And Niko's Grade Is . . .

The Fansided site GMENHQ takes a look at the New York Giants rookies, those taken in the first round all the way down to the free agent class, and assigns each player a grade. Former Dartmouth defensive end Niko Lalos '20, receives an "A," largely for the two turnovers he provided for the team in its late bid to make the NFL playoffs. Check out all of what it said about Lalos HERE.

 

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With the addition of defensive back Ahmir Braxton, here's a different kind of look at the Dartmouth recruiting class to date, thanks to Twitter. Some positions (tight end or defensive end, offensive line or defensive line) are educated guesses and two are simply listed as "athlete." Corrections encouraged!

QUARTERBACK

Jackson Proctor, 6-2, 195, Kent HS/Kentwood, Wash.

RUNNING BACK

Q Jones, 5-11, 185, Fountain-Fort Carson/Fountain, Colo.

WIDE RECEIVER

Remington Gall, 6-4, 185, Avon/Avon, Ind.

TIGHT END

Alex Geraci, 6-4, 215, Don Bosco/Cornwall, N.Y.

Sean Harmon, 6-5, 225, Bishop Blanchet/Seattle

OFFENSIVE LINE

James Coslet, 6-3, 255, Watchung Hills/Watchung, N.J.

Cayman Duncan, 6-6, 295, Kinkaid School/Houston

DEFENSIVE LINE

Ejike Adele, 6-2, 245, Westminster School/Atlanta Ga. 

Josiah Green, 6-2, 240, North Central/Indianpolis

Zachary Lytle, 6-5, 230, St. Paul’s/Winnipeg, Man.

Konstantin Spörk, 6-5, 250, Phillips Andover/Cologne, Germany

LINEBACKER

John Ballowe, 6-2, 215, Collegiate School/Richmond, Va.

Micah Green, 6-1, 220, North Central/Indianapolis

Braden Mullen, 6-3, 215, Loyola Academy/Glenview, Ill.

Charis Spence, 6-1, 205, Eagles Landing/McDonough, Ga. 

DEFENSIVE BACK

Ahmir Braxton, 6-0, 175, Vista Ridge/Peyton, Colo.

Carson Franks, 6-1, 195, State College/State College, Pa.

Dillon Holifield, 6-1, 188, Roswell/Roswell, Ga.

ATHLETE

Jackson Gerard, 6-2, 187, St. Francis/Warrenville, Ill.

Painter Richards-Baker, 6-2, 170, Christ School/Arden, N.C. 

PUNTER

Davis Golick, 6-2, 200, Woodward Academy/College Park, Ga.

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This from the Dartmouth football office may make you dizzy ;-)

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A story in The Dartmouth under the headline, Facing concerns, College looks to increase mental health support ahead of winter term move-in reminds us about the importance of physical activity, something those in the ivory tower who don't like sports would do well to remember. From the story (LINK):

. . .  (T)he College is currently working to install two ice skating rinks on the Green, plant a dozen outdoor fire pits across campus and groom the cross-country trails for skiing, Provost Joseph Helble noted in the Jan. 7 “Community Conversations” livestream. Students will also have access to the Dartmouth Skiway, and the College is working to make sleds and snow tubes available for student use.

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EXTRA POINT
You know those TV commercials where Dr. Rick tries to help people not become their parents? It's a pretty funny campaign but I have to admit it leaves me feeling a little uncomfortable. That's because while I was watching one of the commercials yesterday I suddenly found myself thinking back to a story the humorist Jean Shepherd told on his popular WOR radio show when I was a kid, and in his book In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash.

In the book Shepherd, best known for A Christmas Story, recalls at age 14 reluctantly agreeing to a blind date set up by a buddy.

"It was little enough to do to have a blind date with some no doubt skinny, pimply girl for your best friend. I would do it for Schwartz. He would do as much for me."

When he first set eyes on his date, though, he realized how wrong he had been.

"She was magnificent! The greatest-looking girl I ever saw in my life! I have hit the double jackpot! And on a blind date!"

Eventually, however, the lack of interest the girl shows in him leads to this epiphany:

"It's this blinding, fantastic, brilliant, screaming light. I am spread-eagled in it. There's a pin sticking through my thorax. I see it all now.

I AM THE BLIND DATE!

ME!!

I'M the one they're being nice to!

What does Jean Shepherd's story have to do with Dr. Rick?

I've been watching those commercials thinking they were warning me about how I'm turning into my parents. How I bug the kids about turning off lights when they leave a room, not to keep the refrigerator door open too long, and to drive safely and to put the darn phone down.

And then it dawned on me. I saw that blinding, fantastic, brilliant, screaming light.

The commercials aren't about me becoming like my parents.

It's about my kids not becoming like ME!!

I'M the one they're making fun of!