When former Dartmouth offensive coordinator Jim Pry, who came from coaching Big Ten-caliber talent at the University of Illinois, used to watch film of Schwieger, he would always remark, “This kid could play against anyone in the country.” But in reality, Schwieger wasn’t playing against anyone in the country. He was playing against Ivy Leaguers. And when NFL scouts consider this factor, they usually think, “Oh, he was just beating up on a bunch of soft, nerdy kids. Let’s see what happens when he has to pick up Ray Lewis on a blitz.”In fact, Pry told me the exact same thing.
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The list of Ivy Leaguers getting a shot at pro football continues to grow. Here's what we know now (assuming I didn't miss anyone):- Dartmouth - TB Nick Schwieger, Rams
- Brown - Alex Tounkara-Kone, Bills
- Columbia - OT Jeff Adams, Cowboys
- Cornell - K Brad Greenway, Jets
- Harvard - OT Kevin Murphy 49ers
- Harvard - DL Josue Ortiz, Jets (tryout)
- Penn - LB Erik Rask, Jaguars (camp invitation)
- Yale - DL Jake Stoller, Steelers
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Incoming defensive back Will Konstant of Lyons Township HS in Illinois is the subject of a story about his lacrosse exploits in the Sun Times LaGrange edition. With 94 goals he has a shot at the school's all-time scoring record. Konstant tells the paper:“I feel my biggest strength as a lacrosse player is the athleticism I have out there. The main thing, though, is my leadership transfers from football. I try to get guys believing we can go out there and win every game. Like in football, I tell the guys how important it is being in the weight room and working their tails off. You have to constantly try to get bigger, stronger and faster.”He also notes, "I’m hoping to play lacrosse in college.”
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Not sure exactly what it means but there's this from the National Football Foundation (NFF):Appalachian State, Arizona, Auburn, Clemson, Dartmouth, Delaware, Maryland, Middle Tennessee, Mississippi State, N.C. State, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Stanford, Texas, Texas - San Antonio, Texas Tech, UAB and Wyoming have joined the NFF as Institutional Academic Members.
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The Sports Network writes that, "The possible expansion of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs by 2013 continues to move downfield."From the story:
The playoffs will remain at 20 teams in 2012 for the third straight season, but FCS schools are hoping to have a 24-team field in place for 2013. ...
... A 24-team field would provide an automatic bid to the Pioneer Football League champion and provide three more at-large bids. Currently, 10 conferences have auto bids - but not the PFL - and there are 10 at-large bids.Green Alert Take: The window is going to close on the Ivy League at some point, but maybe that's what the presidents are hoping. By the way, the non-scholarship PFL is the home of 2012 Dartmouth opponent Butler.
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If there's already an impression of the Ivy League as "nerdy" (see Corey Vann's column at the top of this page) and as avoiding the football playoffs, I'm not sure the Harvard Crimson sports blog did much for the Ivy's images with two of its latest stories, Harvard Polo Renaissance Weekend and Croquet Places Fifth at Nationals ;-)
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You can catch muckraking Yale Daily News sportswriter Chelsea Janes on the FOX Business show, "Varney & Company" today at about 10:45 a.m. Eastern. Janes has authored a series of well-written stories looking into the derailing of the Yale athletic program.
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And finally, the folks in the Dartmouth sports publicity office have been extremely generous to me with their time and efforts since I started up BGA (and for years before that when I was at the local daily) so the least I can do is offer a little help back at them.Heather Croze, the longtime assistant director of sports information and men's hockey contact at Dartmouth before leaving last spring, is hoping to travel to Brazil in a PR capacity with the Athletes in Action women's basketball team. The tour will include "several humanitarian efforts with clinics in each city." To make the trip possible Heather is required to raise a certain amount of money to cover food, lodging, travel and other team expenses by May 21. If you'd like to help you can:
Give online at www.give.ccci.org and enter Heather's tracking number (5648920) in the "Give a Gift" box.
Or contribute by check (make your check payable to Athletes in Action and mail it to:
AIA Brazil Tour
Attn: Doug Gotcher
380 E. Fort Lowell Rd., Suite 240
Tucson, AZ 85705
* Do not include Heather's name but rather her tracking number (5648920).
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And finally, back at it for Dartmouth football practice today unless, for some reason (like the heavy rain going on out there right now) they move the session to tomorrow. Check BGA Premium tonight.