One Big Family

10:45 update: Should have mentioned this earlier. The Brown season preview -- ninth in a series of 10 -- will be posted later today on Green Alert Premium.

I was privileged to have dinner last night at Jesse's Restaurant with the Dartmouth freshman football players and their families and came away impressed by the size and demeanor of the players, as well as the way the families have melded so quickly into one big family. Thanks to the organizers for inviting me, and to everyone for the warm reception.

Coach Buddy Teevens had a few opening remarks for the group before heading back to campus to continue the seemingly endless preparations for tomorrow's official start of practice.

Players check in today between 8 a.m. and noon. The first official practice is at 4 p.m., Wednesday. It's a long preseason -- there are still 25 days until the opener against Colgate -- but the three-plus weeks aren't all about football. I got a copy of the practice schedule yesterday and it includes periods dedicated to, among other things:

• Freshman Orientation -- Resume Building
• Freshman Orientation -- Library Tour
• "Dine With Your Dean"
• Mentors lunch
• Dartmouth History-Dartmouth Songs, Alma Mater, Backs Go Tearing By, Glory to Dartmouth
• Sophomores: Picking a Major
• Juniors and Seniors: Career Services

And a whole lot more ...

Columbia kicked off practice yesterday. (link) ... Yale gets the ball rolling today. (link)

For someone whose biggest sin was replacing Dan Marino, former Dartmouth quarterback Jay Fiedler has been the victim of his share of cheap shots in the press over the years. A Miami Herald story headlined, "Dolphins' offense gets its first undisputed leader since Marino," has something a little more flattering to day about him. The story (link) says:

"Jay Fiedler was a man of infinite courage who won a lot of games and could have been a classic leader. But his inconsistent skills and the coaching staff's constant search for his replacement conspired to take the mantle from him."

To see a picture of Tennessee Titans tight end/fullback Casey Cramer signing autographs after a game, click on this link. For an action shot of the former Dartmouth tight end blocking, click on this link.

Penn is now offering a service that says you can:

Receive at least seven in-game football scoring updates on your mobile phone for each home and away game.

The graphic goes on to say the cost is $4.99 per month for up to 30 messages. Now, I choose not own a cell phone and don't really know about text messages and how they charge for all that stuff. But with tongue in cheek I submit that the ad is worthy of the inside back page of Consumer Reports for the overly optimistic graphic that accompanies it. The illustration of a cell phone shows the following message on the screen:

Penn 35
Oklahoma 28
(End of 3rd)

Speaking of marketing, Columbia's press guide is on sale at the Columbia Media Guide store. (link) I have to admit the $20 price (plus $2 shipping and handling) took me for a loop. I would expect that it is in line with what other schools charge and is priced the way it is only to help cover costs, but it's still a lot of money.