Thursday's Practice

By Bruce Wood
www.biggreenalert.com

Sept. 20, 2007

HANOVER -- It’s no secret that New Hampshire football coach Sean McDonnell takes the UNH-Dartmouth series seriously. His comments in this morning's paper made that clear.

“We preach to our kids all the time the history of this rivalry, the history of Ivy League football and where it was at one point nationally and where we are right now,” the ninth-year head coach said. “I can always remember from playing, Coach (Bill Bowes) always made a point that it was Yankee Conference vs. Ivy League and we try to make sure we continue that with the (Colonial Athletic Association) vs. Ivy League."

McDonnell likes the game, but then again, why wouldn’t he? While there have been a couple of scares, the Wildcats haven’t lost to the Big Green on his watch. And most years haven’t been seriously challenged in the second half. Seven times in McDonnell's eight games against Dartmouth the Wildcats have scored at least 42 points.

In fact, they haven’t lost to their cross-state rivals since Gerald Ford was in the White House and, well, since Buddy Teevens was in a Dartmouth uniform instead of wearing a headset on Saturday afternoons. The Big Green’s last win in the series: 24-13 in 1976.

All of which begs the question: Does the current Dartmouth feel the same way McDonnell does about the series?

Find out by clicking here.