The Non-Answer Answer

At the end of a Q&A with Ivy League Executive Director Robin Harris regarding the impact on the Ivies of the Patriot League decision to starting to offer football scholarships, The Sports Network's Craig Haley takes advantage of the opportunity to ask the other question.

TSN: So many people around your football teams, especially the coaches, continue to be in favor of sending the league champion to the FCS playoffs. Why aren't the school presidents changing that policy?

RH: There's an interest in focusing on the Ivy League season, that that should be the most important thing in football. We just have so much tradition and there's great value to be placed on the Ivy League season. There's also a concern with exams at that time of year.

I'm reminded of the hilarious bit comedian Robert Klein did about how to bluff your way through an essay test in his hilarious album, Mind Over Matter. The line he falls back on several times: "Shovel, please."

Put on the spot, Harris might have been much better off serving up the answer I've been given in the past (albeit off the record) by Ivy mucky-mucks: "Ask the presidents because I don't know."

In its introduction, the TSN piece suggests, ". . . as the scholarships in Patriot programs - 15 per recruiting class - add up, the playing field won't be so level. Ivy programs will be hard-pressed to be as competitive as they have been against their sister league." That's followed shortly by this Q&A:

TSN: How will the Patriot League's decision affect the Ivy League?

RH: I don't think it will affect us that much, to be honest. Our schools were not offering athletic scholarships before the Patriot League was formed (in 1986) and will continue to not offer athletic scholarships. We enjoy playing Patriot League schools, they're not changing who they are academically, it's a good fit for us to play them when we can. I think that you'll still see our schools playing Patriot League schools, certainly in the near future. Even if there's diminishment of the number of games that we would play them, I still think there are natural rivalries and we're in the geographic region, our academic values are similar. Our schools are still going to have to play teams that offer athletic scholarships.

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A photo from linebacker Bennett Goff's "signing" ceremony yesterday shows the Middleton, Wis., linebacker in a Dartmouth shirt and joined by his mother, father and high school coach.

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From a YourCarlynton.com story about incoming 6-foot-4, 275-pound offensive lineman Niko Mamula:

When Niko Mamula made a visit to the campus of Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, he saw several inches of snow fall to the ground.

For some, the snow might be unwelcome. But for the Chartiers Valley senior, it was right up his alley and added another reason why he committed to the Big Green to continue his football career.

"I love that kind of weather," Mamula said. "I love the climate."

Several inches of snow this year. Several feet in most. We should check in again with him next winter ;-)

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The SportsProf, who always seems to have a reasoned approach to his topics, takes on the subject of a Philadelphia Inquirer story about Princeton backing off a commitment to a Philadelphia-area prep football player.