Got a chance to catch up with Sr. DB Kurt Stottlemyer at Tuesday’s media luncheon.

He’s having a solid year with 19 tackles and a fumble recovery.

Like most on the Bulldogs roster, Stottlemyer has an interesting background. For one, he played with Team USA in the Jr. World Championships at Canton, Ohio before heading to Yale in 2009. The team played three games and he had a month-long of practices, going up against some of the nation’s top WRs.

"It helped ease the transition for me," Stottlemyer said. "I saw things I needed to do to be successful in college."

Also, Stottlemyer went up against a pretty good WR in teammate Cam Sandquist back in high school. Both played high school football in Washington. During a junior varsity game, Sandquist went up to catch a pass and Stottlemyer undercut him in midair. It was a pretty scary landing for Sandquist, but he’s was okay explained Stottlemyer. A photographer got a three successive pictures of the play, which hang in Stottlemyer’s home.

And football is in Stottlemyer’s bloodlines. His uncle Vic Stottlemyer won a national title with Ohio State in 1969. His claim to fame recovering a fumble by USC’s OJ Simpson in the title game.

Stottlemyer has his uncle’s jersey hanging in his room.

RED ZONE WOES

Part of the problem for Yale is that the Bulldogs have really struggled in the red zone lately, and they have converted on just 56 percent of its opportunities inside the 20 this season.

Yale has proved it could move the ball. The Bulldogs have just had trouble capitalizing.

Penalties, interceptions, bad snaps and sacks proved to be costly on drives in the Bulldogs 20-10 loss to Lafayette last weekend.

"I wish there was a recipe for it," Yale coach Tony Reno said. "It’s not a scheme thing, we just have to limit those mistakes."

SIGN OF IMPROVEMENT

Take it for what it’s worth...

Yale’s 26 first downs, 54 rushing attempts and 88 total offensive plays were season-highs. The Bulldogs defense forced a season-high eight punts, and Sr. Chris Dooley’s two sacks and three TFL were season highs as well. Lastly, Fr. S Cole Champion’s 10 tackles were a personal best.