"Against the backdrop of the 44,000 square-foot Floren Varsity House and the pine trees and mountains that lie beyond it, it’s easy to miss him. But just as expected, he’s back.
"The man carries with him the essentials. After 17 years, it’s habitual. Winter jacket, gloves and a snow shovel."
So began a story Will Dehmel wrote for The Dartmouth in 2023 about Buddy Teevens clearing the Dartmouth "Block D" at Memorial Field's 50-yard line after every snowfall. (LINK)
The tradition has lived on with some who played for Teevens, and others who worked alongside him gladly grabbing shovels.
But this time was different.
Alerted that the "D" had not yet been cleared because football players and coaches were off campus for the holidays, several Dartmouth men's ice hockey players hustled off to Buddy Teevens Stadium to carry on the tradition in honor a man they may have never met, but whose legacy they clearly understand.
Dartmouth's ice hockey team improved to 10-0-0 last night with a 6-1 win over Yale. What they have done with their skates and sticks this winter is impressive, but no more so than what did with boots on their feet and shovels in their hands. And they've pledged to keep the D cleared until football players return in January.
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In the FCS Playoffs . . .
No. 2 seed Montana State 21, Yale 13
After last week's stunning comeback win at Youngstown State, Yale showed Montana State and those who question the toughness of Ivy League football that the Ancient Eight can compete with the best.
Josh Pitsenberger carried 26 times for 124 yards and a touchdown, and caught four passes for 41 yards as the Bulldogs challenged the Bobcats all game in front of 20,867 in Bozeman. The Yalies had an advantage in first downs (24-20) and in total offense (351 yards to 341), and had the ball at the end. But they couldn't overcome four turnovers that led to a pair of Montana State touchdowns.
Also of interest, Patriot League champion Lehigh dominated the stat sheet before falling to Villanova, 14-7, before 8,848 in Bethlehem. The Mountain Hawks outgained the Wildcats, 339 yards to 235, and limited the CAA team to 27 yards rushing before falling behind on a touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Lehigh took the ensuing kickoff and with a chance to force overtime – or win the game – drove to the 'Nova 12 before a lost fumble on a first-down play with 1:49 ended their undefeated season.
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EXTRA POINT
I've never really understood "You Pick" strawberry fields and the like. Seriously, you want me to pay you so I can do your work? OK, I admit that's a little cynical.
I was reminded of that yesterday when we went to a mountainside farm to get our Christmas tree. After stomping through the snow for a half hour locating the perfect tree, I had to get on my back and saw the thing down. Trust me, we usually get a pretty big tree and I worked up a pretty good sweat working the saw back-and-forth in a tangle of low-hanging branches before the tree finally fell.
Fortunately, we remembered a sled this year to tow the thing out from the far-reaches of the tree farm. Unfortunately, the brittle plastic sled broke in the cold, and dragging the tree on its remains was more of a workout than we bargained for.
As always, I'm sure the decorated tree will look wonderful in the corner of our living room. But I'm just as sure it would look equally wonderful if we'd just gone into town and bought one.
