Let There Be Lights

The Hanover Planning Board last night approved the installation of lights at Dartmouth's Memorial Field. A story in the local daily includes these details:

• total of 7 light towers reaching as high as 60 feet
• towers at both ends of home stands
• tower behind home stands
• tower in front of Leverone Field House
• 3 light "clusters" on 15-foot poles atop Floren Varsity House
• new directed sound system
• could be a night game as early as this September
• maximum five lighted contests/events per year
• no contests/events start after 7 p.m.
• no lights after 9 p.m. for practices/workouts
• lower intensity lights for practices

Vote in night-game poll (above left)

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There is an unofficial report that Week One opponent Colgate may have lost its only experienced quarterback to a knee injury. Junior Steve Rizzo ran for 176 yards (two rushes for 62 yards against Princeton) and completed 11 passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns last fall. If he is indeed unable to play this year the Raiders will probably have to look to junior Josh Hasenberg, sophomore Gavin McCarney (neither of whom saw action last fall) or one of three incoming freshman quarterbacks. Colgate graduates All-Patriot League quarterback Greg Sullivan, who passed for 1,349 yards and ran for 651 last year.

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Week Two opponent Sacred Heart also graduates a record-setting quarterback in Dale Fink, someone who might have enjoyed throwing to an intriguing 6-foot-4, 195-pound freshman wide receiver from Montville, Conn. Robert Johnson is intriguing because he wasn't included in the school's list of incoming recruits and because his high school coach said he "wouldn’t be surprised if he sees Johnson playing on Sundays sometime in the future," according to this story. High praise, to be sure.

More from the story:

Robert Johnson only started playing football as a junior, but his body and speed had some coaches, like those at Sacred Heart, salivating.

“Sacred Heart has two polished possession receivers,” (coach Tanner) Grove said. “The coaches needed a vertical threat and if there’s one pattern that Robbie is good at it, it’s the 'go route.' ”

That was enough to send me scurrying off for a look at his highlight video. Although the competition didn't look all that strong, it's hard to miss a 6-4 kid clearly outrunning smaller pursuers. It will be interesting to see if he's on the field come Sept. 24 in Fairfield, Conn.

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While doing a little housecleaning on the blog I discovered that there have been 2,877 posts on the BGA blog since it moved to this platform following the first year of Big Green Alert. That means there have been more than 3,000 posts over the past six years.

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And finally, the sky here on the mountain is azure and the temperature at 8:45 this morning is 32 degrees. The forecast is calling for a high of 48 down in the valley with a possible shower later in the day. Hopefully that will give crews a little help as they try to finish clearing Memorial Field in time for tomorrow's delayed opening of spring football. The forecast gets better as the week goes on with a projected high of 52 (and sunny) tomorrow, 57 and sunny Friday, and 60 and sunny Saturday. Be sure to visit BGA premium for coverage of spring football.