PEAK Magazine Feature: A Day in the Life of Tanner Cross

An important member of the special teams unit and linebacking corps on the Ivy League champion Big Green in 2019, Tanner Cross had the world in the palm of his hands heading into his senior season. Following an academic break during the winter term in early 2020, Cross planned to return to campus in March for his final spring football season, planning to compete for a starting job last fall – and a full-time position with the Capital Group waiting for him upon graduation.

The football program's motto — 'Adjust and Improvise' — was put to the ultimate test once the pandemic hit.

Instead of enjoying spring in Hanover, Cross found himself back in Fort Smith, Arkansas, last spring, doing the best he could to stay in shape and manage the new reality of a remote-learning environment. With the hope of a fall sports season, Cross and his teammates worked out through the spring and summer in preparation for the fall season until that plan, too, was changed.

"(Holekamp Family Director of Strength & Conditioning) Spencer Brown provided us with workouts through an app called Team Builder. Our team is basically broken into four subgroups in training, so we used that structure to keep the competitive nature going even though we were spread out across the entire country," said Cross. "We had our workout routines and weekly challenges, which included things like sending in videos showing the ways we were working out and being creative around that."

Once news broke that fall sports would not be played, Cross and his teammates were devastated, and he admitted that, while it was hard at first to lock in and focus, the support he received from Robert L. Blackman Head Football Coach Buddy Teevens and the coaching staff helped tremendously.
"Coach Teevens was pretty sure we'd be able to come back and play a fifth season, so we had a long-term goal in sight that we could all focus on," explained Cross. "The preparation for the 2021 season started this past fall and kept us all motivated."

Back on campus, Cross admits that the vibe was different within the football program, if only because the normal flow of the season was disrupted and just two classes of players were on campus – freshmen and seniors. He found it strange to watch the freshmen arrive and not have the true Dartmouth football experience and all that comes with the hard work and camaraderie of training camp. That said, he and his teammates who spent the fall term on campus were grateful for the opportunity.

"We talked about it a lot; the practices were the best part of our day and the most normal thing we did all fall," said Cross. "The social restrictions in practice were present, but we were able to go through things and be together, which provided a nice distraction from how messed up things were all around us. The remote learning wasn't so taboo in the fall and went a lot more flawlessly than in the spring."

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays meant an early start to the day, around 6 a.m., with a team lift in Floren Varsity House, followed by a quick breakfast at FOCO and virtual classes through mid-afternoon. Following some down time, studying and dinner, it was back on the computer for virtual team meetings to review film, talk about the previous day's practice and plan for the next one. On alternate days (excluding Sunday), things started a bit later because of practice, which ran from 4-6 p.m., followed by dinner and more team meetings. Tucked in and around all the activities were study sessions and programming with DP2 staff and coaches.

For Cross and his fellow seniors, there was an added layer to the process and one important question which needed to be answered: Was it time to move on from Dartmouth and college football or should they come back for a fifth year?
For Cross, the decision was easy, and the process was certainly worth the effort.

"After talking to the coaches about the possibility, it was reassuring to know they wanted me to come back," said Cross. "It just felt right to finish what I started."

Easier said than done. Cross had to consider his future as well and the job offer he had secured with help from Brendan Mahoney '91. Fortunately, Cross was able to shift into a summer internship and, following a reassuring conversation with Mahoney, the path was clear.

"Brendan helped me realize how special it is to play college football at a place like Dartmouth and how important it is to take advantage of the opportunity to go back one more time to be with my teammates and friends. He explained that I'll have 40 years to work, but that another year of college football was too precious to give up."

Entering the 2021 season with a clear mind and sense of purpose, Cross can't wait to get back on the field, and when he does, it will be with a new perspective. In addition to sharpening his problem-solving skills, he feels like he has learned a greater sense of accountability because of the pandemic and pause in his athletic career.

"I am so much more motivated now to wake up every day and put in the work, knowing that everyone on the team is counting on each other to be ready to go in the fall," said Cross. "We know we go into next season still the defending champions, and that brings a sense of urgency for all of us who are thankful for the chance to play another season. We are all doing the best we can to prepare, get better each day while keeping our foot on the gas pedal."

Cross also knows he and his teammates wouldn't have gotten through this without the support system in place at Dartmouth. He was quick to cite not only his coaches, but Ben Schuler and Alyssa Schramm in athletic training, Lyndsey Ostler in academics and Jen Chuks in career planning for the role they played in making the past 12 months as smooth as possible.

"I want to use my knowledge and experience to help the younger guys," said Cross. "My coaches and everyone in DP2 have helped me so much, and now I'm in a position to help others. With all the unprecedented circumstances we faced, I had a chance to really appreciate how many people are looking out for us and it makes me thankful to be at a place like Dartmouth."

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PEAK Magazine Feature: A Day in the Life of Tanner Cross

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Tanner Cross

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