Closing In On It

Interesting timing.

FBS and FCS football teams that are playing “Week 0” games can begin practice today. That means you, Derrell Porter and Jordan Washington.

Porter, the former Big Green defensive lineman, is suiting up this fall as a grad student at UC Davis, which will play Mercer in an ESPN game on Aug. 23 and will be on the field today.

Washington, the former Dartmouth corner, will play this year as a grad transfer at Stanford, which kicks off at Hawaii in a CBS game also on Aug. 23.

And the interesting thing about the timing? Porter’s and Washington’s former teammates begin precisely one month from today when Dartmouth holds its first practice at 8:45 a.m. in preparation for the Sept. 20 opener against New Hampshire.

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Speaking of former Dartmouth players now in the grad transfer ranks, quarterback Jackson Proctor, suiting up this fall at Northern Illinois, gets a very brief mention in an Athlon story ranking the MAC quarterbacks. The piece ranks 13 quarterbacks and with Proctor having no FBS-level experience, another would-be Northern Illinois starter is ranked ninth in the 13-team conference. From the story (LINK):

9. Josh Holst, Northern Illinois

With one of the MAC's deepest running back groups in place, the ground attack will be the focal point of the Northern Illinois' attack in '25. After a redshirt year in '24, Holst saw snaps in seven games last season and showcased a steady presence under center for coach Thomas Hammock. Holst threw for 593 yards and two scores and added 230 yards and a touchdown on the ground. In a win over Fresno State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Holst flashed potential by earning bowl MVP honors after accumulating 247 total yards. Junior Jalen Macon, Dartmouth transfer Jackson Proctor, and freshman Brady Davidson will push Holst for the starting job this offseason.

Northern Illinois opens Aug. 30 against . . . wait for it . . . old friend Holy Cross. 

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With the defection of Richmond to the Patriot League this year and William & Mary year and Villanova making the same move in 2026, the once vaunted CAA has extended an offer to Sacred Heart to join the conference. The Pioneers will join New Hampshire, Maine and the rest of what is now called the Coastal Athletic Association next fall. Find a story HERE.

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EXTRA POINT

The numbers are in from our annual get-together with other enthusiasts of the vintage Volkswagen buses. Our camper is a 1984 Westfalia pop-top. Here’s a breakdown of others who made the pilgrimage to the West River Westies event earlier this month, courtesy of the organizer:

108 camping vehicles total

Splitties (1950-67 split screen windshield) – 8

Bay Window Windshield (1967-79) – 23

Vanagons (1980-91) – 68

Eurovans (1992-2003) – 4

Rialta RV (1995-2005) – 1

Beetles (Timeless ;-) – 2

Also stopping by, an all-electric ID Buzz.

Bus Home States

Massachusetts – 44

Vermont – 22

Connecticut  12

New Hampshire – 12

New York – 11

Maine – 10

New Jersey – 3

Pennsylvania – 3

Rhode Island – 3

Unknown – 2

And unfortunately – but not unexpectedly – there were no campers coming down from Canada. In most years there are 10 or so visitors from north of the border but this year they chose to stay home. :-(

Griff the Wonder Dog enjoyed the view out the window of our ’84 VW poptop camper on our way to the event: