Dartmouth's first game of the 2021 season will be against . . . wait for it . . .
. . . the Beacons.
Whaaaa?
No, the Big Green didn't change its schedule. It's still opening up against Pioneer Football League member Valparaiso, but not the Valparaiso Crusaders. Like Dartmouth years ago Valparaiso dropped a nickname no longer deemed appropriate and yesterday introduced the new one: Beacons. Here's an explanation of the choice from the school website (LINK):
“Our new nickname directly connects to the University’s motto, ‘In Thy Light We See Light,’ and represents the Valparaiso University community in many ways,” said José D. Padilla, J.D., University president. “We are beacons of light and hope in our communities. We are beacons of change on campus, in our region and in our country. We are beacons of knowledge for our students’ academic, social and spiritual growth. Above all, we are beacons of God’s light around the world. We light the way for our students, so that once they graduate, they shine their light for others. We are all Beacons at Valparaiso University.”
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER (7): Lorenzo Carter, Azeez Ojulari, Ifeadi Odenigbo, Oshane Ximines, Elerson Smith, Cam Brown, Niko Lalos
And . . .
This is a position group that has been completely decimated by injury, which has allowed players like Brown and Lalos to get valuable playing time with the first-team defense. Lalos in particular has been a standout, and he already has more of a track record of making plays in an NFL game than most of this group. Ryan Anderson has yet to practice at all for the Giants since signing which doesn’t help his chances of sticking.
Another story on the same site first giveth and then taketh away, writing (LINK):
Niko Lalos: The pride of Akron. The former undrafted rookie forced two turnovers last year — including an interception in a close win over the Bengals — and has made some plays in camp too.
But the ranking is not favorable:
Advantage: 1. Ximines, 2. Odenigbo, 3. Brown, 4. Harris, 5. Lalos, 6. Anderson
Still another NJ.com story headlined These 6 Giants bubble players emerged in training camp as real contenders to make final 53-man roster includes Lalos in that group. From the story (LINK):
The Dartmouth alum just always seems to be around the ball, and he’s been getting an opportunity to run with the first-team defense due to a cavalcade of injuries to the outside linebacker group. Friday, Lalos had an impressive pass breakup on one of Jones’ passes.
and . . .
If he keeps capitalizing on his chances, the Giants will have a hard time cutting him.
Green Alert Take: Like I said, it will drive you nuts . . .
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For good measure, Lalos isn't the only former Big Green standout bidding for an NFL roster spot this summer. Nor is he the only one who is getting a little more of a chance to shine because someone else is hurt. A story out of the Carolina Panthers' camp headlined, Camp observations: A longer look at Taylor Moton at left tackle briefly mentions Dartmouth alum Matt Kaskey '19. From the story (LINK):
With Moton at left tackle, Trent Scott worked at right tackle. And with Matt Paradis out with an excused absence, Pat Elflein worked at center, and Matt Kaskey worked with the ones at left guard.
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EXTRA POINT
Those of you who are regular visitors to this site know I don't have a cell phone and don't want to have a cell phone. I do, however, have an iPod Touch that I use for recording interviews, accessing email as well as messages, and listening to podcasts. If the need arises I can also make a phone call using Skype when I'm in range of WiFi.
I prefer the iPod Touch to a phone because there are no monthly bills, because I'm not tempted to be forever checking the phone the way so many people do, and because I can be completely off the phone grid. Are there down sides? Sure, although on balance, I like it this way.
But I digress . . .
While my iPod Touch is in perfect shape it's relatively old and so I haven't been able to update anything on it in several years. The operating system topped out at iOS 9.3.5 (which came out in 2016). The current iOS is 14.7.
What that means is when apps are updated or new ones are introduced they won't work on my otherwise perfect iPod Touch. If I want to deposit a check using my bank's mobile app, I'm out of luck because it won't work on my Touch. The latest notes or calendar app designed to make life easier? Nope, it won't work on the iPod Touch. In fact, almost no new app will even download.
Now, I could buy the newest iPod Touch, which runs the latest operating system. But I'm not ready to spend that money when the one I have still works just fine for accessing email, messages and the internet.
The solution? That Certain Dartmouth '14 got a new iPhone last year and her old one was sitting in a box or a drawer collecting dust. I asked if she could bring it home when she visited, which she did, and it works just fine. Without a SIM card or a carrier plan it's nothing more than an iPod Touch in disguise, which is what I prefer. It gives me access to email, messages and the internet when I'm around WiFi and it can be updated to the latest iOS so I can use mobile deposit and all the other apps that had left my iPod Touch behind.
And the best part is, my new "iPod Touch" didn't cost me a dime ;-)
