Earthquake, what earthquake?

While the New Haven Open tennis tournament was brought to a halt by an earthquake shortly before 2 p.m., the Yale football team was across the street at the same time about the start its practice and felt nothing.

"I didn't feel it," said Yale senior cornerback Drew Baldwin. "It's pretty crazy, I didn't know we had an earthquake."

It wasn't until visitors at Yale's afternoon practice broke the news that the players and coaches realized that the area was impacted by the earthquake.

"(Former Yale star) Bob Blanchard came to practice and he said did you guys feel the earthquake," Yale coach Tom Williams said. "I said 'what earthquake?' It has been on the news that the epicenter is in Richmond, Virginia and they felt the vibrations as far as Connecticut.

"We heard the sirens going off (at the tennis tournament). We are oblivous out here, business as usual. We heard the sirens but nothing. We had the music going. Soon after that somebody else from the administration called and said to make sure we have our kids call home because the parents were calling to see if everything was OK."

As for practice, Yale was in full pads and had a strong showing. In the time I was over there, the most noteworthy play was a big hit by junior linebacker Will McHale on freshman running back Kahlil Keys.

Speaking of the freshmen, I asked Williams which of the first-year players have caught his eye. Keys, linebacker Will Vaughan, cornerbacks L.J. Hunt and Nick LaTesta, receiver Tyler Hutchison and offensive linemen Ben Carbery and William Chism were the freshmen opening eyes in the first week of practice.

There was a scout from the New York Jets at practice who spoke with senior quarterback Patrick Witt. A representative from the Giants is scheduled to be at practice on Wednesday with a New England Patriots scout also expected to make it to a Yale practice soon. While Witt is drawing plenty of attention, he is not the only Yale senior on the radar of NFL teams. Defensive linemen Pat Moran, Jake Stoller and Reed Spiller along with linebacker Jordan Haynes and safety Geoff Dunham are other players the NFL people are inquiring about.

Yale headed out to the Milford Lanes tonight for a team bowling event. If Caroline Wozniacki gets to the semifinals of the New Haven Open, the Yale team is planning to be in attendance at her match continuing the three-year mutual admiration society between Wozniacki and the Bulldogs.