Roger Hughes, the Big Green's offensive coordinator from 1992-99 and head coach at Princeton from 2000-09, has kicked off spring practice at Stetson University in Florida. (link) Hughes was hired by Stetson in June of 2011 to help reintroduce football to the school, which last fielded a team in 1956. Stetson will play its spring game on March 2.
The Hatters, who will play in the Pioneer Football League along with Dartmouth opponent Butler, open their season with a home game Aug. 31 against Warner University.
In case you are wondering, Dartmouth spring practice begins in 64 days (Apr. 9) with the spring game 89 days away on May 4.
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Jacksonville.com is reporting that Matthew Smiley has been hired as a Jacksonville Jaguars' assistant special teams coach. Smiley was part of Dartmouth coach Buddy Teevens' original staff when he returned to Hanover. Most recently Smiley was special teams and running backs coach at Charleston Southern. (link)
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Today's Dartmouth newspaper has a story about superstitions among the college's athletes including football defensive back Jimmy Johnson. From the story:Johnson shares one of his rituals with teammate Stephen Dazzo ’15. They both always wear a new piece of clothing in every game, anything from socks to a wristband.
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The Colin Kaepernick/Dartmouth references continue. A loyal reader sent along a link to a story in Santa Rosa, Calif.'s Press Democrat that included this:He's very smart, having scored 37 on the Wonderlic intelligence test administered by the NFL (the average is 20). He's independent minded, having tuned down Dartmouth so he could play football at Nevada.
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It's always nice to see football players involved in helping out the community. From a story Sunday in our local paper about the Special Olympics competition at the Dartmouth Skiway:Big Green football player Dan Gorman, a freshman who starred as a wide receiver at Hanover High, volunteered as a “team ambassador” for the Hawks along with Brett Losen, a Dartmouth junior. Despite the frosty temperatures, Gorman was excited to lend a hand.
“(The Upper Valley Special Olympics) are something I’d always known about and remember the girls hockey team coming here,” Gorman said. “I got an email asking for volunteers and signed up right away.”
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The website for the Express Times in the Lehigh Valley has a story under the headline Lafayette, Lehigh football coaches discuss how scholarships changed the recruiting process. From the story:"It's not a magic wand by any stretch," Lafayette College coach Frank Tavani said. "It doesn't mean you're going to win every battle, but I think we're in a lot more battles. Now you're hearing from places you might not have gone to in the past and it's easier when you have that to offer."The story notes that Patriot League schools are allowed for the first time to offer 15 scholarships a year and 60 over four years. From Lehigh coach Andy Coen:
"We're giving full ones but also breaking up scholarships so you have to determine that. As you go through the process, we're learning. It's a little different for us. There are probably a few things I've done this year that I'll change next year."
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A lengthy profile of incoming Dartmouth President Philip Hanlon that appeared in our local daily yesterday dealt with the possibility of Dartmouth College becoming Dartmouth University. Hanlon was quoted as confirming that the trustees have indeed discussed the possibility. He told the paper:“As an institution it already functions as a university, but I would like to understand all the viewpoints before offering an opinion. I need to learn more about the issue.”
