A Few More Names

Details are yet to be released but coach Buddy Teevens told me yesterday that the Dartmouth football team will be joining the bone marrow testing initiative this Friday. I'll toss up a link when more information is available.

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Among the names to be added to the previously noted Dartmouth recruit list are:

• David Daines, a running back from Weber High School in Ogden, Utah. Find his senior highlight video here. He also played linebacker, returned kicks and punted for Weber. (Daines is planning to take a two-year Mormon mission before officially enrolling.)

• Ryan Paganetti, a 5-foot-10, 206-pound running back from Bedford, Mass., who put up some big numbers at Belmont Hill School.

• Edward von Kuhn, a 6-foot-4, 195 wide receiver from Birmingham, Ala., who took a postgrad year at Phillips Andover. He's the brother of former Dartmouth receiver Andrew von Kuhn.

• Aaron Mondshine, a 6-4, 295-pound lineman from Bal Harbour, Fla., and Pine Crest High School who was chosen to the Broward All-County Class 3A-2A-1A first team offense.

Also headed to Dartmouth and intending to play football is James Johnson, a 6-foot, 190 wide receiver from Andover, Mass.

This morning's paper had a column about a returning military veteran who is enrolled at Dartmouth. It mentions that his roommate is ... Dartmouth kicker Foley Schmidt.

Syracuse has been taking a bit of a PR hit for picking up a game against Colgate this fall (thereby allowing Dartmouth to trade this year's game at Hamilton for what would seem to be a more manageable game at Bucknell). Defending the Orange – to a point – is longtime columnist Bud Poliquin of the Post-Standard. He writes:

I realize that SU, with Division I-AA Maine unfortunately already on the schedule, was looking for a Division I-A outfit to fill the lone gap on its 2010 slate. But failing to find a mate on that level, the Orange did the next best -- and smartest -- thing. It enlisted Colgate, proud Colgate, and created something interesting for those fans of both schools.

Columbia has scooped up a highly regarded New York City running back who is expected to play slot receiver for the Lions. The New York Post has a full story that includes this:

Columbia fans have been clamoring for an elite city player to stay home and play for the Lions and that’s just want (Bruce) Grant did.

Who will Dartmouth see under center when Holy Cross comes to visit next fall? The only sure thing is it won't be Dominic Randolph. A column on The Sports Network site about how much fun the expanded NCAA playoffs will be (for everyone but the Ivy League) includes this on the Holy Cross quarterback derby (with a note that no decision was made public after spring ball finished):

The junior-to-be (Kevin) Watson had been No. 2 to Randolph at the start of last season, and possesses a stronger arm. The senior-to-be (Ryan) Taggart runs the ball better and completes short passes well. In the spring game, Taggart was an efficient 11-of-13 for 102 yards, while the 6-foot-4 Watson was 3-of-8 for 25 yards and a touchdown.

The Harvard website notes that Crimson head coach Tim Murphy will join West Point’s Rick Ellerson, Oregon’s Chip Kelly, Illinois’ Ron Zook and Texas Tech’s Tommy Tuberville on the the 2010 USO/Morale Entertainment Coaches’ Tour.

The Dallas Morning News has a story about UNH tight end Scott Sicko, who made an impact at the Cowboys' camp that he almost didn't attend:

One conclusion can be drawn from the Cowboys' rookie minicamp, which ended Sunday with a session at Cowboys Stadium.

Tight end Scott Sicko did the right thing by putting his wounded pride aside, heeding the advice of others and accepting another chance.

Sicko performed well from start to finish in the five-practice camp. He showed sure hands and an advanced grasp of running pass patterns. That Sicko also displayed the ability to rocket long snaps on punts and placekicks gave the Cowboys one more item to think about.

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A friend shared a photo of a young moose wandering through the Dartmouth campus over the weekend. I'll share the photo if I get the OK.

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Food is always important when it comes to football players (and any college students for that matter) so here's a link to a Daily Dartmouth story noting that, "Thayer Dining Hall will be completely closed for renovations this Summer, and all Food Court operations will be relocated to the Courtyard Cafe in the Hopkins Center." Food Court and Homeplate will reopen in the fall.

Also from the story: "The 14-month renovations to Thayer, funded by a $12 million donation from the Class of 1953, will begin in June and continue through September 2011 ..."

Green Alert Take: Food really is important, even to distance runners. On our college tours one of the few places Dartmouth got marked down was in the food column. Both the ambience of the dining facilities and the meal plan were considered subpar by one Certain high school senior.