A link to information on Sam Rubin's Yale football book ...

http://yalebulldogs.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/book.html

San Diego, which visits Yale Sept. 16, kicks off its season Friday night against Azusa Pacific.

The Toreros are ranked No. 1 in the The Sports Network I-AA Mid-Major poll, and play host to Dixie State Sept. 9.

San Diego has won eight straight since losing at Princeton by three points.

Josh Johnson, the quarterback that seemed to escape every Yale tackler a year ago, is back.

San Diego should be 2-0 when it comes to the Bowl.

San Diego's site says all eleven games will also be available via the internet at www.usdtoreros.com Kickoff Friday is 10 p.m. EST

If you don't know about this yet, it is worth checking out.

Don't believe everything on it, but many of the posters are reliable, moreso than many other messageboards.



http://www.voy.com/152805/

Got this book promo in email this week, promoting book about greatest finishes in college football since 1970.

Of course then you go to the link http://www.heartstoppersandhailmarys.com/ and you see they have a chapter devoted to the 1968 Yale-Harvard game.

I will add links or notices to any other books related to Yale football or the Ivy League.

I know Sam Rubin will have a book out soon. Will let you know more about that when I get the information.

Here's the release for the Heart Stoppers and Hail Marys:


California's improbable five-lateral touchdown through the Stanford band in 1982, Doug Flutie's unforgettable Hail Mary pass in 1984, and Vince Young’s triumphant TD run giving Texas the 2006 National Championship top a newly released poll of college football's greatest finishes.

Eighty-five members of the Football Writers Association of America participated in the poll conducted by author Ted Mandell, a faculty member at the University of Notre Dame, as part of the new book Heart Stoppers And Hail Marys: The Greatest College Football Finishes (Since 1970).

Voters were asked to rank their Top Ten heart-stopping finishes using the following criteria:

a) Division I-A game since 1970;
b) Improbable dramatic ending;
c) A game on a “National Stage”;
d) High drama in the final five minutes.

Ten points were awarded for first place, nine for second place, and so on. First place votes in parentheses.

1. Stanford - California, 1982 (47) 736
2. Boston College - Miami, 1984 (17) 621
3. Texas - USC, 2006 (6) 447
4. Miami - Nebraska, 1984 (3) 406
5. USC - Notre Dame, 2005 (4) 390
6. Ohio State - Miami, 2003 (2) 365
7. Colorado - Michigan, 1994 (1) 251
8. BYU - SMU, 1980 (1) 212
9. Colorado - Missouri, 1990 (1) 142
10. Auburn - Alabama, 1972 119

A total of 109 different games received votes. The following games received more than 30 points.

Florida - Georgia, 1980 (1) 102
Notre Dame - Houston, 1979 77
LSU - Kentucky, 2002 76
Nebraska - Missouri, 1997 66
Iowa - LSU, 2005 66
Penn State - Miami, 1987 46
Notre Dame - Miami, 1988 45
Michigan State - Ohio State, 1974 38

Senior linebacker Lee Driftmier is lost for the season and will have shoulder surgery as soon as the end of the week.

He will not enroll in classes this semester, return in the spring and play next fall if, as expected, he is granted a medical redshirt.

Driftmier led Yale in tackles last year, was tied for the lead with five interceptions (ironically with Nick Solakian who is also out for the year with a shoulder injury) and led the team with three fumble recoveries.


Statistics aside, Driftmier is one of those players that makes things happen. He's got a great sense for the game and a lot of confidence. He's one of the biggest leaders on defense and will be tough to replace.

http://yalebulldogs.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/driftmier_lee00.html

Some things to know heading into Thursday's 2 p.m. scrimmage at Princeton:

Junior Matt Polhemus (http://yalebulldogs.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/polhemus_matt00.html) has been named starting quarterback and will get majority of 1 snaps. Polhemus has some Alvin Cowan in him, with the ability to run (and enjoy taking hits) and pass. He will make defenses stay on their toes and not just sit back.

Sophomore Ryan Fodor (http://yalebulldogs.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/fodor_ryan00.html) will get at least a series with the starters.

Freshman Richie Scudellari (http://yalebulldogs.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/scudellari_richie00.html) will get some snaps with the 2s. Jack Siedlecki has been impressed with the 6-3 210 pounder from St. Francis in Saratoga, Calif. Siedlecki said he's been sharp and has a presence about him.

Freshman Matt Kelleher of Southington has been slowed by a sore back and not practiced in about a week.

Senior WR Ashley Wright , senior defensive end Brendan Sponheimer and junior defensive back John Coombs (http://yalebulldogs.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/coombs_john00.html) will sit out the scrimmage.

Freshman Tom Mante will punt. This will be a big boost for Yale if he can be steady, giving Ashley Wright more time to rest. Mante played at Bishop Guertin, which went undefeated and won the state championship for the second consecutive year in 2005. He averaged 44 yards punting. He was 47 for 47 PATs, with two game-winning field goals, but junior Alan Kimball will hold onto his placekicking job.

Sophomore WR Ken Ebeling (http://yalebulldogs.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/ebeling_ken00.html) has been impressive in preseason, according to Siedlecki, and will get an opportunity to show off what he can do Thursday.

WR DJ Shooter, who made the catch of the year against Harvard last season, will also play Thursday.

Sophomore Kyle Hawari and Junior Brandt Hollander have been the leaders up front on defense, not a surprise since both came to Yale with high expectations. Yale should be very strong up front.

Sophomore Larry Abare is starting at safety and sophomore Casey Gerald and senior Kevin Littleon (returning after injury last season) will start at the corners.

I will not be attending the scrimmage, but will follow up on it.

For a complete Yale football notebook see Thursday's New Haven Register in hard copy.

Welcome to Portal 31.

Hopefully this will give you an added perspective of Yale football, some bonus notes and links to interesting tidbits about Yale and the Ivy League.

I probably thought there was a better chance of interviewing Walter Camp than posting blogs not so long ago, but if Harvard Stadium can put in fieldturf, I guess I can start blogging.

I have been in the newspaper business since 1991 when I started freelancing at the Evening Sentinel in Ansonia.

I moved on to the Connecticut Post in 1993 and to the Register in 1999, where I was named sports editor in March of this year. This is my fourth season as fulltime beat writer for Yale, but I have covered Yale games and events since the mid-1990s. Actually, my first Yale assignment was covering the retirment announcement of Carm Cozza -- as nice a gentleman as you will ever meet.

I hope you enjoy this blog and feel free to contact me with any questions.

Sean Barker

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