Football Gearing Up for the Start of Practice

HANOVER, N.H. -- The members of the Dartmouth football squad returned to the college campus in earnest today to prepare for the 2008 season. The first preseason practice will take place tomorrow, August 26, at 3:45 p.m.

The Big Green have improved their record by one game each of the last two seasons, finishing 2007 in a three-way tie for fourth in the Ivy League at 3-4. Even though the conference media picked Dartmouth to fall back this year and place seventh, Head Coach Buddy Teevens is ready to prove the naysayers wrong about his team.

“We are excited about the newest class and anxious to see them work,” Coach Teevens stated on the eve of practice beginning. “The spring practices were very productive with our returning players, and those that remained on campus this summer were diligent in their workouts. There seems to be an increased enthusiasm throughout the program about the opportunities to succeed this season.”

A total of 47 letterwinners and 15 players -- seven on offense, seven more on defense and one specialist -- with starting experience return for the Big Green. Among those veterans are the senior tri-captains of linebacker Andrew Dete (Marietta, Ga.), offensive lineman Alex Rapp (St. Louis, Mo.) and running back Milan Williams (Mobile, Ala.). Dete has amassed over 100 tackles in his career, Rapp is the lone starter back on the offensive line and Williams last year became the 23rd Dartmouth player to rush for over 1,000 yards in a career (1,010).

Dartmouth also welcomes back a pair of key performers that missed most of the 2007 season with injuries. Strong safety Ian Wilson (Burbank, Calif.) will be playing his final season with the Big Green and is a terrific All-Ivy candidate, having racked up 179 tackles in the 2005-06 seasons. On the other side of the ball, senior Eric Paul (The Woodlands, Texas) was just beginning to establish himself as a go-to receiver last season with 15 receptions and three touchdowns in the first three games before being sidelined with a knee injury.

The first of five double sessions will begin on Sept. 2 and continue on alternating days for per NCAA rules. One of the double sessions will include a scrimmage with officials on Sept. 6 at 3:45 p.m. The Big Green will also scrimmage at Harvard against the Crimson on Sept. 12 at 1 p.m.

The season will open at Colgate on Sept. 20 at 1 p.m., followed by the home opener the following Saturday at noon against in-state rival New Hampshire. Dartmouth will begin its quest to add to its record 17 Ivy League titles on Oct. 4 when the Big Green travels to Penn for a game at 1 p.m.

PRACTICE SCHEDULE

Wednesday, August 27
3:45-6:15 p.m. - Practice No. 1
Thursday, August 28
3:45-6:15 p.m. - Practice No. 2
Friday, August 29
3:45-6:15 p.m. - Practice No. 3
Saturday, August 30
3:45-6:15 p.m. - Practice No. 4
Sunday, August 31
3:15-5:45 p.m. - Practice No. 5
Monday, September 1
3:45-6:15 p.m. - Practice No. 6
Tuesday, September 2
8:15-10:25 a.m. - Practice No. 7
3:45-6:15 p.m. - Practice No. 8
Wednesday, September 3
3:45-6:15 p.m. - Practice No. 9
Thursday, September 4
8:15-10:25 a.m. - Practice No. 10
3:45-6:15 p.m. - Practice No. 11
Friday, September 5
3:45-6:15 p.m. - Practice No. 12
Saturday, September 6
8:15-10:25 a.m. - Practice No. 13
3:45-6:15 p.m. - Practice No. 14 (Scrimmage with officials)
Sunday, September 7
Off day
Monday, September 8
8:15-10:25 a.m. - Practice No. 15
3:45-6:15 p.m. - Practice No. 16
Tuesday, September 9
3:45-6:15 p.m. - Practice No. 17
Wednesday, September 10
8:45-10:25 a.m. - Practice No. 18
3:45-6:15 p.m. - Practice No. 19
Thursday, September 11
3:45-6:15 p.m. - Practice No. 20
Friday, September 12
1:00-3:30 p.m. - Scrimmage at Harvard
Saturday, September 13
Colgate preparation begins

Schedules