Football Playoff Discussion? One AD Hopes So

The Daily Pennsylvanian has the best look so far at Robin Harris, the incoming executive director of the Ivy League. Ivy football fans may find the following excerpt from the story of particular interest:

Steve Bilsky, Penn's athletic director, said that Harris' new job has two components. First, there are rules, legislation and compliance, which he believes Harris is well equipped to handle. Then there are questions of league imaging and promotion, the part of the job about which he had more uncertainty.

(Retiring Executive Director Jeff) Orleans "didn't gravitate to that area, for whatever the reasons were, so I think we're anxious to see what (Harris) feels about that," Bilsky said. "That's everything from the competitive levels of the league, football - whether they should be in the playoffs, how to get officiating better, which is one of my interests. … We're all hoping that that's an area that she really gets more involved in."

Traditional first-game football opponent Colgate has found a way to help an important cause through its offseason strength-training. The Raiders are holding a Lift For Life event next week that will raise money and awareness for the fight against Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a disorder that affects the sister of one of the Colgate players. From a Colgate release:

The event will feature Colgate football players competing in lifting and skills competition. Colgate fans will have a chance to meet the players with an autograph session after the competition. The first 100 fans will receive free T-shirts, and other gifts, including an autographed helmet and jersey from Donovan McNabb, will be raffled off along with other prizes from local businesses.

Neat idea.

Former wide receiver Jimmy Mullen had two more goals for the Dartmouth lacrosse team in a 12-9 loss to Bryant yesterday. Although Bryant is a newly minted Division I program, it features Zach Greer, the all-time leading goal scorer in college lacrosse history, who is playing at the Rhode Island school as a graduate student. The former Duke standout, who lost a year when the Blue Devils' 2006 season was cancelled, had five goals and two assists against the Big Green. He has had 11 goals and seven assists in the past two games.

One of the great pleasures of covering Dartmouth sports for the local paper was the chance to interview Princeton basketball coach Pete Carril once – and sometimes twice – a year. If you wonder why, check out this quote from an espn story that ran when Princeton named its court after Carril Saturday:

"Two things have happened here," he said pointing to the court logos and new banners. "People are going to step all over me when they play on this court and now they decided to hang me."

That, my friends, is vintage Carril.