Alex Thomas, Ansonia High School's record-setting running back, received his "Likely Letter" today, basically stating that if he maintains his academic status he will be admitted.

According to the Ivy League website here is the definition of a "Likely Letter"

Admissions Offices at each Ivy school may offer some athletic and other candidates a "likely" letter, which has the effect of a formal letter of admission provided the candidate continues to have a satisfactory secondary school experience. Coaches may initiate the requests for these letters, but only the office of admission can issue a"likely" letter.

Thomas, who according to Max Preps, leads the nation in rushing (please realize that while they do a very good job, there are many high schools that still do not report statistics to Max Preps), was also named the Gatorade State Player of the Year for Connecticut.

The 5-foot-9, 184-pound senior will conclude his career as the state’s most prolific running back. Thomas is in possession of the Connecticut record for career rushing yards (8,030), single-season rushing yards (3,347), touchdowns in a career (111), touchdowns in a season (44) and points in a career (729). He has averaged 11.7 yards per carry on his 287 rushing attempts for the state’s top-ranked team this fall, gaining 3,347 yards and scoring 44 touchdowns to lead the Chargers to a 12-0 record thus far.

His Ansonia football team, No. 1 in the Register's state writers' poll, plays Saturday at 2 p.m. against New London for a state title at West Haven High.

If you get a chance to see him play Saturday, take the time. New London has a few D-I prospects as well, including a talented quarterback.

The Ansonia game will televised live on CPTV , the state's public television network.

They will have archived games streaming starting Wednesday, Dec. 5 at 5 p.m.

earn All-Ivy academic recognition.

http://www.ivyleaguesports.com/article.asp?intID=6320

on ESPN Academic All-America team:

http://www.ivyleaguesports.com/article.asp?intID=6319

Voting for captain at Yale has always intrigued me.

How do you pick just one from a group that includes those that have served as captains of multiple teams in high school, who have been valedictorians and class presidents, who will be future leaders in business and politics.

Somehow they've done for it more than 100 years.

Looking at the junior class, it should be another difficult decision:

Mike McLeod or Bobby Abare? Or what about Larry?
Jay Pilkerton or Ryan Fodor?
Brady Hart, Kyle Hawari or Joe Hathaway?
Bryan Kana or Darius Dale or Ty Davis or Stephen Morse (not a bad OL returning, huh?)

Or will it be one of the other 20 seniors to be? The way I have guessed in the past, probably so.

There's a lot of leadership in the class, a lot of guys who have overcome adversity, two obvious traits when looking for a captain.

We'll see in January.

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on who will be in the running for 2008 captain.

Here's the latest Lambert Poll

The Colonial teams fared well in playoffs. Even two losses were close on the road against Northern Iowa and Appalachian State.

Record Points
1. Massachusetts 10-2 69
2. Richmond 10-2 64
3. Delaware 9-3 56
4. James Madison 8-4 44
5. Harvard 8-2 36
6. New Hampshire 7-5 35
7. Yale 9-1 28
8. Fordham 8-4 25
9. Villanova 7-4 13
10. Hofstra 7-4 9

This just in from Yale ... nice honor and well deserved for Brandt. Representatives were at the Yale-Harvard game from the Hula Bowl.

Brandt Hollander Yale's two-time first-team All-Ivy nose guard, has been selected to play in college football's premier all-star contest, the 2008 Hula Bowl. Hollander joins the best seniors in the country for the Jan. 12 all-star game at Honolulu 's Aloha Stadium.
Hollander, the 2007 captain, is the first Bulldog to be invited to the Hula Bowl and the first Yale player to be headed for one of the major all-star games since tight end Nate Lawrie played in the 2003 Blue-Gray Classic.
"This is a tremendous opportunity. All you can ask for is the opportunity to compete against the best and see how you stack up," said Hollander.
Hollander, who started in 33 of the 39 games he played at Yale, finished his career with 117 tackles and 11.5 sacks despite playing the role of the player who ties up offensive linemen. He was first-team all-league in 2006 and 2007 as the guy breaking through double-teams while freeing teammates to make plays.
Yale's strongest player, Hollander is a political science major with a 3.42 GPA. He was first-team All-New England in 2006 while helping his squad share the Ivy League title. He led the Bulldogs to a 9-1 season this fall while his last two squads compiled a 17-3 overall mark.
"I remember coming to Yale the year after Nate Lawrie graduated, and I remember him playing in an all-star game. I also recall hoping I'd be able to follow in his footsteps. I'm excited to carry on the tradition of Yale football excellence."
The 100 Hula Bowl invitees convene in Honolulu on Jan. 6 to prepare for the 6 p.m. (E.S.T) game on the 12th. The head coach of the East team is Illinois ' Ron Zook.
The Hula Bowl helped launch careers for guys like Dan Marino, Joe Montana, Fran Tarkenton, Tony Dorsett, Larry Csonka and Dick Butkus.The last time any Bulldogs played at Honolulu's Aloha Stadium was a 1987 game between Yale and the University of Hawaii .
"I've never been to Hawaii and I'm really looking forward to seeing what it's like. My dad has always wanted to go and my parents are booking tickets to come with me so my whole family is excited about the experience," said the Bulldog captain. "I'd been talking with my friend about booking some kind of vacation for winter break, but I think this is about the best thing I could be doing."

Yale had a guy name Coxe (sound familiar) who was 245 pounds. In 1884!!!

He was a scoring machine. Times calls him an elephant. Don't think we could get away with that today.

Another named Flanders and Harvard had a Kimball.

Love the fact they talk about fair catches,

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9507E3D91038E033A25750C2A9679D94659FD7CF

So I am off today, should be catching up with the to-do list, but I just stumbled across google archives and have become addicted.

The search now allows you to look at archives dating back to the 1800s.

Check out this New York Times article about Yale and Princeton arguing about the site of a game in 1886.

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9406E1D81F30E533A2575AC1A9679D94679FD7CF&oref=slogin

Great stuff.

Ivy League special teams player of the week

Mike McLeod is unanimous choice for Asa Bushnell trophy, awarded to MVP of Ivy League.

Here is link to teams.

He is first at Yale since Kelly Ryan in 1987 to win the award.

Yale has won the award, presented since 1970, eight times, more than any other Ivy teams.

Penn has won it seven times, Princeton six times, Dartmouth have won it five times, Harvard and Cornell four times, Brown three times and Columbia twice.

Yale's other winners
Dick Jauron in 1972
John Pagliaro in 1976 and 77.
Tim Tumpane in 1979
Kevin Czinger in 1980
Rich Diana in 1981


Only players to win back-to-back:

Cornell's Ed Marinaro
Yale's John Pagliaro
Harvard's Carl Morris

YALE
FIRST TEAM — Langston Johnson, TE (Sr., Los Altos, Calif.); Jeff Monaco, OL (Sr., McDonald, Pa.); Mike McLeod, RB (Jr., New Britain, Conn.); Brandt Hollander, DL (Sr., Indianapolis, Ind.); Bobby Abare, LB (Jr., Acton, Mass.)

SECOND TEAM — Darius Dale, OL (Jr., Seattle, Wash.); Joe Fucillo, RB (Sr., Rockville, Md.); Alan Kimball, K (Sr., Olathe, Kan.); Jared Hamilton, DL (Sr., Alpine, Utah); Brady Hart, LB (Jr., State College, Pa.); Steve Santoro, DB (Jr., Airmont, N.Y.)

HONORABLE MENTION — Ty Davis, OL (Jr., Fresno, Calif.); Kirk Porter, DL (Sr., Silver Spring, Md.); Paul Rice, DB (Soph., Cleveland Heights, Ohio); Nick Solakian, DB (Sr., Santa Barbara, Calif.); Tom Mante, P (Soph., Westford, Mass.)

There have been some questions about the attendance at the Bowl.

Yale counts only those that enter the Bowl as attendees.

I was told standing room only tickets were put on sale.

What happened is simple: Down 27-0 at halftime, people listening to Ron and Carm decided the view was better outside the Bowl.

If the game was at all competitive, the Bowl overflows.

There were a ton of people in the parking lots who never made it inside.

Driving out at about 9 p.m., the trash heaps on the fields on Central Avenue were mountainous.

of all-time is from 19 to Virginia in 1941, according to Bob Barton.

27-0 now.

4th and 2 play, McLeod stuffed by Harvard for no gain.

He seems to be hesitating at the line. Definitely hesitated on that play.

Harvard defense is jacked up, waving hands, jumping up. Lots and lots of momentum for the Crimson.

Yale has not trailed by more than 7 all year. Interesting to see how they respond.

Yale needs to get more pressure on Pizzotti. He has entirely too much time and is too talented to give that much time.

Luft has gotten lost in the secondary too many times.

Harvard defense is also winning up front battle and starting to gain momentum.

See at least three Yale players - AJ Haase, Chris Denny-Brown and Paul Rice - who have mohawks.

Register columnist Dave Solomon is well-prepared.

Has an electric heater at his feet.

7-0 Harvard

Pizzotti was 3-4 for 63 yards on drive, including 40-yard TD pass.

Yale good pressure. Pizzotti forced out of pocket, roll right to find Matt Luft at 2, then he ran in easy.

Mazza got lost behind Yale secondary.

One of the special things about The Game is the fact Yale and Harvard do so much together leading up to the event.

When the Yale and Harvard bands play the National Anthem together, it is one of the more imressive sites in sports' pregames.

The Bowl is starting fill up a little now, still 5 minutes before kickoff.

It will take until 5 minutes left in the third to see this place start to fill to capacity.

Key early for Yale is establishing some of the run game. Obvious, I know, but remember last year when Yale defense stuffed Clifton Dawson on first two plays of game. That really set tone for the game and the Yale defense seemed to ride that adrenaline rush.

Harvard can get the same feeling if it stops McLeod early for losses on the first drive.

Senior class was just introduced.

No matter the outcome of this game, this class has done a tremendous amount to restore the pride of the program.

Just got back from Coxe Cage, where they had the re-dedication ceremony for the Bowl.

What an incredible site.

Coxe Cage has two giant, probably 20 feet by 40 feet pictures of the Bowl on either side, then old programs blown up in to 10 by 20 banners surrounding the Frank Shorter track.

When Yale does things, they do it right.

Jim DeAngelis from the 1934 team was there, along with many of the 1960 team.

Funny story: I went to look at the Silver Cups and Bowls on the tables because I thought they were old trophies.

Just coffee and tea.

Not one to promote our own section, but this story on the 1968 team is a must read. I know you've read a lot about the tie, but this is different. Trust me.

Some other links

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&q=yale+football

Well, there was traffic backed up at 9 a.m., on 95 South (only in Connecticut would you have construction and lanes closed on such a big day, albeit two exits after the Bowl exit), along Route 10 and on Route 34.

Cut through 122 across 34.

Looking out the back of the press box now you can see cars and people everywhere, while taking in the aroma of charcoal grills.

Forget Iowa, this might be heaven today.

They are selling standing room only tickets now.

My hope is the houses you can see in the northeast corner of the Bowl disappear by halftime.

A swarm of yellow-coated security guards are combing the Bowl.

No orange paint this year.

There has been 24 hour security here since Wednesday and the lights have been on as well throughout.

I still wouldn't put it by MIT to pull something off.

Tom Pepe and his crew did another marvelous job of setting up the field with the HY.

People are starting to file in.

We'll be blogging all day

There will be a halftime ceremony celebrating the restoration of the Yale Bowl Saturday.

It will include many who donated to the project.

Carm Cozza will remain in his radio booth for WELI.

He has given so much to this project and deserves so much thanks.

The Bowl is a jewel again. And we have, among others, Carm to thank.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, wouldn't it be fitting to express gratitude to Carm.

Can you imagine 60,000-plus chanting: Thank You Carm, Thank You Carm.

He deserves it, though he might turn a shade of crimson.

Not sure if I linked this last year, but this is a great site, especially the programs link.

Here is captain Brandt Hollander's video on Yale-Harvard.

Tell me he couldn't play a young Tony Soprano.

As we countdown to the most anticipated game at Yale Bowl in decades, the Register will take a daily look at The Game, which pits Yale and Harvard with undefeated Ivy League records for the first time since 1968:

Where
Class of 1954 Field, Yale Bowl

When
Saturday, noon
Parking lots open at 9 a.m.
Gates open at 10:30
Yale officials are encouraging fans to arrive to the Bowl early because of the high volume of traffic expected.

SERIES
Yale leads 65-50-8.
Yale leads series at Yale Bowl 23-22-1.
First game 1875.
Last year: Yale 34, Harvard 13

RECORDS
Harvard (7-2, 6-0)
Yale (9-0, 6-0)

TICKETS
Call 203-432-1400, or visit 20 Tower Parkway (next to Payne Whitney), 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. today
Yale is anticipating a near-capacity crowd. The Bowl holds 61,446

Television/radio
WTXX-20, WLVI, SNY, HDNet; WELI-960, WYBC-1340

Weather
Saturday: Partly sunny, high 46.
Tailgating tips
‰Tents and gas-powered electric generators prohibited
‰Open fires prohibited in all parking lots
‰Gas and charcoal grills permitted, provided they are self-contained and contents are removed from parking lots at conclusion of game
‰Tailgating will not be permitted after the start of the third quarter

HISTORY LESSON
Nov. 17, 2001: Harvard wraps up its first perfect season since 1913 with a 35-23 win.

DID YOU KNOW?
Yale has not allowed more than 20 points in a game this season, and that was in a triple-overtime game against Penn. The Bulldogs have allowed 10 or fewer points in regulation the past six games. Harvard has scored 24 or more points in eight of nine games this year.

CRIMSON CLOSEUP
A daily look at a Harvard player:
Matt Curtis, Jr. DT: The 6-foot-2, 260-pound Peabody, Mass., native was second-team all-Ivy as a sophomore. He had eight tackles against Yale last season, then a career-high. This season Curtis has 38 tackles, including 5.5 for losses and two sacks. He also has eight quarterback hurries.

MIKE'S MILESTONES
A daily look at records Yale junior tailback Mike McLeod has broken or is pursuing:
McLeod has rushed for 100 or more yards in each of the Bulldogs’ nine games this season. No Ivy League back has rushed for 100 or more yards in every game of a season.

DEDICATING THE BOWL
There will be a halftime ceremony rededicating the Bowl Saturday. First opened in 1914 against Harvard, the Bowl is in the midst of a two-phase restoration project. Phase I is complete.
Appetizer
The junior varsity game will be played at 1 p.m. today at Clint Frank Field.

QUOTABLE
"He sounds like Lou Holtz at Notre Dame." — Yale coach Jack Siedlecki on Harvard coach and former roommate Tim Murphy, who told media Yale had all the stars.

COMING SATURDAY
The Register takes a look at The Game in a commemorative eight-page special section.

As we countdown to the most anticipated game at Yale Bowl in decades, the Register will take a daily look at The Game, which pits Yale and Harvard with undefeated Ivy League records for the first time since 1968:

Where
Class of 1954 Field, Yale Bowl

When
Saturday, noon
Parking lots open at 9 a.m.
Gates open at 10:30
Yale officials are encouraging fans to arrive to the Bowl early because of the high volume of traffic expected.

SERIES
Yale leads 65-50-8.
Yale leads series at Yale Bowl 23-22-1.
First game 1875.
Last year: Yale 34, Harvard 13

Records
Harvard (7-2, 6-0)
Yale (9-0, 6-0)
Tickets
Call 203-432-1400, or visit 20 Tower Parkway (next to Payne Whitney), 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Today-Friday
Yale is anticipating a near capacity crowd. The Bowl holds 61,446

Television/radio
WTXX-20, WLVI, SNY, HDNet; WELI-960, WYBC-1340

Weather
Saturday: Partly sunny, high 45. It is expected to rain heavily Thursday.

Tailgating tips
‰Tents and gas-powered electric generators prohibited
‰Open fires prohibited in all parking lots
‰Gas and charcoal grills permitted, provided they are self-contained and contents are removed from parking lots at conclusion of game
‰Tailgating will not be permitted after the start of the third quarter

History lesson
On Nov. 23, 1974, Harvard quarterback Milt Holt scores on a 1-yard run with :15 seconds left in 21-16 Harvard win. It culminated a 95-yard drive and end Yale’s hopes for a perfect season.

Did you know?
Yale and Harvard did not play The Game in 1917, 1918, 1943 and 1944 because of the world wars. Those are the only four years since 1897 the rivalry has not been played.

Crimson closeup
A daily look at a Harvard player:
Doug Hewlett, Sr. DB: The 6-foot-3, 215-pound safety from Wellington, Fla., has four interceptions with returns for 75 yards. He is third for the Crimson with 46 tackles, including two sacks. Hewlett had exceptional game against Bulldogs last season with an interception and eight tackles.

Mike’s milestones
A daily look at records Yale junior tailback Mike McLeod has broken or is pursuing:
McLeod has 48 touchdowns, a Yale career record. He is fourth among active players in the FCS in touchdowns. The three players ahead of him are all seniors.

special salute
Yale and the Wounded Warrior Project will honor those men and women of the United States armed forces who have been severely injured during conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and other locations around the world. Wounded Warrior and North Haven resident Daniel Laffin will be honored at the game. Laffin, a member of the United States Army will perform the coin toss.

DEDICATING THE BOWL
There will be a halftime ceremony rededicating the Bowl Saturday. First opened in 1914 against Harvard, the Bowl is in the midst of a two-phase restoration project. Phase I is complete.

Appetizer
The junior varsity game will be played at 1 p.m. Friday at Clint Frank Field.

QUOTABLE
"This is the only thing people want to talk about back home. Everybody when I go home they just ask did you beat Harvard this year." — Yale captain Brandt Hollander, who is from Indianapolis.

COMING SATURDAY
The Register takes a look at The Game in a commemorative eight-page special section.

Here's the link to the first video segment for The Game, talking with quarterback Matt Polhemus.

A second segment will be uploaded later Thursday with captain Brandt Hollander.

http://video.ap.org/v/Legacy.aspx?partner=en-ap&g=623895b1-388e-4d1d-a89d-942350f6983b&f=CTNHR&mk=en-ap

Dave Solomon on Jack Siedlecki http://www.nhregister.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19021123&BRD=1281&PAG=461&dept_id=530459&rfi=6

Bob Barton on the 1960 team http://www.nhregister.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19021103&BRD=1281&PAG=461&dept_id=7592&rfi=6

San Jose Mercury News writer still has fondness for Yale Bowl. He lists his top 10 college football stadiums here .... http://www.mercextra.com/blogs/collegesports/2007/11/13/the-best-stadiums-in-the-country-an-orange-bowl-tribute/

Tommy Hine's Hartford Courant story http://www.courant.com/sports/college/football/hc-yalefoot1114.artnov14,0,2367668.story

As we countdown to the most anticipated game at Yale Bowl in decades, the Register will take a daily look at The Game, which pits Yale and Harvard with undefeated Ivy League records for the first time since 1968:

Where
Class of 1954 Field, Yale Bowl

When
Saturday, noon
Parking lots open at 9 a.m.
Gates open at 10:30
Yale officials are encouraging fans to arrive to the Bowl early because of the high volume of traffic expected.

SERIES
Yale leads 65-50-8.
Yale leads series at Yale Bowl 23-22-1.
First game 1875.
Last year: Yale 34, Harvard 13

Records
Harvard (7-2, 6-0)
Yale (9-0, 6-0)

Tickets
Call 203-432-1400, or visit 20 Tower Parkway (next to Payne Whitney), 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Today-Friday
Yale is anticipating a near capacity crowd. The Bowl holds 61,446

Television/radio
WTXX-20, WLVI, SNY, HDNet; WELI-960, WYBC-1340

Weather
Saturday: Partly sunny, high 45. It is expected to rain heavily Thursday.

Tailgating tips
‰Tents and gas-powered electric generators prohibited
‰Open fires prohibited in all parking lots
‰Gas and charcoal grills permitted, provided they are self-contained and contents are removed from parking lots at conclusion of game
‰Tailgating will not be permitted after the start of the third quarter

History lesson
On Nov. 22, 1975, Mike Lynch’s 26-yard field goal with 33 seconds left gives Harvard 10-7 win. It was the 100th anniversary of the first game.

Mike’s milestones
A daily look at records Yale junior tailback Mike McLeod has broken or is pursuing:
McLeod has scored a touchdown in an Ivy League record 18 straight games. McLeod’s last game without a touchdown was against .

Did you know?
Yale will be going for its 17th perfect season Saturday. The Bulldogs have enjoyed 16 perfect seasons since 1872: 1960 (9-0); 1923 (8-0); 1917 (3-0); 1909 (10-0); 1905 (10-0); 1900 (12-0); 1894 (16-0); 1892 (13-0); 1891 (13-0); 1888 (13-0); 1887 (9-0); 1883 (8-0); 1882 (8-0); 1876 (3-0); 1874 (3-0); 1872 (1-0).

Crimson closeup
A daily look at a Harvard player:
Steven Williams, Sr. DB: The 5-foot-11, 190-pound San Antonio native has appeared in 29 straight games, starting 19. Williams has intercepted an Ivy high seven passes this season, including one he returned 91 yards for a touchdown. He has broken up 15 passes. Williams has also returned kicks this season.

FIRSTS IN THE GAME
The Game is responsible for a number of original events:
‰Yale performed the first on-side kick against Harvard in 1881
‰Yale’s flying wedge was first seen in the 1892 contest
‰The first game in the Bowl was the 1914 meeting
‰The first crowd at an American sporting event over 80,000 was the 1920 game at the Bowl
‰The first triple OT Ivy game happened in 2005.

DEDICATING THE BOWL
There will be a halftime ceremony rededicating the Bowl Saturday. First opened in 1914 against Harvard, the Bowl is in the midst of a two-phase restoration project. Phase I is complete.
Appetizer
The junior varsity game will be played at 1 p.m. Friday at Clint Frank Field.

QUOTABLE
"They’re going to hear a lot of the questions about being 10-0, but it comes down to accomplishing our goals, which are the same every year, winning the Ivy League title and beating Harvard, it just so happens this year that both can happen on the same day. The historical part of it is for later on."
— Yale coach Jack Siedlecki

COMING SATURDAY
The Register takes a look at The Game in a commemorative eight-page special section.
— Sean Barker

-- Harvard coach Tim Murphy had the quote of the day. He was asked about the similarities between the two teams and responded: "There are none. Yale has all the stars. We've just got a bunch of guys who have worked really hard to get where they are."

If you think about it, hardly anyone in Boston has paid attention to Harvard. Not with the Red Sox winning the World Series, the fast start of the Patriots, the Big Three with the Celtics and Boston College moving up to No. 2 in the polls before its loss.

-- Yale officials are talking about the possibility of 100,000 people in the area of the Bowl, including tailgators, who don't find their way into the Bowl.

-- Walked into the Bowl today for a video we're doing with Brandt Hollander and Matt Polhemus. Tom Pepe and his staff were putting the second coat of paint onto the field. It looks sharp as always. That video should be up on Thursday on our web site.

The field itself was a bit soggy, but seems to have held the rain pretty well. The big test is Thursday when it's supposed to pour. But it is supposed to be windy Friday, so hopefully it will dry up. Early weather forecast for Saturday is partly sunny and 45.

-- We'll have a story on the 1960 team in Wednesday's paper.
Bob Blanchard, the fullback and leading rusher on the team was there along with Dave Ryan, an end and 1960 letterman; and Bob Jacunski, who was a sophomore end were all at the Bowl for a photo shoot we had.

It was really pretty enjoyable to watch them interact with Matt and Brandt and share stories. Obviously the game has changed a lot in 47 years, but the core of it is the same, and that was evident listening to them speak.

-- SID Steve Conn was not sure of the total number of media passes requested, but did note it was by far the most he's received since he's been there.

-- ESPN was at Yale filming players for its Game Day segment Saturday.

Here are links to stories we did on playoffs last week:

Dave Solomon column

Brett Orzechowksi story

Yale moved up to No. 11 in both the coaches and writer's polls.

Harvard is 25th in the coaches poll, 26th in the writer's poll

The Bulldogs also moved up to No. 3 in the Lambert Poll, behind Richmond and UMass.

McLeod also remains one of 16 finalists for Payton Award.

As we countdown to the most anticipated game at Yale Bowl in decades, the Register will take a daily look at The Game, which pits Yale and Harvard with undefeated Ivy League records for the first time since 1968:

Where
Class of 1954 Field, Yale Bowl

When
Saturday, noon
Parking lots open at 9 a.m.
Gates open at 10:30

SERIES
Yale leads 65-50-8.
Yale leads series at Yale Bowl 23-22-1.
First game 1875.
Last year: Yale 34, Harvard 13

Records
Harvard (7-2, 6-0)
Yale (9-0, 6-0)

Tickets
Call 203-432-1400, or visit 20 Tower Parkway (next to Payne Whitney), 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Today-Friday
Yale is anticipating a near capacity crowd. The Bowl holds 61,446

Television
WTXX-20, WLVI, HDNet

WEATHER
Partly sunny, high 46

TAILGATING TIPS
‰Tents and gas-powered electric generators prohibited
‰Open fires prohibited in all parking lots
‰Gas and charcoal grills permitted, provided they are self-contained and contents are removed from parking lots at conclusion of game
‰Tailgating will not be permitted after the start of the third quarter

HISTORY LESSON
On Nov. 22, 1930, the first radio broadcast overseas of football game takes place as Harvard wins 13-0.

MIKE'S MILESTONES
A daily look at records Yale junior tailback Mike McLeod has broken or is pursuing:
McLeod holds the single-season (1,569) and career (3,622) rushing records at Yale.

DID YOU KNOW?
On Nov. 20, 1982, The Game is interrupted for several minutes when just after a second-quarter Harvard score, a black weather balloon bearing the letters MIT rose, inflated and exploded on the 45 yard line. Harvard won 45-7.

CRIMSON CLOSEUP
A daily look at a Harvard player:
Chris Pizzotti, Sr. QB: A 6-foot-5, 225-pounder from Reading, Mass., Pizzotti has been called the most improved player on the Crimson, and possibly in the league by his coach, Tim Murphy. Pizzotti has completed 137 of 219 passes for 1,818 yards and 10 touchdowns. He has been intercepted four times and averages 227.2 yards per game. He came off the bench to throw a touchdown against Yale last year.

EXTRA POINTS
‰Harvard has won seven or more games in seven straight seasons, the longest such streak for the Crimson since a string of 28 seasons came to an end in 1911.
‰ Yale has intercepted 20 passes this season; Harvard has 19.
‰ Yale is going for its first 10-0 season since 1909.
‰ The junior varsity game will be played at 1 p.m. Friday at Clint Frank Field.

QUOTABLE
"Not since 1968, when Al Gore was best known as Tommy Lee Jones’s roommate, has The Game been set up this way: Both Harvard and Yale unbeaten in the Ivy League and playing winner-take-all for the title in the Yale Bowl Saturday."
— John Powers, Boston Globe

COMING WEDNESDAY
A look back at Yale’s last undefeated and untied team in 1960.

COMING SATURDAY
The Register takes an indepth look at The Game in a commemorative special section.

— Sean Barker

As we countdown to the most anticipated game at Yale Bowl in decades, the Register will take a daily look at The Game, which pits Yale and Harvard with undefeated Ivy League records for the first time since 1968:

Where
Class of 1954 Field, Yale Bowl

When
Saturday, noon
Parking lots open at 9 a.m.
Gates open at 10:30

SERIES
Yale leads 65-50-8.
First game 1875.
Last year: Yale 34, Harvard 13

Records
Harvard (7-2, 6-0)
Yale (9-0, 6-0)

Tickets
Call 203-432-1400, or visit 20 Tower Parkway (next to Payne Whitney), 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Today-Friday
Yale is anticipating a near capacity crowd. The Bowl holds 61,446

Television
WTXX-20, WLVI, HDNet

Weather
Partly sunny, high 46

Tailgating tips
‰Tents and gas-powered electric generators prohibited
‰Open fires prohibited in all parking lots
‰Gas and charcoal grills permitted, provided they are self-contained and contents are removed from parking lots at conclusion of game
‰Tailgating will not be permitted after the start of the third quarter

HISTORY LESSON
On Nov. 20, 1920, Harvard wins 9-0 as 80,000 fill the Yale Bowl, at the time the largest spectator event in U.S. history.

MIKE'S MILESTONES
A daily look at records Yale junior tailback Mike McLeod has broken or is pursuing:
McLeod has 23 touchdowns this season, one shy of the Ivy League record set by Cornell’s Ed Marinaro in 1971.

DID YOU KNOW?
Harvard has spoiled three perfect Yale seasons since the formation of the Ivy League in 1956, winning the final game in 1974 and 1979 and tying the 1968 game. Harvard also spoiled a perfect league season for the Bulldogs in 1989.

CRIMSON CLOSEUP

A daily look at a Harvard player:
Corey Mazza, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound senior wide receiver, tied Harvard’s career touchdown reception record Saturday with his 24th. He had a touchdown catch against the Bulldogs as a freshman in 2003. He was a medical redshirt in 2005. This year, he leads the Crimson with 49 catches for 730 yards and seven touchdowns.

EXTRA POINTS

‰Yale’s scoring defense is first in the FCS, allowing 11.1 points per game. Harvard is 12th, allowing 16.7.

‰Yale and Harvard are ranked 1-2 in the FCS in passing efficiency defense.

‰Yale is the fourth-ranked rushing offense in the FCS. Harvard’s rushing defense is third.

‰ The junior varsity game will be played at 1 p.m. Friday at Clint Frank Field.

QUOTABLE

"I think it will be the essence of this rivalry. I think it’s great for the league, and we’re just happy to be in this position."

— Harvard coach Tim Murphy

Link
http://www.nhregister.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19011753&BRD=1281&PAG=461&dept_id=517517&rfi=6

Jared Hamilton and Alan Kimball receive recognition for academic and athletic accomplishments. Here's the link.

http://yalebulldogs.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/110807aac.html

I promise I don't get a cut, just thought some might be interested in these calendars on Yale football being sold now.

Each week the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame send out a "this week in college football history" piece.

This was sent out this week:


Nov. 17, 1900: Novelist Mark Twain is so impressed with Yale's performance in a 29-5 victory at Princeton, he was quoted as saying, "The Yale team could lick a Spanish Army." Yale would finish 12- 0.

Of course it doesn't top this one:

Nov. 14, 1899: Sewanee (now University of the South) tops Mississippi to complete an amazing five-win road trip in six days. Other key victories come over Texas 12-0, Texas A&M 10-0, Tulane 23-0, and LSU 34-0. The trip covers more than 3,000 miles, and the small charter steam train carrying the team makes stops at apple orchards along the way to feed Sewanee student-athletes.

From Steve Conn, Yale SID


The Game will be carried on HDNet nation wide (available on DirecTV 79, Dish Network 9422)
Also on, SportsNet NY ( New York), WPHL ( Philadelphia), WLVI ( Boston) and WTXX ( Hartford )

Watching From Home:
You must have an HDTV and a receiver box, including the high-definition programming package
HDNet is not on cox or Comcast cable systems
Full list of cable providers who have HDNet found at http://hd.net/watch_at_home.html

The Game is part of HDNet’s regular programming (not ESPN Game Plan)

Watching from a Sports Bar:
call in advance to make sure they tune one of their HDTVs to channel 79 (DIRECTV) or channel 9422 (Dish Network) so they can watch the game at that location.
most sports bars and restaurants that offer high def programming have either DIRECTV or dish network.

There will NOT be a video/audio (computer) stream for general public access

Not much, but does have photo and lead to their weekly notebook.

A link.

to 12th in both the coaches and Sports Network polls and is 10th in the AGS Ratings.

Here's a link to all three

Harvard in at 31 in Sports Network Poll.

This one kills me. Rhode Island has two votes in the Sports Network after its overtime win against UMass, its second win of the season.

UMass was third, but take away the rainy and windy conditions and there is no way URI wins.

How can you vote someone in the Top 25 of anything with a 2-7 record??


Fordham, which is on Yale's schedule in 2008 and 2010, won the Patriot League and is ranked in the polls as well.

has been named Ivy League special teams player of the week.

An interesting tid-bit.

Yale has not had a defensive player of the week yet this year.

Statistically, it almost hurts the Bulldogs from an individual standpoint, being such a strong team defense.

Not many tackles to be had when you are forcing teams to punt after a handful of plays.

Harvard JV game will be at 1 p.m. Friday Nov. 16 at Clint Frank Field.

-- Speedy sophomore tailback Ricardo Galvez looked good in practice, making some sharp cuts and showing good quickness. He has missed the past two weeks and will be a big help spelling Mike McLeod.

Yale has four threats to run the ball now in McLeod, quarterback Matt Polhemus (who looked good running the ball against Columbia), Galvez and sophomore Jordan Farrell.

McLeod, Galvez and Farrell each have different running styles, but all work.

-- Sophomore safety Steven Santoro will play Saturday. He has missed the past two weeks with a shoulder injury.

-- Junior defensive end Kyle Hawari will also return against Brown. He was rested last week against Columbia.

-- The only player not out for the year expected to miss Saturday is defensive back Reid Lathan (knee), who was returning kicks and punts.

-- From what I've heard, Yale has a chance to top 30,000 Saturday. Of course, the weather has to cooperate.

-- Yale has played the junior varsity game against Harvard at Johnson Field recently, but there has been talk about moving it back to Clint Frank Field, where the Bulldogs normally practice.
Clint Frank Field, which is usually ripped apart by this time of year because of weather and wear, is in excellent condition. We'll let you know when we hear a final decision.

-- Interesting point brought up about this past weekend's game with Columbia.
Yale and Columbia are not allowed to stay over the night before this game because of an Ivy League rule based on mileage.

Yale was in traffic more than two hours going to Columbia. Nothing new for either team. There was a very bad accident on I-95 Northbound that shut down sections of the interstate. If the game had been at Yale, Columbia would not have made it to New Haven in time for the game. In fact, it's safe to say the way traffic was routed, the Lions might not have made it to New Haven period.

Don't be surprised if this rule is discussed at the Ivy League meetings in the offseason.

A link to Brady Hart feature

A link to notebook.

Here is the link

From the Providence Journal.

Mike Szostak always does a nice job.

A quick teaser.

This is from Brown coach Phil Estes:

“McLeod and Polhemus are a two-man wrecking ball,” Estes said. “McLeod gets his 150 yards and three touchdowns, and Polhemus gets two touchdowns with his feet or throwing it. The defense leads the league in every category. They create turnovers. They’re very aggressive. They sit back in the zone and wait for you to make a mistake. They don’t give you a lot of possessions, so you have to make plays on the possessions you have.”