Yale62.org

Happy New Year, Class of 1962!

The beauty of having a CorSec column is that it can grow or expand depending on how much I have to say.  This will be a relatively short one because even though I have a lot to say, much of it relates to the politics and  economics of the day, and I feel we have all had an abundance of informed media coverage of both for the last several months, so how much could I add?  Classmates, however, can and are encouraged to log their thoughts & vignettes on our political and economic landscapes using the Comment feature of this site.

I do feel obligated to disclose I voted for Obama with enthusiasm, and in following the campaign and the early days of the new Administration am hopeful that at last we have able people running the country. In perspective, the past eight years make me think of my times with bad teachers, bad coaches, and bad managers. On the economic side, I did not do anything with Bernie Madoff, but a clue to my current mood is that my wife went mostly into cash early last year and stayed there while I, supposedly the financially talented one, watched many of my favorite investments go over the cliff in a few horrifying days in the Fall. I did not do much better than the averages in 2008.

Hoping for a happy feeling to balance bad vibes from the stock market, I ventured to the Yale-Harvard football game accompanied by Gus Hedlund.

Pre Game

Ominously the climate at Harvard Stadium was a wind-chill 10 degrees, and the pre-game Yale Club tent was sparsely attended.  Courtesy of one of my friends at Harvard, we had excellent seats, close to the field at the 50-yard line on the Yale side (going through Yale’s ticket process normally places CorSec between the goal line and the 20, in case you thought this job carries any privileges).  All of us who follow football know the story of the game, in which Yale’s defense held Harvard to 10 points, 20 points below their season average, and Harvard’s one touchdown  came after a lucky break  followed by a disputed call  that gave Harvard the ball almost at the Yale goal line.  Yale’s offense aka Coach Siedlecki, who called the plays from the sidelines,  remained scoreless despite having two first downs inside the 10 yard line at game end. Final score Harvard 10- Yale 0. 

 
After the game

For those who want more in depth reporting on Yale football and other sports, including the story of Siedlecki’s resignation and the hiring of  new football coach Tom Williams from the NFL coaching ranks, I recommend the Yale Daily News web site.  And wish Tom every success. Footnote: Harvard has just recruited Yale’s defensive backfield coach.

When I started my CorSec career, I launched a contest in the form of a mystery, who could name the Classmate who got a date with the model who posed as the Pantino Girl?  You all remember, don’t pretend, the one who kept looking at us over her shoulder in the NY Times Sunday Magazine?  Well, the contest is officially over, with no winner!  Not even a guess!  Of course I could have claimed the reward, having stood  there in the courtyard to hear the whole story from the hero of this story. Instead, I  sent an email urging him to come forward, but there has been no response.  So this choice anecdote will remain forever between me and him.  Or maybe try again at the 50th.

In closing, keep your news items coming, but don’t think you have to wait for the annual class dues mailing!