Make it Real

The next big moment in the long, (308 days to be exact), off season waiting game will be Wednesday's release of the two-deeps.

I know no one HAS to listen to us because after all, we're just the fans, alumni, season ticket holders, and donors. But here are just a few simple requests for the coaches and athletic dept. to consider before they make this release:

1) There's always some uncertainty about lineups, injuries, etc. Fans accept that. But it would be nice if no deliberate falsehoods appeared on any two-deep. This happens every year, like last season when Seyi Adebayo was listed as a starter for week two when the coaches knew by then that he was done for the season. Either tell the truth on the two-deep, or if you think it's giving away too much, then just refuse to release it. I'd respect that as a policy.

2) Please avoid using the "OR" cop-out listing when naming starters. After a century-long off season, spring practice, summer workouts and training camp, if you still don't know who's starting, please quit the coaching business and go into psychotherapy. That's where you get paid not make decisions for other people.

3) Add some details about each player. A sentence is enough. Many other programs do this and it adds value to the whole process.

Of course, I realize these are all pie in the sky requests. Because clearly, the #1 goal of our program and the other Ivy football programs is SECRECY, and acting rudely to fans who actually are excited about the season. 

Dartmouth and Harvard fans are experiencing the same thing with the recent closed scrimmage at Harvard Stadium last week. 

Whether it's a deliberate cagey attitude about lineups, closed scrimmages, or defensiveness about access in general, it doesn't matter because all of Ivy football has plenty of fans and support and we don't need to promote our team any more than we already are.

Oh wait... I pretty much think the opposite is true.