Where the story goes off the rails, however, is when the author writes this about recruiting:
Neither Army nor Yale looks for those whose goals are to compete in the National Football League. The service academies naturally recruit among prospects who are willing to commit to several years serving their country. Similarly, the typical Yale and Harvard types are headed, not to the NFL, but to careers in law, medicine, business, politics, the arts, etc.Not sure about Army, but Ivy League teams do look for "those whose goals are to compete in the National Football League." It's why there were 11 Ivy Leaguers on NFL opening day rosters including four from Harvard.
Don't believe they are looking for players who want to play in the NFL? Here's what Dartmouth coach Buddy Teevens told me the Monday after his team won a share of the Ivy League title:
"I tell our guys, I want them to have the dream and aspiration to play as an NFL player. It's why we had 29 NFL teams come in to take a look at them this year. We have a bunch of guys who have that kind of capability."In fact, it's why a handful of Dartmouth seniors arranged their D-plan to have this winter off to train for a shot at the NFL draft or free agent contracts.
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Coaching is a tough profession. Former Dartmouth defensive lineman and assistant coach Derham Cato and former Big Green receivers coach Jarrail Jackson – who recruited Dalyn Williams to Dartmouth – have been let go at Davidson. Cato had been offensive coordinator/offensive line coach for the Wildcats and Jackson was the team's first-year quarterbacks coach after coming over from Washington State.Davidson finished 2-9 with wins over Kentucky Wesleyan and Stetson (coached by former Dartmouth assistant and Princeton head coach Roger Hughes). Davidson is 5-40 over the past four years.
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Speaking of Dartmouth coaches, it's hardly a surprise that Big Green quarterbacks coach Chris Rorke's name has popped up at Williams, given his background as an assistant at fellow NESCAC member Trinity, and his association with Harry Sheehy, the Dartmouth athletic director previously at Williams. Rorke is just one of a handful of Ivy League assistants mentioned in a story in the Berkshire Eagle.
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FootballScoop has a story and the ESPN video about revolutionary high school coach Kevin Kelley and what happened when his Pulaski Academy football team played at a school that hadn't lost a home game since 1999, a span of 84 games. Kelley, you may remember, is the coach who never punts and always onside kicks. He's now added a new twist – trying to get at least three players to touch the ball on a bunch of plays. Read more about his philosophy and watch the video HERE.
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On the way down the mountain to get the mail yesterday Griff the Wonder Pup and I were listening to Vermont Public Radio, my station of choice when I turn the radio on. (Not sure it's Griff's favorite station.) VPR had a program on that was discussing street football in New York City. Between hopping out of the car at our little post office and getting the Griffster back in the house I missed some of the discussion so I Googled the Kings of the Underground when I got back to the computer. Pretty compelling stuff. Check out the first video in a series about street football in the city HERE.