Around the Water Cooler: Wherein We Fire Our Grills in Anticipation

It's August, and you know what that means: football season is only one month away. It’s time to start preparing your fantasy football cheat sheets, firing up the grill, and dusting off the old Harvard varsity sweater. The Crimson opens its season against Holy Cross on September 18 under the lights at Harvard Stadium. Sure, that’s 45 days away, but Around the Water Cooler, it's never too early to start discussing Ivy League football—especially when the other option is to talk about the Ivy League’s incoming track and field classes.

It’s hard to believe, but over at Cornell there are apparently other sports played besides basketball. Dempsey Quinn, a senior safety on the Big Red’s football squad, was recently named to the FCS Senior Scout Bowl preseason All-America second team. Last season, Quinn finished with 92 tackles, three forced fumbles, and an interception.

But Quinn wasn’t the only Ivy Leaguer named to the All-America team. Harvard’s own safety—captain Collin Zych—was selected to the FCS Senior Scout Bowl preseason All-America first team. Granted, if Cornell basketball God Ryan Wittman had decided to play football, we all know he would have beaten out Zych for that first team spot.

Joining Zych on the first team are Princeton linebacker Steve Cody and Dartmouth defensive end Charles Bay. It’s interesting to note that not a single offensive player from the Ancient Eight made either the first or second teams. It looks like Ivy League football fans should start getting ready for some defensive battles.

Speaking of football, Dartmouth fans hope that the announcement of its new athletic director could help the football program begin moving in the right direction after last season’s 2-8 finish. Harry Sheehy, who previously served as Williams College’s chair and director of athletics, physical education and recreation, will take over the Big Green’s athletic department on September 7. But Sheehy—who coached the Ephs’ basketball team for 17 seasons—might do more help for the Dartmouth on the hardwood. But that’s not to say the Big Green doesn't need help there as well, as Dartmouth finished last season 1-13 in conference play.

Rounding out this week’s edition is some news out of Brown. Bears lacrosse player Paris Waterman was selected to the 2010-11 U.S. National team earlier this week. Waterman and her 35 teammates could form the nucleus of the United States team that competes at the World Cup in 2013.