All About Heart

Sacred Heart football coach Paul Gorham's valiant battle with unimaginable health issues that led to a double-lung transplant and the amputation of both legs below the knees was the main topic of conversation at the Northeast Conference media day as The Sports Network reported. Sacred Heart, Dartmouth's Week 5 opponent, was picked eighth in the nine-team NEC. Offensive lineman Justin Martel, defensive lineman Tyler Foehr and placekicker Chris Rogers were named to the NEC preseason all-conference team.

Dartmouth and Sacred Heart have played nailbiters in each of their first two meetings. The Big Green held on to win a couple of years ago, 21-19, with help from a missed field goal at the end. The Pioneers won last fall, 24-21, on a field goal with a minute to play and a blocked 53-yard Dartmouth attempt at the end.

NEC Preseason Poll 1. Albany (6)  2. Duquesne (1)  3. Bryant (2)  4. Central Connecticut State  5. Monmouth  6. Robert Morris  7. Wagner  8. Sacred Heart  9. St. Francis • Wondering why some people are considering Cornell a darkhorse contender for Ivy League honors? Check out the highlight video for Big Red junior quarterback Jeff Mathews, who is on track to rewrite the Ivy League record book: A reminder that if you sign up for Green Alert Premium you need to fill out this year's subscription form to have full access to the site. Opponent previews will begin next week and continue with one each weekday until the start of preseason.