Wesleyan Still Existed When the World Was Black and White

[Thanks to Abe Greenwald '? for the tip]

I'll take The Rapists for 200

The good folks on Jeopardy!'s writing staff decided to have some fun at the expense of one of our most distinguished alumni. This was the $1000 clue in the "Sore Losers" category from the January 7th show:



Required viewing for any true football fan.

Credit to Awful Announcing for the clip.

It's gonna be tight, y'all!

Eric Mangini '94, who was fired by the New York Jets on Dec. 29th, needed only nine days to find new employment. Yesterday, the Cleveland Browns officially made Mangini the 12th full-time head coach in team history (dating back to 1946, excluding three years of "suspended operations" from 1996-98). (Notably, this news came the same day Boston College's head football coach lost his job at the hands of the Jets.) Mangini, who signed a four-year deal, began his NFL career in 1994 as a Browns ball boy under Bill Belichick '75.

The Mangenius inherits a team that went 10-6 in 2007 but finished 4-12 in '08, failing to score an offensive touchdown in its last six games. Cleveland has reached double-digit losses five of the past six seasons. Now that Mangini and Belichick coach teams in different divisions, when is the next "Wesleyan Bowl," you ask? If the NFL decides to maintain its four-year schedule rotation--though no decision has been made on a scheduling system for 2010 and beyond--the teams will meet in Cleveland in 2011.

NFL.com: Browns hire Mangini as next coach

Mangini '94 canned after three seasons

Former New York Jets head coach Eric Mangini '94 got the ax today after three seasons, leaving only one Wesleyan alum among the NFL's head coaching ranks: Bill Belichick '75.

The Mangenius went 23-26 in three years, including a 9-7 mark in '08. The Jets were 8-3 this season after taking down the then-undefeated Tennessee Titans, but the boys in green lost four of their last five, including a pair of humiliating losses at San Francisco and Seattle. Ironically, the Jets' playoff fate was sealed yesterday by another Wesleyan grad, as Belichick's Patriots trounced the Buffalo Bills earlier in the day to (essentially) eliminate the NYJs from the race.

It's worth pointing out that after the Baltimore Ravens canned Brian Billick (FINALLY) last winter, only Southern California had produced more active NFL head coaches (three) than Wesleyan. Also, to the best of my knowledge, we're one of only two schools outside Division I (the other is NAIA member Baker University) that can claim an NFL head coach among its alumni.

ESPN: Eric Mangini out as head coach of New York Jets

[EDIT] Whoops. Mike Shanahan went to Eastern Illinois, not BYU. So we were actually third in the hierarchy behind USC and Eastern Illinois, which has also sent three to the pros. Still pretty impressive, if you ask me. Also, some commenters have reminded me that the Jets could have earned the sixth seed with a win over the Miami Dolphins and a Ravens loss. It's just difficult to see these things through my purple-colored glasses.

[/edit by Ben, 1:08 AM 12/30]

Who needs an election when you have football?

I'm sure at least some people here--and hopefully more than the three or so who know the significance of "Iverson for Billups"--are aware of the "Redskins Rule." That is, every year since 1936, the Washington Redskins' final home game before a presidential election has predicted the outcome of the race, with the exception of 2004. If the Redskins win, the incumbent party wins the election; if they lose, the opposing party wins.

So what's the story this year? The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the 'Skins 23-6 Monday night to remain one game ahead of the (clearly superior) Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North. Washington was simply dominated, and one can only hope the same will happen to the master of straight talk tonight. Notably, the Redskins' last home game on the eve of an election came in 1984--and we all know what happened that year.

Wesleyan Football in Boston Globe

Andrus Field (along with the Wesleyan Cardinals) is featured in an article about New England college football in the Boston Globe. Apparently Andrus is the oldest college football field still in use, and Wesleyan is the only team in college football to have been undefeated against the powerhouse of Michigan:

Andrus Field (1881), Wesleyan University

This field is what it is, the oldest gridiron in college football. Oops, there we go, channeling Patriots coach Bill Belichick, Class of 1975 and king of the cryptic answer. Belichick's ties to Wesleyan are strong; his daughter graduated from here last year. Eric Mangini, the New York Jets coach and a Belichick disciple turned adversary, was an All-New England defensive lineman for the Cardinals.

The shout "Go Birds!" rings out as the Wesleyan squad charges onto Andrus Field, which is in the heart of the original 1831 campus surrounded by stately College Row and the Olin Memorial Library, in the central Connecticut city of Middletown. Wesleyan is hosting Hamilton College, which despite its location in Clinton, N.Y., is also a member of the New England Small College Athletic Conference. Hamilton fans have strung a "Go Continentals" banner across their side of the field, and their cheers match those of the home side, until you reach the end of the field.

Here some Wesleyan student-athletes lounge on the terrace below the library. Their catcalls and critiques of the officiating are enhanced by a bullhorn they trade back and forth. Hamilton drives deep into Cardinals' territory as the third quarter ends, and as the teams walk to the other end, the guy with the horn goads Hamilton, "You better go to the other end!"

Once there, Wesleyan holds firm. A defender jars the ball loose on what appears a sure touchdown catch, another catch is ruled out of bounds, and a Hamilton field-goal try clangs off the right upright and bounces away.

The Cardinals' momentum is short-lived, as Hamilton quickly regains the ball and connects for a 55-yard touchdown and an eventual 17-7 victory.

Wesleyan can take solace in its standing as the lone school to have an undefeated record against Michigan. The Big Ten power has the most all-time victories in college football, but it has an 0-1 record against the Cardinals, a 14-6 loss in 1883. Obviously, Michigan has been ducking them ever since.

Boston Globe: Big Game on Campus

You want fries with that?

Wes football is looking for two people to help sell programs on Saturday from 11:30 to 1:30. The job pays $20 and entails sitting there and waiting for someone to come buy a program. As we're not charging admission to games this season, we need all the program revenue we can get, and what other job that doesn't entail pestering everyone in the phone book generates money for both the employee and the university? (Not to mention that the trustees will be in town this weekend...)

You know the drill. E-mail Brian Katten (bkatten@wes) if you're interested.

EDIT (Ben, 8:14): Just to clarify, that's this Saturday, September 27.
EDIT 2 (Ben, 10:11): Talk about a quick response. Suffice it to say we've found people to do this.

Wes Football Players Featured in Boston Globe

Lane Kirshe '10 (right) and Dan Hulyk '11 (below) were featured in a Boston Globe article about promising collegiate athletes in New England:

Junior Lane Kirshe of Franklin, a two-way threat in the offensive backfield, is competing for a starting role with the Wesleyan University football team...

"Lane played quite a bit for us as the season progressed last year, and he wound up splitting starting time at tailback. He really looked good on a couple of screen passes and he's a solid blocker with no holes in his game," said Wesleyan coach Frank Hauser.

Kirshe's teammates include sophomore Dan Hulyk, a linebacker and former Milford High captain who played offensive and defensive line and linebacker in high school.

"Dan's a tough kid who worked hard and went through a learning experience as a freshman," Hauser said. "We're looking for him to step up because he showed a good run to the football at inside linebacker and he's adapting to pass coverages."

Boston Globe: Going the distance

GO WES!

Two Wes athletics-related announcements:

First, we're looking for people to do the commentary for the webcasts of the four home football games (Sept. 27 vs. Hamilton; Oct. 18 vs. Amherst; Oct. 25 vs. Bowdoin; and Nov. 8 vs. Trinity). We want one person to do the play-by-play and one to do color commentary. The pay is $25 per game. If you interested, contact Brian Katten '79, our Sports Information Director (bkatten@wes).

Also, the first athletics contest of the school year takes place tomorrow (Friday) night when the volleyball team hosts Williams. They somehow managed to beat us twice last season, so trust me when I say Wes is out for revenge this year. The match starts at 8:00 PM in Silloway Gym (at Freeman). Go Wes.

John E. Andrus, Come On Down!

Wes football is looking for someone to serve as PA announcer for its four home games this year (Sept. 27 vs. Hamilton at 12:30; Oct. 18 vs. Amherst at 1:00; Oct. 25 vs. Bowdoin at 12:30; and Nov. 8 vs. Trinity at 12:00). No prior experience is necessary, though a basic knowledge of football would help. (The announcer is responsible for the starting lineups, the result of every play, and halftime scores and stats.) The job pays $25 per game, and you also get free food from the pressbox.

For the record, I think we're also looking for someone to do men's and women's ice hockey, and probably men's and women's basketball, too ($25 per game again).

If you're interested, or if you want more information, contact our Sports Information Director, Brian Katten '79 (bkatten@wes).

EDIT (8/29, 2:12 PM): We think we've found someone for football. Feel free to inform us if you're interested, but keep in mind the position is most likely filled. That said, there are still openings for ice hockey, basketball, and possibly also wrestling.