Lowe, Dete Honored

If the weather in Foxboro this afternoon is anything like it is here in Hanover right now, you won't want to miss the New England Patriots-New York Jets game today. The way the wind is blowing, there would be punts going backward and passes hovering in place shortly after leaving the quarterback's hand. The snow here hasn't really piled up -- yet -- except where the wind has created an amazing seascape of drifts...

This morning's headlines include Dartmouth senior tight end Brett Lowe and junior linebacker Andrew Dete being among 51 players nationally (and four Ivy Leaguers) named to the Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association Academic All-Star Team. They are jointed by the Columbia duo of Craig Hormann and JoJo Smith.

The full team:
Jefferson Adcock Samford University Quarterback Senior, 3.44
Kevin Adleman, Wofford College Linebacker Junior, 3.66
Nick Altomare Hofstra University Safety Junior 3.62
Pierre Banks Appalachian State University Linebacker Junior 3.24
Elliot Barnhart Montana State University Offensive Lineman Senior 3.71
Joshua Brite Delaware State University Punter Senior 4.00
Mike Byrne University of Delaware Offensive Lineman Senior 3.55
Adam Casper Southeast Missouri State University Linebacker Senior 3.44
Travis Cherry Western Illinois University Linebacker Senior 3.53
Brandon Cramer University of Dayton Safety Senior 4.00
Justin Curry Eastern Kentucky University Linebacker Senior 3.25
Andrew Dete Dartmouth College Linebacker Junior 3.75
Marcus Dixon Hampton University Defensive Lineman Senior 3.22
Parker Douglass South Dakota State University Placekicker Senior 3.78
Wes Doyle University of San Diego Wide Receiver Senior 3.56
Nick Ellis Charleston Southern University Placekicker/Punter Senior 3.75
Matt Engle University of California Davis Quarterback Senior 3.42
Jerome Felton Furman University Fullback Senior 3.28
Patrick FitzGerald Davidson College Defensive Back Senior 3.42
Ray Fiumefreddo Marist College Fullback Junior 3.84
Johnny Flowers Southeastern Louisiana University Offensive Lineman Senior 3.56
Bryan Giannecchini University of Rhode Island Placekicker/Punter Senior 3.69
Kole Heckendorf North Dakota State University Wide Receiver Junior 3.82
Craig Hormann Columbia University Quarterback Senior 3.33
Daniel Jordan Georgia Southern University Punter Senior 3.76
Brian Kelly University of Dayton Linebacker Senior 3.59
Cory Koenig South Dakota State University Running Back Senior 3.77
David Kovalcik Duquesne University Punter Senior 3.88
Cory Long Stephen F. Austin State University Placekicker Junior 3.87
Brett Lowe Dartmouth College Tight End Senior 3.65
Tom McAndrews Eastern Washington University Tight End Senior 4.00
Wes McDermott Morehead State University Linebacker Sophomore 3.61
Nick Mozal Bucknell University Offensive Lineman Senior 3.77
Anthony Orio Northeastern University Quarterback Junior 3.84
Bob Perez Youngstown State University Safety Senior 3.84
Myles Potter Davidson College Wide Receiver Junior 3.58
Nicholas Richmond Delaware State University Offensive Lineman Sophomore 3.62
Jacob Rochester Virginia Military Institute Linebacker Junior 4.00
Tyler Roehl North Dakota State University Running Back Junior 3.23
Jordan Senn Portland State University Linebacker Senior 3.86
Matt Sherry Villanova University Wide Receiver Senior 3.84
Justin Smith Columbia University Defensive Back Senior 3.55
Chris Smith College of the Holy Cross Offensive Lineman Junior 3.53
Matt Stansfield Duquesne University Offensive Lineman Senior 3.46
Torrey Thomas University of Montana Free Safety Senior 3.72
Bradley Thompson Tennessee Tech University Defensive Lineman Sophomore 4.00
Rob Valletti Iona College Offensive Lineman Senior 3.78
Jim Verlanic Murray State University Offensive Lineman Junior 3.71
Kevin Walsh Monmouth College Defensive Lineman Junior 3.34
John Webb Towson University Linebacker Senior 3.31
Tom Zetts Youngstown State University Quarterback Senior 3.68

A 5-11, 205 New Hampshire running back who piled up 2,001 yards and 21 touchdowns this fall while maintaining a 4.019 grade point average is on Dartmouth's radar. Or perhaps Dartmouth is on his radar. Either way, Alex Theodhosi of Londonderry, N.H., "headlines the 24-player New Hampshire Union Leader All-State Football Team as Player of the Year."

Dartmouth-bound Alex Schulman of Thayer Academy gets a mention in this Boston Globe story. He's one of at least six seniors from the Massachusetts prep school who will be on the college gridiron next fall.

And finally, I caught some of the Division II national championship game yesterday and later a half of Wisconsin Whitewater's victory over Mount Union in the Division III game. (That certain Hanover 8th grader suggested Wisconsin Whitewater might want to change its nickname to the Rapids and I think he's got something there.)

Watching the Division II and III games, two thoughts came to mind. Too bad the BCS schools can't get past the bowl-game hurdle and work out a playoff structure of some kind.

And it's really too bad the Ivy League continues to be holier than thou and not allow its football players to join in the fun. It still boggles the mind (and the sense of fair play) that every Ivy League sport can go on to the postseason except football. It's not right. Period.