On last week:
The Princeton game was a very closely contested. Two pretty evenly matched teams. We started slow the first half. The second half we really picked it up offensively and I thought we did a lot of nice things on offense in terms of making progress. We rushed for over 200 yards and I think we had over 400 yards of offense. And our defense was solid all game until we gave up a 78-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. That's the bottom line. There's not much mystery to that game. It's that we gave up a huge play in the fourth quarter and we missed two field goals (and) couldn't convert in the red zone. Princeton made the plays when they had to. They stopped us on a third-and-one and a fourth-and-one. So at the critical times in the critical points of the game Princeton made more plays. I thought we made some progress as a team but still working on getting better.On this week:
Looking forward to heading to Dartmouth. You know, it's going to be again a highly competitive game (between) two teams that I think are pretty evenly matched. I'm sure it will come down to a few plays and our players are giving good effort. We just have to continue to emphasize execution.On the keys to stopping Dartmouth:
I think Dartmouth offensively has gotten better every year. Obviously I have great respect for Coach Teevens and their staff. You can tell on film that their offense is much, much improved. I think their quarterback throws a great ball and they've been protecting the quarterback. They've become very balanced with the running game. To me it's going to be about not giving up the big play, having great pursuit. There's not really one thing you can focus on. I know they had an injury to the running back but they have other good running backs. I just think offensively I've been very impressed by where they are at with the development of their players and what they are doing.On wide receiver Horatio Blackman, his nominee as Cornell's unsung hero:
Horatio had an injury and he was able to come back for a fifth year. He does everything for us on special teams. He works extremely hard as a blocker. As a wide receiver he doesn't get the balls. He's made some plays for us this season so he's got a few, but he's probably the most respected guy on the team just for his work ethic and the kind of leadership he brings.On allowing big plays and how to stop them:
It seems to be a different thing each week. It's not a recurring guy or a recurring particular defense. It's just we've found ways at inopportune times. I think sometimes you get into a bad streak with that and you've just got to keep preaching and working on communication to get better. It's almost like a momentum thing. We've just got to get out of it. Work on it. Talk about it. Simplify and continue to stress the fundamentals. Big plays – the only good time for a blown coverage is when the other team doesn't find it, right? We seem to have been caught in a couple of things. It's hurt us and our players know it and they feel bad about it. We're working on it (but there is) no magic answer. We just have to go about it one day at a time.On tailback Randy Barbour:
Randy is just a wonderful young man. What a great representative of our program. A very hard worker. He's someone who can go into that same (unsung) category. He does whatever he's asked. A great, great leader. He cares passionately. I'd like to see him have more success but we did rush the ball against Princeton for over 200 yards. I think maybe we are giving him a chance to open up some lanes. So I'm hoping he has a great end of his season/career because he deserves it. He's worked very hard.Have you wondered whatever became of former Dartmouth and longtime Kansas City Chiefs placekicker Nick Lowery '78? Check out NickLowery.com and learn about the Nick Lowery Youth Foundation, Inc. According to the website, it:
"... has dedicated itself to helping disadvantaged youth, especially Native Americans, by developing, promoting and sponsoring programs and relationships that foster self-esteem, leadership qualities and skills, and encourage youth to be positive assets to their communities."The Daily Dartmouth early decision applications are up three percent so far this fall.
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Speaking of which, a few of you have touched base wondering what's up with that certain Hanover High School senior. She received her latest SAT scores a few days back and last night pointed out with some disappointment that the only thing between her and a perfect 800 on the math portion was one wrong answer – ironically from what the SAT folks refer to as the "easy" category. When I asked if she would take the test again, she told me that the College Board website reports 70 percent of people with her score go down the next time, so no she won't. I think I'd sit on that hand as well.The good news is that her cross country team won yet another New Hampshire state championship. Unfortunately, she battled an issue that severely hampered her during the early part of the season and ultimately forced her to shut it down. She'll try to make up for that disappointment with a big indoor track season.
That certain sophomore who played golf in the fall will probably run indoor track again this winter. Although he competed last winter, he's leaning toward training as a way to get ready for baseball and may not compete.
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