Monday, September 11, 2023

Well Done

Pennsylvania's Times Leader out of Wilkes-Barre writes about a touching tribute to Josh Balara at a Dallas High School football game. The story begins this way (LINK):

The colors of Dallas High School are recognizable all around the area: when fans walk into Mountaineer Stadium, they find a sea of baby blue on the field, on the sidelines and in the crowd.

On Friday night, as the Mountaineers got ready to play their home opener against Williamsport, something was different.

Green was the theme on Friday, with the cheerleaders, the fans, the student section — it seemed like everyone traded in their Dallas blue for green.

It wasn’t by accident. It was to honor a beloved member of the Dallas family, a standout athlete, student and community member who tragically passed away earlier this year.

Shirts reading “JB 76” were sold at the stadium and worn en masse to celebrate the legacy of Josh Balara, a former Dallas High School and Dartmouth University football player who passed away in March after a battle with adrenal cancer.

More from the story:

Among the captains for Friday’s game was lineman Dan Sabulski, who typically dons the No. 58 jersey. On Friday, he wore a different number: Josh Balara’s No. 76.

“Retiring numbers never made sense to us. … With his family’s blessing, what we’ve decided to do is pick somebody that exemplifies what Josh was all about,” (Dallas coach Rich) Mannello said. 

And . . .

The number No. 76 will be passed along week to week, and in doing so, Balara’s presence will be felt in the Mountaineers locker room for a long time coming.

Perfect. 

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The Dartmouth grad transfers keep showing up with Robert Crockett III making his mark at his new school:

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With yesterday's posting about tight end Kristian Strong's commitment to Dartmouth, the recruiting class has at least 10 names. Here's how it looks:

• DE Jackson Ashford, 6-2, 250, IMG Academy/Bradenton, Fla.

• WR/DB James Elliott, 6-2, 195, Williston Northampton/Leeds, Mass.

• DT Taylor Faalele, 6-2, 325, IMG Academy/Plymouth, Minn.

• LB Tyler Kessel, 6-1 ½, 215 Summit HS/Summit, N.J.

• DE Leviev Kinlock, 6-2, 235, American Heritage/Plantation, Fla.

• OL Anthony Ndika, 64, 290, Loomis Chaffee/Nigeria

• LB Johnny Riley, 6-3, 210, Delbarton/Morristown, N.J.

• WR Luke Rives, 6-0, 170, Stratford HS/Houston

• TE Kristian Strong, 6-4, 225, Avon Old Farms/Avon, Conn.

• OL Ryan Turk, 6-4, 280, Loyola HS/Los Angeles 

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A couple more tidbits from Dartmouth opponents over the weekend. 

With 295 yards, New Hampshire's Dylan Laube set a record from most receiving yards ever in a game by an FCS running back. Worth noting is it came against an FBS opponent in Central Michigan. Dartmouth will see Laube on Saturday.

And how problematic has pass defense been for Week 5 opponent Colgate? Villanova quarterback Connor Watkins completed just 8-of-11 passes for 310 yards. When you do the math that comes out to a ridiculous 38.8 yards per completion. The Raiders gave up seven passing touchdowns a week earlier in a 65-0 loss at Syracuse.

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And finally, with the season kicking off Saturday at UNH there will be no more of these little reminders after this week about signing up for BGA Premium. If you haven't yet signed up, there's still time.

And if you have signed up and find the site interesting, please share a link with someone you think might also find it interesting. It still amazes and I have to admit disappoints me that after 18 years of doing this how many new and longtime Dartmouth fans have no idea BGA even exists.

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EXTRA POINT

That Certain Dartmouth '14, That Certain Nittany Lion '16 and now Mrs. BGA all have iPhones.


Me? I don't have a cell phone but what I do have are three white iPhone boxes sitting on a bookshelf here in the BGA World Headquarters. 


I don't know what I'll ever do with them. But the sturdy rectangular boxes that slide together so tightly are just too nice to toss and they have to be good for something, right? I just have to figure out what.

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