$70 Million And Building

UPDATE: The last of a three-part series about athletics appears in today's Daily Dartmouth. This story takes a general look at the admissions process.

In his Q&A with Jim Wright in the latest Dartmouth Alumni Magazine, Jake Tapper asked the college president about athletic facilities. Wright's answer:

"We probably have invested over $70 million in athletic programs and facilities under my presidency. Every single athletic facility will have been upgraded or replaced in my presidency. I'm not sure that's happened at any other time. I have a commitment to athletics and anyone who wants to test it can go over to the athletic department and ask the player or coaches whether they think the institution is behind them. We are."

In fact, the $70 million figure will grow with extensive work planned on baseball's Red Rolfe Field and anticipated work on the home stands at Memorial Field in the not-too-distant future. The official numbers from a December issue of Dartmouth Life:

Athletics Projects Completed and in Progress: 1998-2006
Scully-Fahey Field - $2,860,000
Floren Varsity House - $19,450,000
Memorial Field and Track - $2,800,000
Boss Tennis Center - $6,040,000
Leverone Renovation - $5,310,000
Alumni Gymnasium Renovation - $16,100,000
McLane Family Lodge - $3,570,000
Corey Ford Rugby Clubhouse and Fields - $3,280,000
Hanover Country Club Renovations - $3,030,000
Tennis/Turf Site Work - $1,840,000
Burnham Soccer Facility - $8,000,000
Red Rolfe Field - to be determined
Total: $72,280,000

The Dartmoose is back in the news as yet another mascot initiative tries to get traction. The Dartmouth has a story here.

The Ivy League @ 50 celebration, which I'm afraid isn't receiving anywhere near the attention such an extensive body of work deserves, has a story today about the league's impact on the NFL. Find that story here.

For another story about former Dartmouth assistant Rob Talley taking over as head coach at D-II Stonehill, click here. From the story:

According to the University of Central Florida's Institute for Diversity and Ethics, there were only 16 black head coaches at the 616 NCAA schools in Divs. 1, 2 and 3 last season.

The email came in at 5:48 this morning with the words every kid dreams of: Snow day! The forecasters can't seem to agree on how much snow we are going to get -- they are calling for anywhere from 2-to-4 inches and 10-to-20 inches -- but it's certainly nasty outside right now. The wind is absolutely howling, the snow is flying sideways and there's a chance for a "wintry mix," later. It's a good day to stay inside. ...

One last note on that certain Hanover High School freshman. At the winter track banquet last night she received a very nice plaque with her name and the words "Rookie of the Year" engraved on it ;-)