Trinity's Streak Squashed by Yale

The longest winning streak in intercollegiate varsity sports history has ended. The record-setting streak belongs to Trinity College's squash team. The little Connecticut school won 252 straight matches over a fourteen year period. Do you know what that means? This is their first loss this century. Furthermore, Trinity is the thirteen-time national defending champions.

Their first loss since 1998 came when Yale beat them 5-4. After the match, Trinity coach Paul Assaiante said, "I always said that I would be relieved when this streak was over, but I guess I was lying because I don't like this feeling at all. Still, in the end, this was a dual match on the road against the #2 ranked team in the country, and we will hopefully get to play them again in the national championships."

I don't know how many fans were at this exciting match, but they witnessed history in the making. What a model of consistency this program established. I don't know what it is that they did, but they made it happen. It is going to be tough to surpass this streak. Trinity College might be in the record books for a long time to come.

Making the "Naughty List": CCHA and ECAC Give Suspensions

It looks like Santa will be making some notations in his little booklet.
And they aren't on the good side of his list.

I can see him writing now.

 "Alaska...tsk tsk...Notre Dame...my, oh my...Lake State...shameful...Yale...sigh."


All four of these teams received player game-suspensions within the past week, with the exception of Yale, who received a reprimand from the ECAC to their head coach.

The University of Alaska saw junior forward Adam Henderson penalized for "contact to the head roughing" against the Ferris State Bulldogs on Saturday night.  He received a five minute major and a game misconduct, and will not be allowed to participate in the Nanooks Friday night game against Bowling Green State.
Alaska lost the game 4-3.

The Fighting Irish have lost center Riley Sheahan for their upcoming game vs. Michigan. Sheahan, a Detroit Red Wings draft pick, delivered what uscho.com called an "illegal hit" in Notre Dame's 3-2 loss to the Western Michigan Broncos on Saturday night. That loss gave Western Michigan a weekend sweep of the Irish.

Lake Superior State felt the absence of forward Andrew Perrault last Friday night, in their 2-1 loss to the Miami Redhawks. Perrault, the 6' 2" sophomore from Saskatchewan, was suspended by the CCHA for the delivery of a hit against the University of Michigan on January 7th (LSSU and Michigan tied 2-2, with the Lakers winning the shootout 2-1). Perrault returned to the lineup last Saturday in the Lakers' 4-3 win over Miami.

The Yale Bulldogs received a reprimand this past week directed at their head coach Keith Allain. The East Coast Athletic Conference (ECAC) handed down the reprimand after Allain's heated post-game comments after a 5-4 overtime loss against the Clarkson Golden Knights. Allain threw harsh comments towards the officiating crew, landing himself on the conference's radar.

Suspensions are not anomalies, yet neither are they an everyday occurrence. But when suspensions or reprimands are given with bulk shipping, it makes both players and coaches stop and think a bit more before saying what's on their mind or delivering a questionable hit. Neither of which should be part of this game.

Yale Quarterback Witt at Cross Rhodes

Yale's senior quarterback Patrick Witt runs an effective pro style offense. Witt has no shortage of options in his life right now. He has a full time job offer from Boston Consulting Group on the table. He also has two others options, but unfortunately, they are both on November 19.

Yale plays rival Harvard at noon on that Saturday. Witt also has the prestigious offer of interviewing in Atlanta for a chance to be a Rhodes Scholar. His interview would take all day, as even if he had his first interview in the morning, he could be called back later in the afternoon.

Witt has had NFL scouts closely monitoring his games throughout the season. He is projected as a possible late round pick. Yale history professor Dr. John Merriman is very impressed by Witt's excelling academically and athletically. He said, "Patrick, he's the only I've known here that - male or female - that's really a great athlete and a great scholar."

Witt's family, friends, and teammates will support him no matter what he decides. He says he has had teammates tell him to go to the interview, and he has had professors tell him that he should play in the game.

If I had to make the decision, I would play in the football game because I made a commitment to the team. I would need to fulfill my duty to my teammates and try to lead them to victory the best I could.

What do you think Patrick Witt should do? Comment below and tell me what you think and why.

NBC Nightly News Article and Video: http://dailynightly.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/07/8681959-qbs-dilemma-harvard-game-or-rhodes-interview