMUR TV, Channel 9 in Manchester, N.H., has requested permission to broadcast the Sept. 23 contest between the Big Green and the Wildcats (No. 1 or No. 2 in the nation depending on which preseason poll you favor). Likely start time will be noon.
When I saw Brian Mann at the Dartmouth Football Golf Classic Saturday he told me his second movie, The Invincible, would be coming out in August and that he would be spending the next month or so on yet another flick, tentatively called The Gameplan, with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Today's Boston Herald reports that project is on hold after The Rock ruptured his Achilles tendon during football "practice." The Herald, in true Herald style, refers to BMann, the former Dartmouth QB who was tutoring The Rock in the fine points of quarterback play, as, "Canton homey Brian Mann." Mann is from Canton, Mass.. Mann was Adam Sandler's stand-in for the remake of The Longest Yard.
There are rumblings down in Tampa Bay that Jay Fiedler could be headed back to Florida as the backup for Chris Simms. It could be the new Dartmouth-Bucs connection (see yesterday's Green Alert) has kicked into gear but I, for one, am doubtful Jay's headed that way. Tampa Bay coach John Gruden was the QB coach for the Eagles when Jay made his first NFL roster, so you never know.
Finally, this bit of news. After tomorrow, the Green Alert Blog will be going on hiatus until July 22. This is the summer of the Great Wood Family Cross Country Trip and we leave (Little League playoffs permitting) at the crack of dawn Saturday. The highlight (lowlight?) of the trip will be a hike down to, and overnight in, the bottom of Grand Canyon. We'll also be hitting Yellowstone. I'll share a little more about the trip tomorrow.
When I saw Brian Mann at the Dartmouth Football Golf Classic Saturday he told me his second movie, The Invincible, would be coming out in August and that he would be spending the next month or so on yet another flick, tentatively called The Gameplan, with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Today's Boston Herald reports that project is on hold after The Rock ruptured his Achilles tendon during football "practice." The Herald, in true Herald style, refers to BMann, the former Dartmouth QB who was tutoring The Rock in the fine points of quarterback play, as, "Canton homey Brian Mann." Mann is from Canton, Mass.. Mann was Adam Sandler's stand-in for the remake of The Longest Yard.
There are rumblings down in Tampa Bay that Jay Fiedler could be headed back to Florida as the backup for Chris Simms. It could be the new Dartmouth-Bucs connection (see yesterday's Green Alert) has kicked into gear but I, for one, am doubtful Jay's headed that way. Tampa Bay coach John Gruden was the QB coach for the Eagles when Jay made his first NFL roster, so you never know.
Finally, this bit of news. After tomorrow, the Green Alert Blog will be going on hiatus until July 22. This is the summer of the Great Wood Family Cross Country Trip and we leave (Little League playoffs permitting) at the crack of dawn Saturday. The highlight (lowlight?) of the trip will be a hike down to, and overnight in, the bottom of Grand Canyon. We'll also be hitting Yellowstone. I'll share a little more about the trip tomorrow.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Dartmouth Grad Rejoins Buccaneer Front Office
Kevin Demoff '99, a former writer for The Dartmouth who also did radio for Big Green football games as an undergrad, has been named a senior assistant for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Demoff served as a consultant for the team in 2005. According to this press release, he will assist "in contract negotiations, salary cap management, scouting, strategic planning and salary cap forecasting." Demoff, who received his MBA from Tuck this year, was the Director of Football Operations for the Arena Football League’s Los Angeles Avengers for three years, during which he helped former Dartmouth quarterback Brian Mann get his pro career started. Kevin was in the stands this spring for the Green-White game so maybe that pipeline between the Ivy League and Tampa Bay on draft day will continue :-)
It was an easy-to-overlook note hidden in the education section of the Philadelphia Inquirer in a story about a massive campaign to rebuild the Schuylkill River waterfront on the edge of the University of Pennsylvania campus, but it appears UPenn, like Dartmouth, will be getting a new fieldhouse. Apparently Franklin Field may also be "boutique-ified" (to create a word) as part of the project. The story says after the long-time project is finished, "Famed Locust Walk will extend from the campus core, past the Palestra, a new fieldhouse, and a renovated Franklin Field, whose historic exterior arches will shelter shops."
Taking a step away from football, there are two very nice stories about the Dartmouth grad who is the chief of surgery and at the University of Pennsylvania’s Widener Hospital for Large Animals and the man who operated on Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro. “The only reason I became a vet is because I went to Dartmouth College,” says Dr. Dean Richardson ’74, in this alumni news story. The Philadelphia Inquirer takes a long look at Richardson and offers an interesting glimpse at the decisions that have given Barbaro a chance.
It was an easy-to-overlook note hidden in the education section of the Philadelphia Inquirer in a story about a massive campaign to rebuild the Schuylkill River waterfront on the edge of the University of Pennsylvania campus, but it appears UPenn, like Dartmouth, will be getting a new fieldhouse. Apparently Franklin Field may also be "boutique-ified" (to create a word) as part of the project. The story says after the long-time project is finished, "Famed Locust Walk will extend from the campus core, past the Palestra, a new fieldhouse, and a renovated Franklin Field, whose historic exterior arches will shelter shops."
Taking a step away from football, there are two very nice stories about the Dartmouth grad who is the chief of surgery and at the University of Pennsylvania’s Widener Hospital for Large Animals and the man who operated on Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro. “The only reason I became a vet is because I went to Dartmouth College,” says Dr. Dean Richardson ’74, in this alumni news story. The Philadelphia Inquirer takes a long look at Richardson and offers an interesting glimpse at the decisions that have given Barbaro a chance.
Monday, June 19, 2006
And the Best Samurai Is?
Information on the 2006 Ivy-Samurai Bowl featuring representatives (and coaches) from Princeton and Penn is hard to come by. This much we know: The Princeton-led team knocked off the Penn-led team, 26-7. And while Jay Fiedler was in Hanover for the Dartmouth football golf tournament (suggesting, by the way, that some news regarding his NFL future will be breaking soon) his old rival from Princeton, one Keith Hector Elias, was over in Japan earning the Best Samurai Award in the bowl game according to this link. I'm guessing that the onetime NFL back ran 23 times for 169 yards with a long of 61 yards, but I have to admit my Japanese language ability isn't what it used to be, so that's a guess after looking at these final statistics from the game.
Second-game opponent University of New Hampshire has some thinking to do as it decides whether to go ahead with a planned move to the Colonial Athletic Association for football in several years or to cast its lot with a retooled America East conference according to this story.
For an analysis of Oct. 14 opponent Holy Cross, check out the 13 Yard Line Blog which is taking a look at all of Colgate's Patriot League rivals. This analysis picks Holy Cross sixth in the Patriot and I have no quibble with that. The Crusaders lost a lot on offense and return the bulk of a poor defense. Not a good combination.
Second-game opponent University of New Hampshire has some thinking to do as it decides whether to go ahead with a planned move to the Colonial Athletic Association for football in several years or to cast its lot with a retooled America East conference according to this story.
For an analysis of Oct. 14 opponent Holy Cross, check out the 13 Yard Line Blog which is taking a look at all of Colgate's Patriot League rivals. This analysis picks Holy Cross sixth in the Patriot and I have no quibble with that. The Crusaders lost a lot on offense and return the bulk of a poor defense. Not a good combination.
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Jay Fiedler: A Brian Mann Fan?
The highlight of the auction at the end of the Friends of Dartmouth Football Ninth Annual Golf Classic is one of the items pictured here. Read on to learn more. ...The weather held up Saturday and so did the, uh, beverages, as almost 100 former players, alumni, friends of the program, parents -- and one future player -- teed it up at Hanover Country Club. Not that this is really about golf, but the team of Shoun Kerbough '76, Bob Friedl '76, Dave Van Vliet '77 and Tom Souza '76 shot 61 to win over the team of Frank Polsinello '84, Frank Quinn '84, Rick Stafford 83 and Jerry Pierce '81 after cards were matched.
And the long drive winner: Jay Fiedler!
Tournament sponsor - Perry's Restaurant-San Francisco
Dinner Sponsor - Pete Chapman '91
Lunch Sponsor - Byron Anderson '76
Beverage Sponsors - (Your tournament winners: Shoun Kerbough '76, Bob Friedl '76, Dave Van Vliet '77 and Tom Souza '76)
Awards Sponsor - Atlas Container - Paul Centenari '79
Beer Sponsor - Harpoon Brewery
Golf Course Sponsor - Class of '80
Golf Cart Sponsor - Brad Evans '64
Gift Sponsor - Reggie Williams '76
Tent Sponsor - Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce; David Brown '79.
Tee Sponsors
Russ Smale '53
Jimmie Lee Solomon '78
Dave Watt '80
Roger Phillips '79
Kevin Griffin '88
Bob Rex '57
The Alumni Brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha
Jim Evans '75
David Brown '79
Rick Bartlett '89
Bob Brown '80
Bill Gundy '60
Sam Coffey and Curt Oberg '78
Dr. Terry Phillis '88
EBA's
Harry Bourque '85
Mahoney Family
Dave Howard '82 and Family
Jacques Harlow '50
Class of '83
Mike Lena '84
Sean Riley '93
Green Sponsors
Mark Abel '97
Jahn Bajus '94
Jon Aljancic '97
Byron Boston '81
Moose Morton '60
Steve Terrell '79
Win Hutchins & Paul Elmlinger '80
Jim Knox '71
Joe Frankhouse '85
Scott Sims '89
The Canoe Club
Bill Pollock '72
Lee Sedberry '82
Eric Paul '09
Dale Lattanzi '86
Dartmouth Co-Op
Dan Cummings '75 and Family
Jim Darnell '77
Peter Benzian '64
Bill Connolly '84
Jack Manning '71 and Family
Mugglebee "Mt. Ventoux" Bicycle Camp, France (That's what it said in the program ;-)
Merchandise Sponsors
Golf and Ski Warehouse, West Lebanon, NH
Hanover Country Club
OK, now about that auction.
First, kudos to coach Matthew Smiley. Never would I think anyone could step in for toastmaster general (and occasional auctioneer) Whitey Burnham and not suffer for the comparison, but Smiley managed admirably. He had the audience rotfl (rolling on the floor laughing) as they say in computerese. About the only place he came up short was when he failed to pull out YT's famous line after the sound system went dead for a bit. Unfailingly, and he did it at last year's auction, Whitey would greet a microphone failure with this line: "I've been in front of more dead mike's than an Irish undertaker."
Anyway, despite Smiley's enthusiasm, humor and cajoling, the auction was dragging along until Brian Mann's No. 4 jersey from the Los Angeles Avengers went up for bid. Fiedler, who has always shown unbelievable reserve in his public comments with the media, can be very, very funny. As it turns out, he and BMann were going at it pretty good throughout the day with Jay needling his fellow pro quarterback mercilessly (all in good fun) with lines like, "The Arena League. Is that the one where the field is 50 yards long?"
When Brian's jersey came up for bid, Jay continued to have his fun by deciding he would be the one to buy it. The only other serious bidder for the red shirt was former offensive lineman Brad Kliber, who played Fiedler like, well, like a fiddle. Every time Jay thought he had the shirt bought, Kliber upped the ante just a bit. Back and forth it went. Each time Smiley would say, "Going once, going twice," Jay would glare over at Kliber, raise his big right hand and the bid would go up by $25 or $50. Through it all the audience was roaring, including BMann.
Finally, after the bid got to $800, Kliber requested an unusual meeting with the auctioneer in which he proposed a peace. If Mann could come up with another shirt, Kliber and Fiedler would each get one and the football program would be $1,600 the richer for it. When that option was announced, all heads turned to Mann who had little choice but to nod in the affirmative, a move greeted by tremendous applause. (I just hope Brian doesn't have to dig in a trunk for his last shirt ...)
After Mann's jersey sold, by the way, Casey Cramer's No. 49 Carolina Panthers jersey went on the blocker. Said Smiley, "Casey Cramer's going to cry if it goes for less than $800." When the bidding on it was considerably slower without Kliber and Fiedler involved, Smiley, thinking back to Mann's Arena League shirt, cracked, "I didn't want to make this distinction ... but this is the NFL!!!" The remark drew a lot of laughter but didn't help the bidding.
That's about it for tonight. Tomorrow I'll tell you about the incoming freshman who played in the tournament.
Hot Times in Hanover
Remember all those posts about how cold and wet is was through much of the spring here in the Upper Valley? Where is that weather when you need it? (At least the cool part.) Today's temperature is supposed to get to the mid-90's and 1) my daughter is running in a four-mile road race and 2) we are holding a three-pitch baseball tournament near the Dartmouth rugby field where there's no shade anywhere in sight. The three-pitch tournament will last a good four hours or so. Gonna be hot, hot, not.
I've got to head out now (I'm one of the organizers of the tournament) but check back later (or in the morning) for a few bits and pieces from yesterday's Dartmouth Football golf outing. ... I'll tell you about Jay Fiedler's hilarious bidding war for an auction item. ... I'll have a few refelctions on the turnout and share some thoughts from the incoming freshman who not only played in the tournament, but impressed everyone with his golf swing. ...
For your reading pleasure, until I get my sunburned hands back on the keyboard this evening, check out this link supplied by a subscriber. As described by one of his friends on another site, the compiler of this web site is making "a serious effort to understand the (Dartmouth) mascot issue and suggest alternative mascots." Poke around on the site. There's a lot there. Now, discuss among yourselves.
I've got to head out now (I'm one of the organizers of the tournament) but check back later (or in the morning) for a few bits and pieces from yesterday's Dartmouth Football golf outing. ... I'll tell you about Jay Fiedler's hilarious bidding war for an auction item. ... I'll have a few refelctions on the turnout and share some thoughts from the incoming freshman who not only played in the tournament, but impressed everyone with his golf swing. ...
For your reading pleasure, until I get my sunburned hands back on the keyboard this evening, check out this link supplied by a subscriber. As described by one of his friends on another site, the compiler of this web site is making "a serious effort to understand the (Dartmouth) mascot issue and suggest alternative mascots." Poke around on the site. There's a lot there. Now, discuss among yourselves.
Saturday, June 17, 2006
Teeing It Up For Teevens and the Green
The football golf outing is today at Hanover Country Club and you'd be hard-pressed to have a much better forecast. OK, it's going to be a little warm (83 degrees) and there's a chance of isolated thunderstorms, but given how soggy and cool the spring has been in Hanover this is about as close as we've had to what I like to call a "chamber of commerce" type day.
I'll have a story of some sort about the golf outing tonight or tomorrow morning.
I just stumbled across an Atlanta Journal Journal-Constitution story from a couple of weeks back about the search for a new NFL commissioner. It lists five top candidates including former Dartmouth linebacker Reggie Williams. For each candidate the writer offers his pros and his cons. Here's what he says about the onetime Cincinnati Bengal:
Columbia has announced that is its going to offer a Master of Science in Sports Management. Now, I don't think a graduate degree in sports management will have much of an impact on the intercollegiate program at Columbia, but it won't hurt. The Ivy League web site says it will be:
I'll have a story of some sort about the golf outing tonight or tomorrow morning.
I just stumbled across an Atlanta Journal Journal-Constitution story from a couple of weeks back about the search for a new NFL commissioner. It lists five top candidates including former Dartmouth linebacker Reggie Williams. For each candidate the writer offers his pros and his cons. Here's what he says about the onetime Cincinnati Bengal:
• Pro: Has turned Disney into a sports hotbed, with the Braves, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Orlando Magic all training there.The column includes remarks from the potential successors to Paul Tagliabue. Here's how it quoted Reggie:
• Con: Served on Cincinnati's City Council. Can you really trust a former politician?
"Every career afforded me unique skill sets that were transferable to the next level. Politics more than anything taught me the ability to bring disparate voices together to achieve consensus and in the corporate world. If you can't achieve consensus you can't get anything done."Brown tailback Nick Hartigan has signed a contract with the New York Jets. The undrafted Ivy Leaguer was offered the deal after impressing the Jets at a minicamp May 12-14.
Columbia has announced that is its going to offer a Master of Science in Sports Management. Now, I don't think a graduate degree in sports management will have much of an impact on the intercollegiate program at Columbia, but it won't hurt. The Ivy League web site says it will be:
"a rigorous program designed to train students for management positions in all sectors of the sports industry. The curriculum is designed to broadly educate sports managers about the industry while providing industry-specific training in finance, personnel management, law, marketing, and facility/event superintendence."
Friday, June 16, 2006
Of All-Americans and Indian Nicknames
Dartmouth will line up against three players accorded first-team preseason All-America honors by Lindy's magazine. No surprise that quarterback Ricky Santos and wide receiver David Ball have won that honor for their play at UNH, the preseason No. 1 team in the nation according to Lindy's. The surprise might be that Brown placekicker Steve Morgan is first-team. But maybe it shouldn't be a surprise. As this story shows, Morgan has been a major factor in Brown's resurgence and a reminder of just how important a talented kicker can be. (I can make a very good argument that Dartmouth's downfall in John Lyons' final year can be traced back largely to an unexpected kicking problem.) ... Yale offensive lineman Ed McCarthy was named to Lindy's second team preseason All-America squad. ... Now, I wouldn't put much credence in these teams; it's doubtful the writer/editor has seen someone like McCarthy play. Still, being on the team is better than not being on the team ;-)
Whenever Indian nicknames are in the news Dartmouth people sit up and take notice. An alum tipped me off to: WHY THE “SIOUX” MAY HAVE TO SUE, a letter from the president of the University of North Dakota to the NCAA. Interesting web site, to be sure. ... William & Mary is also appealing and this link sets forth the school's argument for being allowed to be called The Tribe.
Whenever Indian nicknames are in the news Dartmouth people sit up and take notice. An alum tipped me off to: WHY THE “SIOUX” MAY HAVE TO SUE, a letter from the president of the University of North Dakota to the NCAA. Interesting web site, to be sure. ... William & Mary is also appealing and this link sets forth the school's argument for being allowed to be called The Tribe.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Gratified, Not Satisfied
From the latest Big Green Sports News:
An eagle-eyed subscriber found this law.com article with an update on Brent Frei '88, the founder of Onyx Software Corp.. As Hank Paulson has shown us, long after your playing career is over the media will still refer to you as a onetime Ivy League gridder. This article refers to Frei as a "hulking 6-foot-7-inch former Dartmouth football player."
There's a quick mention of Dartmouth as Penn's Ivy League opener in today's Philly Inquirer, but it's hardly worth the effort to click here. ;-)
Matt Dougherty of The Sports Network rates I-AA wide receivers (and tight ends). In what should be a surprise to absolutely no one, Dartmouth will face his No. 1 ranked receiver in Week Two. That would be UNH standout David Ball, who will shatter Jerry Rice's career TD record this year and could also erase Rice's career yardage record. (If UNH hadn't enjoy so many blowouts the last few years Ball would be a lock for the yardage mark, but he's spend a lot of time watching the scout team in the second half of games during his career.) ... Interestingly, Harvard's Corey Mazza comes in at No. 23 and Yale's Ashley Wright is at No. 24. These rankings are alway subjective, but if the Harvard and Yale guys are listed, Dartmouth's Ryan Fuselier should at least get an asterisk. Granted, his yards-per-catch hadn't been all that impressive, but it's not like his quarterbacks have had time to get the ball down the field.
The New England Patriots' quarterback situation is still dicey after Tom Brady. Once again, Jay Fiedler's name gets mentioned, if only in passing, in this Providence Journal story.
(Here's a picture I shot of Vermont Open amateur champion Trevor Murphy)
On a personal note, I survived the Vermont Open golf tournament which ended when a former Wake Forest standout (and one of five nominees for the "Heisman of college golf as a senior) dunked a 10-foot birdie putt on 18 to outlast a PGA Tour veteran. The Open was a lot of work (I updated the blog most of the day, formatted stats, sent a capsule and agate off to more than 30 media outlets and then wrote three stories last night) but it was a great tournament and I hope I get a chance to return next year. Oh, and if you are looking for a place to play 18 or just chill out when you come to the Upper Valley, check out Lake Morey Resort, on the lake about 15 miles straight up I-91 from Hanover. Tell 'em Bruce sent you ;-)
"Dartmouth Director of Athletics Josie Harper sounds tired, but energized. She is gratified, but not satisfied."In the interest of full disclosure, I wrote those words. Click here to read the "State of the Union" interview I did with Josie Harper for Big Green Sports News.
An eagle-eyed subscriber found this law.com article with an update on Brent Frei '88, the founder of Onyx Software Corp.. As Hank Paulson has shown us, long after your playing career is over the media will still refer to you as a onetime Ivy League gridder. This article refers to Frei as a "hulking 6-foot-7-inch former Dartmouth football player."
There's a quick mention of Dartmouth as Penn's Ivy League opener in today's Philly Inquirer, but it's hardly worth the effort to click here. ;-)
Matt Dougherty of The Sports Network rates I-AA wide receivers (and tight ends). In what should be a surprise to absolutely no one, Dartmouth will face his No. 1 ranked receiver in Week Two. That would be UNH standout David Ball, who will shatter Jerry Rice's career TD record this year and could also erase Rice's career yardage record. (If UNH hadn't enjoy so many blowouts the last few years Ball would be a lock for the yardage mark, but he's spend a lot of time watching the scout team in the second half of games during his career.) ... Interestingly, Harvard's Corey Mazza comes in at No. 23 and Yale's Ashley Wright is at No. 24. These rankings are alway subjective, but if the Harvard and Yale guys are listed, Dartmouth's Ryan Fuselier should at least get an asterisk. Granted, his yards-per-catch hadn't been all that impressive, but it's not like his quarterbacks have had time to get the ball down the field.
The New England Patriots' quarterback situation is still dicey after Tom Brady. Once again, Jay Fiedler's name gets mentioned, if only in passing, in this Providence Journal story.
(Here's a picture I shot of Vermont Open amateur champion Trevor Murphy)On a personal note, I survived the Vermont Open golf tournament which ended when a former Wake Forest standout (and one of five nominees for the "Heisman of college golf as a senior) dunked a 10-foot birdie putt on 18 to outlast a PGA Tour veteran. The Open was a lot of work (I updated the blog most of the day, formatted stats, sent a capsule and agate off to more than 30 media outlets and then wrote three stories last night) but it was a great tournament and I hope I get a chance to return next year. Oh, and if you are looking for a place to play 18 or just chill out when you come to the Upper Valley, check out Lake Morey Resort, on the lake about 15 miles straight up I-91 from Hanover. Tell 'em Bruce sent you ;-)
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Photo Update
I stopped on the way up to the Vermont Open to shoot a couple of pictures of construction around Memorial Field. At top, the foundation goes in for the new varsity house. In photo at the bottom, pipes are redy for use behind the north end zone.
Scoreboard Watching
One of the reasons why the scoreboard on Memorial Field won't be moving in time for the 2006 season is because the delay gives the college a chance to rethink its options for replacing the old board. Having seen scoreboards with video replay capability at Columbia and Penn that is something to consider. I was surprised to see a replay screen at Boston University a few weeks ago for the women's lacrosse national championships and found it fun. Now comes word that opening-game opponent Colgate is erecting a new scoreboard with video capability at Andy Kerr Stadium. The board will be 64 feet wide and about 43 feet high with a video screen that is 12 feet by 21 feet. There's not much posted yet, but this is the Colgate link to the scoreboard construction project.
Still on the subject of facility improvements, it seems everyone playing I-AA football in the Northeast who didn't have it already is installing FieldTurf this year and taking the same boring pictures of the process. (I can say that because my pictures are equally boring.) ... Here are pics of the UMass installation and updated shots from Lafayette. I haven't seen anything of the work at Harvard (link to earlier Globe story) but I'm sure those pictures will be posted soon. And lest we forget, Princeton wrapped up its FieldTurf installation by early winter.
It's the final day of the Vermont Open at Lake Morey Resort about 15 miles north of Hanover and PGA Tour veteran Jumbo Elliott holds the lead. I'll be out on the course following his group today and that should be fun as long as the rains hold off. I've managed to get the tournament a little bit more ink than it has gotten in the past 20 years or so and some more air time, so hopefully I'm earning my keep. Still, it surprises me that more people don't come out to watch some really good golf. The price is right (free) and you never know who you are going to see. The champion two years ago was Sean O'Hair, who was playing on the PGA Tour the next season. You can catch last year's champ on TV this week in the U.S. Open. ...
Still on the subject of facility improvements, it seems everyone playing I-AA football in the Northeast who didn't have it already is installing FieldTurf this year and taking the same boring pictures of the process. (I can say that because my pictures are equally boring.) ... Here are pics of the UMass installation and updated shots from Lafayette. I haven't seen anything of the work at Harvard (link to earlier Globe story) but I'm sure those pictures will be posted soon. And lest we forget, Princeton wrapped up its FieldTurf installation by early winter.
It's the final day of the Vermont Open at Lake Morey Resort about 15 miles north of Hanover and PGA Tour veteran Jumbo Elliott holds the lead. I'll be out on the course following his group today and that should be fun as long as the rains hold off. I've managed to get the tournament a little bit more ink than it has gotten in the past 20 years or so and some more air time, so hopefully I'm earning my keep. Still, it surprises me that more people don't come out to watch some really good golf. The price is right (free) and you never know who you are going to see. The champion two years ago was Sean O'Hair, who was playing on the PGA Tour the next season. You can catch last year's champ on TV this week in the U.S. Open. ...
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Dartmouth Makes It Official: Hodgson Promoted
TRANSCRIPT of a Dartmouth Press Release:
Mike Hodgson Promoted to Offensive Coordinator for Dartmouth Football
Head coach Buddy Teevens has announced that assistant coach Mike Hodgson has been promoted to offensive coordinator. During his first season with the Big Green last year, he was responsible for coaching the tight ends and recruiting players in New England, western and central New York, western Pennsylvania and Ohio.
With more than 25 years in the coaching ranks, Mike Hodgson brings the most experience of any assistant on the Big Green staff. In 2004, Hodgson was quarterbacks and receivers coach at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania as the Fighting Scots were ranked as high as No. 18 in NCAA Division II.
From 2000-03, Hodgson was offensive coordinator and quarterbacks and wide receivers coach at Central Connecticut State University.
Hodgson was the head coach at Maine Maritime Academy from 1994-99 and led the Mariners to a pair of New England Football Conference titles (1994, 1998).
During a stint at Princeton University (1985-93), Hodgson served as wide receivers coach in helping the Tigers win Ivy League co-championships (with Yale in 1989 and Dartmouth in 1992).
Hodgson began his coaching career at the University of Maine, working with tight ends, the offensive line and running backs from 1979-85.
Hodgson graduated from Maine in 1979 with a bachelor's degree in park and recreation management. He then completed a master's in education administration in 1982. Hodgson was a three-year starter for Maine at tight end and also handled placekicking duties.
Hodgson and his wife Raeann have two children, a son, Kenney and a daughter Cassie.
Mike Hodgson Promoted to Offensive Coordinator for Dartmouth Football
Head coach Buddy Teevens has announced that assistant coach Mike Hodgson has been promoted to offensive coordinator. During his first season with the Big Green last year, he was responsible for coaching the tight ends and recruiting players in New England, western and central New York, western Pennsylvania and Ohio.
With more than 25 years in the coaching ranks, Mike Hodgson brings the most experience of any assistant on the Big Green staff. In 2004, Hodgson was quarterbacks and receivers coach at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania as the Fighting Scots were ranked as high as No. 18 in NCAA Division II.
From 2000-03, Hodgson was offensive coordinator and quarterbacks and wide receivers coach at Central Connecticut State University.
Hodgson was the head coach at Maine Maritime Academy from 1994-99 and led the Mariners to a pair of New England Football Conference titles (1994, 1998).
During a stint at Princeton University (1985-93), Hodgson served as wide receivers coach in helping the Tigers win Ivy League co-championships (with Yale in 1989 and Dartmouth in 1992).
Hodgson began his coaching career at the University of Maine, working with tight ends, the offensive line and running backs from 1979-85.
Hodgson graduated from Maine in 1979 with a bachelor's degree in park and recreation management. He then completed a master's in education administration in 1982. Hodgson was a three-year starter for Maine at tight end and also handled placekicking duties.
Hodgson and his wife Raeann have two children, a son, Kenney and a daughter Cassie.
Perry's of San Francisco Sponsoring Tourney
From a Dartmouth Friends of Football Email:
Perry's Restaurants in San Francisco (has) been named the official tournament sponsor of the 2006 Friends of Dartmouth Football Golf Classic. Perry's, which is owned by Perry Butler '64, has been a San Francisco institution for over 35 years and is known for its classic American food, its warm personable service and for being a fun, bustling bar.
The original Perry's is located at 1944 Union Street in Cow Hollow. It has a traditional New York Upper East Side bar and grill design, decorated with Perry's personal collection of memorabilia, including several Dartmouth items: a poster celebrating the undefeated 1962 Dartmouth Football season, a 1971 New Hampshire license plate embossed with the name, 'Tanzi', a photo of the 1998 Ivy League Champion women's soccer team (on which his daughter, Margie '02, played) and the 1999 'Gone to the Dogs' Winter Carnival poster. Perry's is open daily for breakfast, lunch, cocktails, dinner and weekend brunch and Dartmouth people are especially welcome!
Multi-Media News
A couple of interesting multi-media developments for Dartmouth football fans and family. ... According to the folks out in Hamilton, N.Y., all home Colgate football games will broadcast this year by Time Warner Sports - Channel 26 in Central New York. I'll share more details as they become available (ie. will the games be live, where can the station be picked up). If you know someone in that part of the world, have them set the VCR/DVD/Tivo and you are in business. Or, if you happen to be going to the game and staying in a local hotel, bring a tape along and slap it into the machine in your room.
The other piece of multi-media news is still a little sketchy. I wouldn't go out and buy a new computer and sign up for Titanium-level DSL service, but Dartmouth is working on "streaming" its home games over the Internet. The idea is in the preliminary stages, but there are some alums on the tech side who have stepped forward and the hope right now is that it will be operational this fall. The idea would be to stream video from the same videographer who did ice hockey in the winter. Stay tuned for more details.
What else? The Tennessee Titans might want to take a look at Jay Fiedler according to a Nashville paper. ... Giants.com has a nice piece about former Penn tailback Jim Finn, who has carved out his niche in the NFL as a blocking fullback. In eight years in the league, he's had nine carries, or more than one a year. ;-)
The Dartmouth Football golf outing is this weekend and I'll be there to pull together a short story on the event. I'm giving away several subscriptions to Green Alert as raffle prizes ... so you'll definitely want to be there. (That's supposed to be funny.)
Now I've got to get rolling. I'm helping do PR for the Vermont Open golf championship that began yesterday and runs through tomorrow. Long, long days but I really enjoy writing about golf. (Not that there's much writing involved with what I'm doing up there this year.) I've covered about 20 Vermont Opens, two Masters, three U.S. Opens, Futures Tour events, the LPGA and Nike Tour and really do subscribe to the theory that the smaller the ball, the better the sportswriting. (That only goes for round balls, of course ;-)
The other piece of multi-media news is still a little sketchy. I wouldn't go out and buy a new computer and sign up for Titanium-level DSL service, but Dartmouth is working on "streaming" its home games over the Internet. The idea is in the preliminary stages, but there are some alums on the tech side who have stepped forward and the hope right now is that it will be operational this fall. The idea would be to stream video from the same videographer who did ice hockey in the winter. Stay tuned for more details.
What else? The Tennessee Titans might want to take a look at Jay Fiedler according to a Nashville paper. ... Giants.com has a nice piece about former Penn tailback Jim Finn, who has carved out his niche in the NFL as a blocking fullback. In eight years in the league, he's had nine carries, or more than one a year. ;-)
The Dartmouth Football golf outing is this weekend and I'll be there to pull together a short story on the event. I'm giving away several subscriptions to Green Alert as raffle prizes ... so you'll definitely want to be there. (That's supposed to be funny.)
Now I've got to get rolling. I'm helping do PR for the Vermont Open golf championship that began yesterday and runs through tomorrow. Long, long days but I really enjoy writing about golf. (Not that there's much writing involved with what I'm doing up there this year.) I've covered about 20 Vermont Opens, two Masters, three U.S. Opens, Futures Tour events, the LPGA and Nike Tour and really do subscribe to the theory that the smaller the ball, the better the sportswriting. (That only goes for round balls, of course ;-)
Monday, June 12, 2006
Former Coach Rubs Elbows with the Biggies
Joe Moglia has come a long way since his days as a Dartmouth assistant football coach in the early '80s. Don't believe it? In this Q&A Moglia briefly recounts a friendly game of poker with, among others, Warren Buffet, Bill Gates and a two-time world champion bridge player. Yeah, I'd say he's come a long way.
Dartmouth opponent UNH is ranked No. 1 in the nation by Lindy's with quarterback Ricky Santos and wide receiver David Ball both given the nod as first-team All-Americans.
The heavens smiled on Dartmouth graduation as the rain stayed away and the ceremony could be held on the Green in front of Baker Library. The Manchester Union Leader was there. So was The Valley News.
Dartmouth opponent UNH is ranked No. 1 in the nation by Lindy's with quarterback Ricky Santos and wide receiver David Ball both given the nod as first-team All-Americans.
The heavens smiled on Dartmouth graduation as the rain stayed away and the ceremony could be held on the Green in front of Baker Library. The Manchester Union Leader was there. So was The Valley News.
Sunday, June 11, 2006
Bidding the Class of '06 Farewell
Thankfully the rains of spring have stopped on graduation Sunday. It's gray and gloomy but after two more days of steady downpour they might, that's might, be able to graduate outside at Dartmouth today. ...
For its graduation special, The Dartmouth has a series of stories on the Class of 2006 and its time in Hanover. One of the stories includes a capsule profile and picture of graduating football player Nick Stork who was "convinced that his fraternity brothers were better citizens than the fraternity's reputation led people to believe (and) set out to open minds in and outside of the fraternity during his time as president." The story notes that "Stork trained as a Sexual Assault Peer Advisor in the winter to increase his understanding of some of the issues being discussed around campus," and that his fraternity "was also the first group to invite Mentors Against Violence, a campus group dedicated to ending inappropriate sexual and violent behavior, to give a presentation."
Kansas City Royals farmhand Eddie Lucas, who quarterbacked the Dartmouth jayvees before giving up football for baseball, is the subject of a story in his hometown Daytona Beach newspaper. Lucas would likely have taken over the starting role on the varsity as a sophomore when injuries struck down players ahead of him on the depth chart.
The Dartmouth briefly notes Buddy Teevens had more success with his team off the field than on it in this story and briefly rehashes the John Lyons firing and Teevens hiring here.
For its graduation special, The Dartmouth has a series of stories on the Class of 2006 and its time in Hanover. One of the stories includes a capsule profile and picture of graduating football player Nick Stork who was "convinced that his fraternity brothers were better citizens than the fraternity's reputation led people to believe (and) set out to open minds in and outside of the fraternity during his time as president." The story notes that "Stork trained as a Sexual Assault Peer Advisor in the winter to increase his understanding of some of the issues being discussed around campus," and that his fraternity "was also the first group to invite Mentors Against Violence, a campus group dedicated to ending inappropriate sexual and violent behavior, to give a presentation."
Kansas City Royals farmhand Eddie Lucas, who quarterbacked the Dartmouth jayvees before giving up football for baseball, is the subject of a story in his hometown Daytona Beach newspaper. Lucas would likely have taken over the starting role on the varsity as a sophomore when injuries struck down players ahead of him on the depth chart.
The Dartmouth briefly notes Buddy Teevens had more success with his team off the field than on it in this story and briefly rehashes the John Lyons firing and Teevens hiring here.
Saturday, June 10, 2006
New York Times
The New York Times should know better. This cliche-riddled sentence is from the Times' story on the fraternity search:
A college of wide greens? There is a Green, but that's about it. Please point me to the other wide greens.
"...is notorious for its wild keg parties and raucous atmosphere." Yes, there's a lively social scene, but that description is outdated and overstated. Was notorious? I'll buy that. Is notorious? Probably no more so than that at a great many colleges across the country.
My journalism professors used to drum into us that every little error hurts .. and how can someone trust that you got the important stuff right when you get the little stuff wrong. Good point.
The fraternity system at Dartmouth, a liberal arts college of wide greens and white-columned buildings nestled in the Green Mountains, is notorious for its wild keg parties and raucous atmosphere.First, Dartmouth is most definitely not nestled in the Green Mountains. It is closer to the White Mountains than the Greens, but in reality it is in neither. It's a little thing, but it's wrong.
A college of wide greens? There is a Green, but that's about it. Please point me to the other wide greens.
"...is notorious for its wild keg parties and raucous atmosphere." Yes, there's a lively social scene, but that description is outdated and overstated. Was notorious? I'll buy that. Is notorious? Probably no more so than that at a great many colleges across the country.
My journalism professors used to drum into us that every little error hurts .. and how can someone trust that you got the important stuff right when you get the little stuff wrong. Good point.
A Time Waster
True confession: I've been holding a link back for a slow day. It's a slow day. Click here to visit a site that will tell you Dartmouth's greatest margin of victory since 1973 and its most lopsided lost ... the most points scored since then and the most given up. There's information about wins and losses since 1978 and lots of links to opponents and records against opponents. It's a good time waster. You can find even more here. ...
It's no fun to link to stories that reflect badly on the college but sometimes there's little choice. News sources all over the country are reporting a raid by Hanover police on a Dartmouth fraternity. What it's all about is a mystery that sources tell The Dartmouth had to do with a videotape. ... The AP story with a photo of the frat house (located across from Alumni Gym) can be found here. ... With the Class of '56 celebrating its 50th reunion directly across the street and families and friends in town for graduation, the timing is unfortunate.
It's no fun to link to stories that reflect badly on the college but sometimes there's little choice. News sources all over the country are reporting a raid by Hanover police on a Dartmouth fraternity. What it's all about is a mystery that sources tell The Dartmouth had to do with a videotape. ... The AP story with a photo of the frat house (located across from Alumni Gym) can be found here. ... With the Class of '56 celebrating its 50th reunion directly across the street and families and friends in town for graduation, the timing is unfortunate.
Friday, June 09, 2006
Field Mockup From Above
The clean lines of the FieldTurf surface and the permanent endzone and 50-yard line markings will make a big difference in the appearance of the field. So, in the beginning, will the bright colorings of the new track. (Click on this image to super size it.)
The Year in Review with Josie Harper
I missed this one the first time around. Late in the spring season, Dartmouth Athletic Director Josie Harper talked with the Dartmouth Review for a question and answer piece on the status of the college athletic program. Find it here.
Visit the Dartmouth Football Parents News & Notes blog to read a Q&A with a mystery guest. I won't tell you who it is but you might be able to figure it out when I tell you I'm a lot more comfortable asking questions than answering them. ;-)
Dartmouth baseball could take a double hit as a result of the major league draft. Not only was prized recruit Trevor Cahill taken in the second round, but junior center fielder Will Bashelor may well accept an offer from the New York Mets if the money is right. The Norwich Bulletin story suggests that the fleet outfielder who set the Dartmouth single-season stolen base record a year ago might have looked pretty good on Memorial Field as well as Red Rolfe. ... Here's a piece about hard-throwing Josh Faiola being picked by the Baltimore Orioles.
Dartmouth grad Mike Slive is getting some ink these days not only for his work heading up the SEC, but also the Bowl Championship Series. The Mobile Register writes, "One month shy of four years on the job, Slive has proven he was the right man for the job."
Jay Fiedler to the Dallas Cowboys? There was some talk about it last year and his name has popped up again. I've always thought Jay's professional approach would mesh well with Bill Parcells. We'll see.
Visit the Dartmouth Football Parents News & Notes blog to read a Q&A with a mystery guest. I won't tell you who it is but you might be able to figure it out when I tell you I'm a lot more comfortable asking questions than answering them. ;-)
Dartmouth baseball could take a double hit as a result of the major league draft. Not only was prized recruit Trevor Cahill taken in the second round, but junior center fielder Will Bashelor may well accept an offer from the New York Mets if the money is right. The Norwich Bulletin story suggests that the fleet outfielder who set the Dartmouth single-season stolen base record a year ago might have looked pretty good on Memorial Field as well as Red Rolfe. ... Here's a piece about hard-throwing Josh Faiola being picked by the Baltimore Orioles.
Dartmouth grad Mike Slive is getting some ink these days not only for his work heading up the SEC, but also the Bowl Championship Series. The Mobile Register writes, "One month shy of four years on the job, Slive has proven he was the right man for the job."
Jay Fiedler to the Dallas Cowboys? There was some talk about it last year and his name has popped up again. I've always thought Jay's professional approach would mesh well with Bill Parcells. We'll see.
Thursday, June 08, 2006
The Color of Money: Green
Several alert subscribers sent me this link about the Bush economic team and its Big Green members. Very impressive stuff.
The Dartmouth Mighty Ducks - True Story
That's Dartmouth Elementary School in Richardson, Texas
I could see Dartmouth College becoming the North Stars or the BackPackers (two names I've favored) but I don't think the Dartmouth Mighty Duck is going to fly. Here's a story about someplace where it does.
Casey Cramer was always a good quote when he was at Dartmouth and little has changed now that he's a backup fullback in the NFL. Read what he had to say about the fellow ahead of him on the depth chart with the Carolina Panthers in this story.
I haven't posted many pictures of the work on Memorial Field lately because, well, because while the construction troops are going at it hard, to the passerby it doesn't appear as if much if happening right now. Maybe if I were a real photographer. On the other hand, maybe not. Lafayette is doing a project similar to the one at Dartmouth and the photos from Pennsylvania aren't a whole lot more exciting than mine. You can see a selection of them here. ... In case you missed it the first time around, Lafayette has posted artist's conceptions of the final product down there at this site.
By the way, it's raining again today. Both of my kids' final regular-season baseball games were rained out yesterday. S'posed to rain tomorrow, too. And Saturday. Maybe Sunday, also. We've got a couple of guys here doing a little work on the house this week. They were about three weeks late on getting started because rain kept delaying their other jobs. We'll see if they show today. I'm not optimistic, in no small part because the work they are scheduled to do is right under the eaves of the roof and in this part of the world not many people have gutters. ... Which means the rain will be rolling down the roof right onto their heads. Maybe we'll see them on Monday.
I could see Dartmouth College becoming the North Stars or the BackPackers (two names I've favored) but I don't think the Dartmouth Mighty Duck is going to fly. Here's a story about someplace where it does.
Casey Cramer was always a good quote when he was at Dartmouth and little has changed now that he's a backup fullback in the NFL. Read what he had to say about the fellow ahead of him on the depth chart with the Carolina Panthers in this story.
I haven't posted many pictures of the work on Memorial Field lately because, well, because while the construction troops are going at it hard, to the passerby it doesn't appear as if much if happening right now. Maybe if I were a real photographer. On the other hand, maybe not. Lafayette is doing a project similar to the one at Dartmouth and the photos from Pennsylvania aren't a whole lot more exciting than mine. You can see a selection of them here. ... In case you missed it the first time around, Lafayette has posted artist's conceptions of the final product down there at this site.
By the way, it's raining again today. Both of my kids' final regular-season baseball games were rained out yesterday. S'posed to rain tomorrow, too. And Saturday. Maybe Sunday, also. We've got a couple of guys here doing a little work on the house this week. They were about three weeks late on getting started because rain kept delaying their other jobs. We'll see if they show today. I'm not optimistic, in no small part because the work they are scheduled to do is right under the eaves of the roof and in this part of the world not many people have gutters. ... Which means the rain will be rolling down the roof right onto their heads. Maybe we'll see them on Monday.
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
New Stadium Rendering
I'm still not completely sold on the design of the new building, but this new rendering certainly looks a lot more impressive than the last. If you click on it, depending on your browser, it will pop up a lot bigger so you can check out a little more of the detail. I do think the artist took a little liberty with the number of photographers in the end zone ;-). ... Having stands in the end zone will make a big difference. I do hope the college puts them up in both end zones, the way they did in the not-too-distant past. Of course, they'll look better if there are people in them...Note how the visiting stands come down a little in height in front of Leverone. Those will be all new stands.
This Doesn't Happen in Football
A Dartmouth baseball recruit with 94 mph fastball was taken by the Oakland Athletics with the 66th pick in the draft. Now that's tough. At least Ivy League football coaches don't have that problem. ... Here's a little more about the kid.
Did you know the Bowl Championship Series coordinator the next two seasons is a Dartmouth alum? From a story in Florida Today:
Did you know the Bowl Championship Series coordinator the next two seasons is a Dartmouth alum? From a story in Florida Today:
Southeastern Conference commissioner Mike Slive also is the new Bowl Championship Series coordinator for the 2006 and 2007 college football seasons, a challenge that brings a quick smile to the former judge's face.Hank Paulson is the featured speaker at Harvard Business School class day today.
Slive, who celebrates his 61st birthday in July, attended Dartmouth, Virginia and Georgetown. He has practiced law in New Hampshire and Chicago and served as a judge in the Hanover District Court for six years, so he knows how to balance the athletic and legal worlds.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Run Defense Better Be Ready
Matt Dougherty from The Sports Network has a column today about the top running backs in Division I-AA. Lucky Dartmouth gets to play against two of them. The only surprise about Harvard senior Clifton Dawson being No. 2 on his list is that he's not No. 1. The 210-pound dynamo who transferred from Northwestern after taking a redshirt year in the Big 10 is just 1,008 yards short of replacing Ed Marinaro on top of the Ivy rushing lift. (Granted, he's already played more games than Marinaro, but that can't diminish what he's accomplished) ... One place out of the top-10 on Dougherty's list is Colgate's 200-pound sophomore Jordan Scott. The Raiders hadn't taken the wraps off him when they played at Dartmouth last year. Still, he ended up running for 1,364 yards and 10 touchdowns. Consider, he didn't get his first start until the Cornell game after the Raiders played Dartmouth.
Harvard, my friends, never wants to keep up with the Jones. It wants to keep ahead of the Jones ... and the Teevens and the Hughes. And so if Buddy Teevens at Dartmouth and Roger Hughes at Princeton are going to have FieldTurf next year, rest assured Harvard isn't going to be left behind. As reported earlier, work has started on adding not only FieldTurf, but lights and a winter bubble on historic Harvard Stadium. Find a story here.
While the Ivy League can't get an 11th game or the OK to go to the playoffs, Division I-A schools got the OK to add a 12th game. This Richmond Times-Dispatch column takes a look at whether the I-AA schools should have been allowed to go to 12 games (they weren't).
Harvard, my friends, never wants to keep up with the Jones. It wants to keep ahead of the Jones ... and the Teevens and the Hughes. And so if Buddy Teevens at Dartmouth and Roger Hughes at Princeton are going to have FieldTurf next year, rest assured Harvard isn't going to be left behind. As reported earlier, work has started on adding not only FieldTurf, but lights and a winter bubble on historic Harvard Stadium. Find a story here.
While the Ivy League can't get an 11th game or the OK to go to the playoffs, Division I-A schools got the OK to add a 12th game. This Richmond Times-Dispatch column takes a look at whether the I-AA schools should have been allowed to go to 12 games (they weren't).
Monday, June 05, 2006
Another Look at Several Recruits
I missed this story the first time around about talented tight end prospect Carroll Papajohn's "signing" with Dartmouth. ... I may already have posted this link (I can't remember, there have been a few) but here's an interesting Q&A with incoming wide receiver/defensive back Niles Murphy. ... I know I haven't posted this link with a picture of 6-foot-5, 300-pound Texas high school lineman Bo Hurley signing with Dartmouth.
Penn and Princeton are playing in the 2006 Ivy-Samurai Bowl later this month. This link is in Japanese, so I had a little fun and had an online translator turn this page into English. At least I think it's English. Click on it to make it readable. (Or as readable as it is going to be. Clearly computer translation still has a way to go ;-). The second page, by the way, said Penn is coached by Eldo Bagnoli, which kind of works for me, but I wonder how Al would take it?
Again, you can click on the page to make it larger, but it's still a bit of a strain. So, here's the first translated section:
Penn and Princeton are playing in the 2006 Ivy-Samurai Bowl later this month. This link is in Japanese, so I had a little fun and had an online translator turn this page into English. At least I think it's English. Click on it to make it readable. (Or as readable as it is going to be. Clearly computer translation still has a way to go ;-). The second page, by the way, said Penn is coached by Eldo Bagnoli, which kind of works for me, but I wonder how Al would take it?
Again, you can click on the page to make it larger, but it's still a bit of a strain. So, here's the first translated section:After the American football starting in Japan, we held 2004 IVY-SAMURAI BOWL 2004 attains 70th anniversaries, the fact that friendship of further development and Japan and US is deepened as a purpose.
At that time, successive president and the leader of the all sectors of society are produced in the United States the ivy league and it is the mental foundation of the Japanese, it can connect "samurai soul", including the request that you could name the name, "ivy samurai bowl".
Ivy league football invitation as for being important, the American football from now 137 years ago it originates in being started by 0 0N Harvard University, the university and Princeton University etc. of the ivy league. And even presently the ivy league as for being located "the conscience of the American football boundary", always to return to the roots of the self in the American university sport boundary which has commercialization wholeheartedly, because it continues to try probably to penetrate the form and mind of proper ideal as a student sport is.
It follows to 2005 IVY-SAMURAI BOWL of the last year when it has become the 2nd conference, this time when it becomes 3rd it invites coach each 7 names player each 4 total 22 from both schools of the Pennsylvania university and Princeton University, 1 section of Kanto student union B block post school the selection team and the joint which center the A it does and does.
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Hodgson Is New Coordinator
There's no press release yet, but it's official. Tight ends coach Mike Hodgson has been named Dartmouth's offensive coordinator.
For a different kind of look at incoming wide receiver Ian Ferrell of Colorado, click here. Ferrell, who brings 6-foot-5ish size to an already tall receiving corps, is an All-America lacrosse player who is listed by the Dartmouth lacrosse team (as well as the football team) as an incoming recruit... Missed this one the first tme, but here's a picture and brief story about 280-pound incoming offensive lineman Bo Yanker, who hails from The Lovett School in Atlanta, which sent two-time captain Clayton Smith and lineman/Olympic silver medal shot putter Adam Nelson to Dartmouth.
If you've been scanning the various school sites for news about their recruits, information has been scarce about who will be in Brown's freshman class. You can find the new guys mixed in on this roster.
Green Alert carried reports about the record-low percentage of applicants accepted by most Ivy League schools this year but the stories didn't really hit home because they were built around numbers, not names. The Cape Cod Times puts a face on what the acceptance rate meant in this story, which describes a talented graduating high school senior who was turned down by Dartmouth, Duke, Stanford and Harvard despite "a 3.88 grade point average while carrying heavy academic loads including five advanced placement courses and four honors classes in the past two years." (He was captain of his high school football team but was not going to college as a football player.) ...
As an aside, the paper reports the new grad -- who will attend Bowdoin (a terrific school by the way) -- scored 2,280 on his SAT's. Hmmm. The new SAT scoring system has me a little baffled. I guess I better start studying...
For a different kind of look at incoming wide receiver Ian Ferrell of Colorado, click here. Ferrell, who brings 6-foot-5ish size to an already tall receiving corps, is an All-America lacrosse player who is listed by the Dartmouth lacrosse team (as well as the football team) as an incoming recruit... Missed this one the first tme, but here's a picture and brief story about 280-pound incoming offensive lineman Bo Yanker, who hails from The Lovett School in Atlanta, which sent two-time captain Clayton Smith and lineman/Olympic silver medal shot putter Adam Nelson to Dartmouth.
If you've been scanning the various school sites for news about their recruits, information has been scarce about who will be in Brown's freshman class. You can find the new guys mixed in on this roster.
Green Alert carried reports about the record-low percentage of applicants accepted by most Ivy League schools this year but the stories didn't really hit home because they were built around numbers, not names. The Cape Cod Times puts a face on what the acceptance rate meant in this story, which describes a talented graduating high school senior who was turned down by Dartmouth, Duke, Stanford and Harvard despite "a 3.88 grade point average while carrying heavy academic loads including five advanced placement courses and four honors classes in the past two years." (He was captain of his high school football team but was not going to college as a football player.) ...
As an aside, the paper reports the new grad -- who will attend Bowdoin (a terrific school by the way) -- scored 2,280 on his SAT's. Hmmm. The new SAT scoring system has me a little baffled. I guess I better start studying...
Saturday, June 03, 2006
New Role for Assistant?
Memorial Field home and away stands, June 2, 2006.
I haven't been able to find anything official about it, but it's been reported elsewhere that tight ends coach Mike Hodgson has been named Dartmouth's offensive coordinator. I asked around the gym yesterday but with the coaches out until Monday, it was impossible to confirm although it sounds as if it's the case. I'll follow up Monday.
Harvard's recruiting class was listed within its 2006 roster a while back, but the Crimson web site has now broken the group out and "officially" announced it here.
It's Division I-A, but the instant replay challenge come to college football. This coach has problems with the new rule.
Friday, June 02, 2006
More Paulson Background
From a Dartmouth Friends of Football email that just hit "in boxes" ...
Most of you are probably aware that Henry M. (Hank) Paulson the current CEO of Goldman Sacks has be nominated by President Bush to be the next Treasury Secretary, BUT did you know that hePaulson's Dartmouth classmate Robert Reich (the former Clinton secretary of labor) proves politics is thicker than Green blood with this commentary on the nomination. His intro:
· was a three-year letterman in Football at Dartmouth,
· started as a sophomore on the 1965 undefeated Ivy-League Champions,
· played on two Ivy-League Championship teams,
· was named All-Ivy, All-New England and All-East in his senior year and received the New England Coaches award as the Offensive Lineman of the Year,
· established the Robert L. Blackman Endowed Coaching Position in 2000,
· was Dartmouth's honoree at the 2003 Ivy Football Association Dinner for his lifetime of accomplishments beyond the playing field?
The last time I saw Hank Paulson was at our college graduation, almost exactly 38 years ago. He had been a tackle on the football team and was heading to business school and then into the Nixon administration. I was resolutely not a football player, and I had just returned from keeping Clean for Gene. (For those of you too young to understand this reference, I was campaigning on behalf of Eugene McCarthy, the anti-Vietnam War candidate.)
Harvard and USC: A Common Thread
Today's Daily Pennsylvanian has a story looking at the Penn recruiting class. It's no doubt another solid group, although from this story it doesn't appear there's anyone who jumps off the page. Then again, anyone who thinks they can grade an Ivy League recruiting class before the kids report for preseason camp is fooling himself (or herself ;-). Penn coach Al Bagnoli on recruiting in the same league as Harvard:
Long-snapper Ryan Danehy, chosen with the third-to-last pick in the Major League Lacrosse draft, told the morning paper he was watching the draft online but nodded off before his name was called and woke up to a pleasant surprise. Lax teammate Jamie Coffin, also picked by the Boston Cannons in the draft, will put off joining the team for at least a year to work on his Internet site, collegepostings.com.
And finally this: I got an email from '94 captain and subscriber Josh Bloom updating the situation with former assistant coach Doug Johnson and his wife, Gloria, who is battling cancer. If you missed the earlier post on someone who coached for the love of it (and anyone who knew him realized that) click here.
(When I was at the newspaper, I always meant to write a story about Coach J, a local guy who would be out on the practice field each afternoon wearing his workboots and an enormous smile. When practice finished he'd climb in his dump truck -- could there ever have been another Ivy football coach who showed at the field up in a dump truck? -- and head over to his duties at AJ's restaurant in White River Junction, where he fed -- and sometimes employed -- countless players and coaches over the years.)
Gloria's illness has put a tremendous strain on the family finances and former players and friends of the program have been doing what they can to ease the burden by raising money for the Johnsons. Mark Abel '97, Bobby Corso '98 and Michele Robinson have helped spearhead the effort which continues. If you would like to send a check or a note to Coach J and his wife, the address is: Doug and Gloria Johnson, 140 Neal Road, White River Jct, VT 05001.
"USC may be one of the few schools that can say 'I want you, you and you, and I don't want you and you.' In our league Harvard is as close as we have to that."Did you know that Dartmouth leads the all-time series with Tennessee? A subscriber sent in a link about this column that briefly mentions the Big Green-Volunteers history. ... Hank Paulson, the former offensive lineman and soon to be Treasury Secretary, is remembered fondly by an early neighbor who says in this story:
"There is no ostentatiousness on his part. He's probably the smartest person I've ever met, and probably has the highest integrity."Our friend over at the Colgate football blog has his Division I-AA Top-20 posted. He has UNH No. 1 in the nation and the Colgate Raiders (don't call them the Red Raiders) at No. 20.
Long-snapper Ryan Danehy, chosen with the third-to-last pick in the Major League Lacrosse draft, told the morning paper he was watching the draft online but nodded off before his name was called and woke up to a pleasant surprise. Lax teammate Jamie Coffin, also picked by the Boston Cannons in the draft, will put off joining the team for at least a year to work on his Internet site, collegepostings.com.
And finally this: I got an email from '94 captain and subscriber Josh Bloom updating the situation with former assistant coach Doug Johnson and his wife, Gloria, who is battling cancer. If you missed the earlier post on someone who coached for the love of it (and anyone who knew him realized that) click here.
(When I was at the newspaper, I always meant to write a story about Coach J, a local guy who would be out on the practice field each afternoon wearing his workboots and an enormous smile. When practice finished he'd climb in his dump truck -- could there ever have been another Ivy football coach who showed at the field up in a dump truck? -- and head over to his duties at AJ's restaurant in White River Junction, where he fed -- and sometimes employed -- countless players and coaches over the years.)
Gloria's illness has put a tremendous strain on the family finances and former players and friends of the program have been doing what they can to ease the burden by raising money for the Johnsons. Mark Abel '97, Bobby Corso '98 and Michele Robinson have helped spearhead the effort which continues. If you would like to send a check or a note to Coach J and his wife, the address is: Doug and Gloria Johnson, 140 Neal Road, White River Jct, VT 05001.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Snapper Danehy Goes in Lax Draft
UPDATED 8:25
Ryan Danehy, the long-snapper on the Dartmouth football team last fall, has been chosen in the fifth round of the Major League Lacrosse draft. Danehy, one of three Dartmouth players taken by MLL teams, was picked 49th overall by the Boston Cannons. He had eight goals and 12 assists this spring for the Big Green and was fifth on the squad with 20 points. Danehy's football bio can be found here and his lacrosse bio is located here.
Also taken in the draft were midfielder Brad Heritage (4th round, 33rd overall by San Francisco) and attack Jamie Coffin (4th, 39th overall by Boston). The full draft list can be found here and a full story about Coffin being picked is found here.
Dartmouth (and all the Ivy schools) have had their share of well-known names on their football teams. The Big Green had a chance for another but Will Murchison, grandson of the Dallas Cowboys' original owner (Clint Murchison Jr.) opted to be a student at Wake Forest instead of giving football a shot at Dartmouth or Princeton according to this story. He ran for more than 2,000 yards as a senior and had 338 rushing yards and three touchdowns in his state championship game this fall.
Staying in Texas ... Sports Illustrated has a capsule on "Three Smart Astros" and one, not surprisingly, is Dartmouth graduate Brad Ausmus. Now, because of what I did in a former life, I followed Brad's career, like that of Atlanta Brave Mike Remlinger and former big leaguer Mark Johnson pretty closely. But this from the SI piece caught me by surprise: "Ausmus's father, Harry, is a retired professor of European history at Southern Connecticut State and the author of A Schopenhauerian Critique of Nietzsche's Thought, which Ausmus, 37, calls his 'favorite book.' "
This from former Dartmouth SID Jack DeGange: If confirmed, Henry Paulson '68 will not be the first Dartmouth alumnus to serve as Secretary of the Treasury.
Salmon P. Chase 1826, born in Cornish, NH 1/30/1808, was Treasury Secretary in Lincoln's cabinet, 1861-64, before becoming Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, from 1865 until his death in 1873. As a senator from Ohio (1849-55), governor of Ohio (1856-60), again a senator (1861), he was among Lincoln's "Team of Rivals" (per Doris Kearns Goodwin).
Paulson would be the second member of Class of 1968 to serve in a cabinet position after Bob Reich, labor secretary in Clinton administration.
Ryan Danehy, the long-snapper on the Dartmouth football team last fall, has been chosen in the fifth round of the Major League Lacrosse draft. Danehy, one of three Dartmouth players taken by MLL teams, was picked 49th overall by the Boston Cannons. He had eight goals and 12 assists this spring for the Big Green and was fifth on the squad with 20 points. Danehy's football bio can be found here and his lacrosse bio is located here.
Also taken in the draft were midfielder Brad Heritage (4th round, 33rd overall by San Francisco) and attack Jamie Coffin (4th, 39th overall by Boston). The full draft list can be found here and a full story about Coffin being picked is found here.
Dartmouth (and all the Ivy schools) have had their share of well-known names on their football teams. The Big Green had a chance for another but Will Murchison, grandson of the Dallas Cowboys' original owner (Clint Murchison Jr.) opted to be a student at Wake Forest instead of giving football a shot at Dartmouth or Princeton according to this story. He ran for more than 2,000 yards as a senior and had 338 rushing yards and three touchdowns in his state championship game this fall.
Staying in Texas ... Sports Illustrated has a capsule on "Three Smart Astros" and one, not surprisingly, is Dartmouth graduate Brad Ausmus. Now, because of what I did in a former life, I followed Brad's career, like that of Atlanta Brave Mike Remlinger and former big leaguer Mark Johnson pretty closely. But this from the SI piece caught me by surprise: "Ausmus's father, Harry, is a retired professor of European history at Southern Connecticut State and the author of A Schopenhauerian Critique of Nietzsche's Thought, which Ausmus, 37, calls his 'favorite book.' "
This from former Dartmouth SID Jack DeGange: If confirmed, Henry Paulson '68 will not be the first Dartmouth alumnus to serve as Secretary of the Treasury.
Salmon P. Chase 1826, born in Cornish, NH 1/30/1808, was Treasury Secretary in Lincoln's cabinet, 1861-64, before becoming Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, from 1865 until his death in 1873. As a senator from Ohio (1849-55), governor of Ohio (1856-60), again a senator (1861), he was among Lincoln's "Team of Rivals" (per Doris Kearns Goodwin).
Paulson would be the second member of Class of 1968 to serve in a cabinet position after Bob Reich, labor secretary in Clinton administration.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)