Kicking It Off

Freshman football players and their mentors gather earlier this week for a photo on the green. Click the picture to supersize it. (Dartmouth photo)

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The first day of practice went off yesterday pretty much without a hitch. There was confirmation about starters/potential starters who will be missing the season and it was obvious immediately that there's more depth at quarterback than there has been in a number of years. Practice two is slated for this morning.

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Here's the lede of a story in the Journal Star out of Illinois that has to be music to the ears of any Dartmouth fan tired of seeing Harvard swoop in and win the hearts of recruits:

When it comes to the Ivy League, Matt Hungate sees himself as a Dartmouth man.

"I've pretty much heard from all the Ivy League schools," he said. "Harvard offered me a roster spot. Dartmouth said they wanted to see game tape once we start playing this season. If Dartmouth likes me and offers me a spot, right now I could see myself going there."

Hungate is a 6-foot-4, 240-pound defensive end. Find his web page here and a highlight video here.

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Flushing (NY) "bulldozing running back/linebacker" Andrew King "has heard from Ivy League schools Harvard, Dartmouth and Columbia in addition to Stony Brook, Holy Cross and other College Football Subdivision programs" according to the New York Post.

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Dartmouth Athletics is offering several new video packages this fall including football only, all-sports and a day pass among others. All five home football games will be available. Click here to visit the splash page for Big Green Insider – The Official Audio and Visual Portal of Dartmouth Varsity Athletics.

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Harvard has a short promotional video aimed at building crowds at Harvard Stadium.

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The first FCS Coaches poll out and the three Dartmouth opponents that got votes were:

• T-24 – Penn
• 35 – Colgate
• 39 – Harvard

A total of 51 teams received votes. There were 117 teams official FCS teams last year.

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Check in later today for a practice report on Big Green Alert premium. Also, the Sacred Heart preview will be posted in a bit.