Early Decision News Just A Trickle

Got a phone call a couple of days ago asking about Dartmouth's early decision football recruits so I figured it was time to list the names I've been able to cull from the web. There aren't many, in part because the news has been slow to break and in part because the stated emphasis this year was on regular admissions, not the early decision process. That said, here's an alphabetical list of who has been reported as heading this way in their hometown newspapers so far:

• Will Deevy, Kent Denver (Colorado) 6-5, 210 quarterback
• Alex Wodka (Buffalo Grove, Ill.) 6-3, 285 offensive guard
• Spencer Hood (Carlsbad, Calif.), 6-3, 230 linebacker
• Carter Scott (Hammond SC), , 6-1, 210 linebacker

I've been told commitments have come from a 5-11, 200-pound running back from the Northeast, a placekicker from the Southeast and a blue-chip defensive lineman, but I won't post any names until they are confirmed. (If you are reading this -- and I know some of you are -- feel free to send me an email. ;-)

Found a story about Alex Wodka that included this quote from the lineman:

"They have done a lot of good with a new football office and perhaps the biggest weight room in Division I-AA. We walked through the construction site and it shows how much the university supports football. It came at the request of Coach Teevens."

Also from the story:

Wodka will become the fifth Illinois product next season on the roster at Dartmouth, following Rockford Boylan offensive lineman Jared Dowdakin, Tuscola quarterback Jordan Kling, Hinsdale Central defensive tackle James Lill and New Trier defensive end Jack D'Angelo.

Former Dartmouth quarterback Jay Fiedler gets a mention in a Las Vegas gossip column here.

Princeton is going out on top, dropping football after all these years. At least that's what this January Fools issue says. The lede to the Daily Princetonian story:

After 138 years of storied history, the football team has decided to retire, it announced today.

Citing a desire to go out at the top of its game, the venerable program — home to 28 national champions, a Heisman winner and the 2006 Ivy champs — seemed worn out but refreshed at a the prospect of a new life in retirement as it made the decision.

A Daily Dartmouth column headlined The Rural University Paradox suggests Dartmouth's location makes it impossible for the school to be one of the truly elite research universities. I have a few quibbles with the columnist's portrayal of this area, but he does a pretty good job overall. His summation makes a point many have made in recent years:

The lesson is simple. Do not try to compete with Harvard at Harvard's game, because if you do, you will lose.

Unbelievably, the old saying that any publicity is good publicity is put into play in the lede from a story in the Daily Pennsylvanian:

The avalanche of national media coverage surrounding the murder case of Economics professor Rafael Robb likely won't detract from Penn's admissions numbers - and, in fact, it could even help, one expert says.

A quote from the same story:

"You're going to see the words University of Pennsylvania next to the word Ivy League all over the media," (College Confidential senior counselor Sally Rubenstone) said. "It's a constant reminder to prospective students that Penn is out there and is an Ivy League institution."

It was 9.9 degrees below zero when the golden retriever and I went out to get the newspaper this morning. Now if a good old-fashioned Nor'easter would drop 15-18 inches on us we'd be all set.