Kudos to former Dartmouth Zach Sammartino '19 who continues to chase his dream. The 6-foot-3 5/8, 305-pound offensive guard/center had another pro day in Pittsburgh last week in a bid to continue his career at the next level.
A couple of results that won't hurt the All-Ivy League and All-New England Division I selection's chances:
• 28 reps in the bench press
• A 32.5-inch vertical
“I am so proud of our guys for working their tails off to be prepared to play football this spring and to compete the way they did when we faced Albany on March 5. We followed the safety protocols to the best of our abilities, dealt with the starts and stops that come with COVID, and never wavered in our commitment to play football.“But like so many other programs around the country, the virus took its toll on us. I am constantly reminded that the virus controls us, we don’t control it. While I am very disappointed for the team, their families, and our staff, I know in my heart that sometimes the right decision is the hardest decision.”
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Speaking of the impact COVID has had on the college sports scene, the University of Massachusetts men's hockey team is in the NCAA's Frozen Four but will be playing tomorrow without its leading scorer, it's starting goalie, another goalie and another skater. Find the story HERE.
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Longtime Dartmouth baseball coach Bob Whalen talks about what the "Year of COVID" has been like and what the coming months offer for his players and his program in a Dartmouth video HERE.
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Back to football of a different stripe. Alabama has joined Georgia, Florida, Alaska and Nevada in making girls flag football a sanctioned high school sport. (LINK)
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An Axios Sports story in the aftermath of the NCAA Tournament looks at the rise in applications in schools that burst to prominence in March Madness or on the gridiron. The piece builds off this quote from Scott Barnes, the Oregon State athletic director:
"Athletics are the front porch of the university. It's not the most important room in the house, but it is the most visible."
The "bottom line" of the story (LINK):
Students often choose a college based on limited information, and athletics is one of the few tools a school can use to directly affect its prominence.
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Bullet points from a story in The Dartmouth (LINK):
• Dartmouth has offered admission to 1,749 applicants to the Class of 2025 from the 28,357 students who applied
• The acceptance rate of 6.17% is the lowest in Dartmouth history.
• The College projects the class will comprise 1,150 students, suggesting a planned yield rate of roughly 66%.
• The Class of 2025 saw an increase in applications of 33% over last year’s record applicant pool.
• This follows the implementation of a test-optional admissions policy due to pandemic-related testing difficulties.
• Black, Indigenous and other people of color” comprise 48% (of those accepted).
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EXTRA POINT
As was the case four weeks ago when I got my first vaccination shot, it was no more than 90 seconds from the time I walked through the door at our local health clinic until I was rolling up my sleeve.
Thinking about side effects from the Moderna shot, at one point last night I said to Mrs. BGA, "I don't know if I have a headache or not."
Mrs. BGA, unfortunately an authority on the subject, just kind of looked at me, at which point I sheepishly admitted, "I guess if I don't know if I have a headache, I don't have a headache."
I do think my right arm is a little sore this morning although there again . . .
OK, this much I can say for sure. I absolutely am fatigued. But I have a sneaky suspicion that has more to do with staying up late Monday to watch the NCAA championship game and waking up the next two mornings by 5:30 than to anything else.
