Not My Call

Let me start out by saying I have tremendous empathy for people who pick weekly awards. I have been the selector for the New England Football Writers Gold Helmet award one week each year for a few seasons now and it is a gut-wrenching job. I've lost sleep over making the pick every time I've done it and to be honest, I'd rather not have that responsibility. But someone has to do it so each week I try to do my part. I put a great deal of thought and consideration into the picks I make (Division I and II-III) and try not to listen when people like me do what I'm about to do: second-guess.

(In another life I used to pick the Ivy League women's basketball player of the week and I know there were people taking my name in vain every week. It comes with the territory.)

While I know how tough it is to make a player of the week selection I can't help but think someone dropped the ball in the opening week of the Ivy season. Dartmouth safety Ian Wilson not only should have been the Ivy League defensive player of the week (LINK) but he also should have had a run at the national defensive player of the week.

All the hard-hitting senior did against Colgate was:

• Make two interceptions (including one on the one-yard line to prevent a touchdown at the end of the first half).
• Force two fumbles with bonecrushing hits, the first setting up a Dartmouth touchdown.
• Make 13 tackles.
• Have a 10-yard tackle for a loss.

Compare that to the solid but not spectacular accomplishments of the award winner:

• Five tackles
• Two tackles for a loss (one sack)
• Two forced fumbles

At the very least it's a crying shame Wilson wasn't co-defensive player of the week and if that's a cop out, so be it.

Sure, Dartmouth lost and the other guy's team won, but this is the defensive PLAYER of the week, not defensive TEAM of the week. Wilson couldn't do it all himself, but he gave it a heck of a shot.