State of Recruiting

Dartmouth's list of early decision recruits (as well as ED admits who have expressed some interest in playing football) includes three names from Massachusetts, two each from California, New Jersey and Connecticut, and one each from Oklahoma, New York, Tennessee, D.C., and New Hampshire. Conspicuously absent is anyone from a usually fertile Dartmouth recruiting ground: Texas. It would be a surprise if that doesn't change. One possible candidate according to Scout.com is Marcel Threat, a running back from Lamar Consolidated in Texas. Threat had this to say according to the recruiting service: "Right now I have been talking to Dartmouth and Penn for the Ivy League schools, but I've also heard from Baylor, Iowa State, Colorado State.” Threat apparently is one after rushing for 1,746 yards on 280 carries last fall. The 175-pound back averaged 6.24 yards per carry with 16 touchdowns while begin recognized as the district's MVP according to the Fort Bend Herald. There are six finalists to be the new CEO of the United States Olympic Committee and former Dartmouth assistant Joe Moglia is one of four with strong Upper Valley ties. The group of six also includes:

• Sandy Alderson '69 – former GGM and president of the Oakland Athletics, CEO of the San Diego Padres and Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations in the commissioner's office.
• Scott Blackmun '79 – former USOC general counsel and its acting CEO in 2000-01.
• Chuck Wielgus – CEO of USA swimming, popular onetime recreation director in nearby Woodstock, Vt., and former husband of Dartmouth women's basketball coach Chris Wielgus.
• Joe Moglia – Chairman and former CEO of TD Ameritrade who was Dartmouth defensive coordinator in the early 1980s.

Moglia has returned to football and spent this year as a consultant at Nebraska. He put his name in at Yale last year for the head coaching position, and it would be a surprise if he weren't at least looking into the Princeton position. A writer for Universal Sports doesn't think much of his qualifications for the USOC slot. Speaking of coaching changes, The Sports Network has updated its list of openings and hirings here. Princeton is one of 10 jobs still open at the DI level according to TSN's chart. The Associated Press FCS All-America team is out. Ivy Leaguers and players Dartmouth faced this year: Second Team Offense Buddy Farnham, Brown wide receiver James Williams, Harvard offensive lineman Dominic Randolph, Holy Cross quarterback Third Team Offense John Sheffield, Yale tight end Third Team Defense Jake Lewko, Penn linebacker The ECAC also named its FCS All-Stars yesterday. Here are Dartmouth opponents who were honored: Player of the Year Dominic Randolph, Holy Cross quarterback Offense Dominic Randolph, Holy Cross quarterback Buddy Farnham, Brown wide receiver Mark Callahan, Brown offensive lineman Paul Jasinowski, Brown offensive lineman John Sheffield, Yale tight end Chris Poole, Holy Cross offensive lineman Defense Chris Costello, Cornell linebacker Collin Zych, Harvard defensive back Jonathan Moore, Penn defensive back Michael Wright, Holy Cross defensive back Special Teams Buddy Farnham, Brown wide receiver Saw Blind Side last night and thought it was terrific. I read the book about a month ago and still enjoyed the flick. Sandra Bullock nailed her role. Next up: Invictus. Oh, and the temperature here on the mountain this morning? A brisk 3.5 below zero ;-)