Former Receiver Getting Help From Musical Friends

On Sept. 23, 2000 wide receiver Damien Roomets '02 set a Dartmouth record for catches in a game that still stands when he grabbed 17 Greg Smith passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns in a 42-21 loss at the University of New Hampshire. Roomets would go on to graduate with 74 career catches for 931 yards before joining teammates Gordy Quist and Trevor Nealon as a professional musician.

To chase the music is to follow an uncertain road and so it has been for Roomets, who has sacrificed the safety of a steady paycheck and benefits to pursue his dream. That road hit a big bump recently when Roomets, who has no insurance, was hurt in a ski accident. From a story on Utah's ParkRecord.com:

"He suffered a complete fracture of his mandible," said Dr. Jon Kolon, the owner of Silver Creek Dental. "How do I say this? He broke his jaw through and through. His jaw was shoved into the base of his skull."

The music community in the Utah ski community is coming together to help Roomets meet his medical/dental bills with a benefit in which he'll perform despite having his jaw wired shut. A blog that calls him an "affable dobro-playing, bass-toting, musical phenom," notes that the $10 cover for tonight's show will go "straight to Damien."

From ParkRecord.com:

"Music has been that love that has really elevated me," (Roomets) said through a clenched jaw Monday afternoon. "Being a musician is a lifechoice I made and it means I don't make much money. It's not everyone else's job to pay (my bills), but it's nice to see that people care."

While we're at it, check out what's up with former linebacker Gordy Quist's career. Click here for his website with some exciting news (think Rolling Stone). His very catchy song Quarters and Dimes will start to play when you visit the site. Good stuff.

Two Dartmouth seniors who wrapped up their football careers in November will be back on the playing field this spring – although it will be a different field. Linebacker Andrew Dete and wide receiver Phil Galligan have joined the powerhouse Dartmouth rugby squad that will play in the national Sweet 16 in April. While Dete is a newcomer to the sport, Galligan had a little more exposure to the game while growing up in California, where the Big Green will play a handful of games on its spring trip. The first local action will see Dartmouth host the New England Collegiate All-Starts on Apr. 5, and Norwich University on Apr. 11. The Sweet 16 will be held in Atlanta, not far from Dete's hometown of Marietta, starting on April 17.

A Daily Dartmouth story about how budget problems are affecting the athletic department includes an interview with AD Josie Harper. From the story:

She explained that since so much of the department’s money comes from the Friends of Dartmouth Athletics funds and other alumni donations, the department has suffered a loss from multiple angles.

“All of our soft money, or Friend money, is down, as well as our endowment,” Harper said.

Harper told the paper the department's donations are down 25 percent.

Given that news, perhaps it's a good time to share an email sent by Dartmouth's new football captains last month. It said:

Even though there is still plenty of snow on the ground, as the newly elected Captains of the Dartmouth Football team, we can assure you that preparations for the 2009 season have already begun. The returning players are already working extra hard in the weight room and we are looking forward to organizing and leading the "captain's practices" for the players who are in residence during the winter term. All of the current players realize that last year's results fell far short of the standard that was set by those of you who played for or attended Dartmouth during the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's and the members of the 2009 team are determined to get the program back on track toward another Ivy Championship.

As in the past, the financial support of Friends of Dartmouth football is critical to the success of the program and we are grateful for the support that we have received in the past and we hope that you will "bear with us" in our quest to return to the upper echelon of the Ivy League. If you have already made a donation, we thank you for your support, and if you have not, we hope that you will consider making contribution to the 2009 Friends of Football campaign. To do so, you can use the form that was sent to you during the fall or if you wish to make your contribution online, just go to: (Giving to Dartmouth via Friends of Football)

Thank you for your continued support.

Peter Piedermann '10
Timmy McManus '11

The Daily D has little more on the naming of Bob Ceplikas as acting athletic director for the next school year. From the story:

When asked whether he wanted to stay on as athletic director after the one-year interim period expires, Ceplikas said he is focused on the upcoming academic year, adding that his interim appointment is an “opportunity to test drive the position.”

The Daily News out in Los Angeles has a nice piece about Dartmouth alum Brad Ausmus coming back for a final year as a backup catcher with the Dodgers. A 16-year big leaguer, Ausmus will turn 40 shortly after opening day. From the story:

Brad Ausmus, with his Ivy League education and his cerebral approach to the game, has never had a problem with the mental side. It's the physical part that has been bearing down on him for a few years now.

And finally, like Dartmouth football, the men's basketball programs at Penn and Princeton long ruled the Ivy League. Like the Big Green, the "Killer P's," have seen their programs slip. Is this just a blip on the radar screen or will the downturn for the Ivy's two most successful programs be protracted? The Daily Pennsylvanian considers the possibilities.