The Countdown Is On

Happy August, everyone!

With the calendar turning over and preseason practice beginning in three short weeks, this is as good a time as any to share the camp schedule for Dartmouth football 2022. Keeping in mind the schedule is not set in stone, here's a first look at the Big Green preseason calendar, beginning with the first session on Aug. 21. (As has been the case for several years, double-sessions have been eliminated and the mandatory rest-and-recovery days are now part of the schedule.)

WEEK ONE
Aug. 21 – 2 p.m.
Aug. 22 – 1:30 p.m.
Aug. 23 – 2 p.m.
Aug. 24 – 2 p.m.
Aug. 25 – Rest Day
Aug. 26 – 2 p.m.
Aug. 27 – 2 p.m.

WEEK TWO
Aug. 28 – 2 p.m.
Aug. 29 – 2 p.m.
Aug. 30 – Rest Day
Aug. 31 – 2 p.m.
Sept. 1 – 2 p.m.
Sept. 2 – 2 p.m.
Sept. 3 – 10 a.m. Scrimmage

WEEK THREE
Sept. 4 – Rest Day
Sept. 5 – 2 p.m.
Sept. 6 – 2 p.m.
Sept. 7 – 2 p.m.
Sept. 8 – 10 a.m. Scrimmage
Sept. 9 – Rest Day
Sept. 10 – 4 p.m.

WEEK FOUR – Game Week
Sept. 11 – Rest Day
Sept. 12 – 4 p.m.
Sept. 13 – 4 p.m.
Sept. 14 – 4 p.m.
Sept. 15 – 4 p.m.
Sept. 16 – Walkthrough
Sept. 17 – 1:30 p.m. Valparaiso Game

A reminder that the BGA Premium 2022 subscription cycle begins with the first opponent preview on Aug. 12. For more information on BGA or to make sure your membership doesn't end before Dartmouth kicks off its bid for a threepeat on Sept. 17, CLICK HERE.

#

Dartmouth's newest players will be on the field Aug. 21 and in advance of their arrival the football office is continuing its Meet the Freshman campaign. The latest entry is Thaddeus Gianaris, a 6-foot-2, 230-pound edge rusher from Maine South High School and Park Ridge, Ill..

#

There usually aren't many Dartmouth football players majoring in English but the Chattanooga Times Free Press has a story about one who has gone on to enjoy success as a developer. To read about former offensive lineman Jim Irwin '01 and his latest project on Chattanooga's south side click HERE. From the story:

The 43-year-old developer is not a typical real estate investor. Rather than build on undeveloped land, Irwin looks for ways to reimagine existing properties, including those that have fallen out of favor.

As an English major in college, Irwin knows the power of stories and looks for the story of each property.

#

With the passing of all-time NBA great Bill Russell stories are being shared all over TV, the print media and online about the former Boston Celtics star and more than a few note his disdain for signing autographs. I've forgotten the details but I'll always remember the satisfaction the late Dartmouth sports information director Kathy Slattery Phillips took in being one of the few who actually had Russell's John Hancock.

Speaking of Russell, this from Axios was an absolute stunner:

Russell is just the fifth NBA MVP to pass away (Wilt Chamberlain, Moses Malone, Kobe Bryant, Wes Unseld) — a reminder of just how young the league is, and of how much weight its legends carry.

#

EXTRA POINT 
Two weeks ago I wrote in this space about my disdain for the groundhog who took up residence on our property and had been wreaking havoc on my sunflowers. (LINK)

On Saturday afternoon I happened to mention to my neighbor how annoying I found the groundhog and the neighbor said he's been having visits from the critter as well. He said something along the lines of, "It's not going to be around much longer," and given that the neighbor is a hunter I had a hunch what he was thinking.

The groundhog is no longer with us, but it didn't happen the way I expected. It wasn't the neighbor who dispatched the pest but an ill-timed decision to cross the road that saw the critter get clipped by a passing car just 25-30 yards up from our driveway.

I have to admit that when I went out with a shovel to move it from the middle of the road to the side I had mixed feelings. The poor thing looked like nothing had happened and while it was clearly dead I half expected it to roll off the shovel and laugh at me before running off into the field.

That said, when I went by the spot where I left it this morning it was gone. I've read that groundhogs are good eatin' (LINK) so maybe this jumbo-sized specimen ended up on some ol' time Vermonter's plate, or maybe someone from the town came along and scooped him up. Maybe it was a coyote or the enormous bobcat that's been prowling around here who dragged him off.

I don't know where it ended up but I'm just glad he's not munching on what's left of my sunflower anymore.