The Dartmouth Tennis Ball Tradition

[PocketNines]

This tradition began January 29, 1993. Captain Peter Clark '93 scored the first goal on a shorthanded breakaway. He would never score in practice.

One of the little known facts about it is that Princeton as the opponent is arbitrary. In the 92-93 season (you can look this up) they started 1-7 but then won 5 of 6 as winter term started. Nobody went to these games and suddenly they were playing well and there was interest that needed to be capitalized on. The gold standard is Lynah Rink at Cornell, those fans. I wanted that for us and came up with a pre-internet pre cell phone way to get everyone on the campus to do it. I figured it out in the early morning hours of Jan 27, 1993 and it worked, Princeton just happened to be the next opponent, that is why it's them.

Last night:

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[AUS Fan]

This tradition began January 29, 1993. Captain Peter Clark '93 scored the first goal on a shorthanded breakaway. He would never score in practice.

One of the little known facts about it is that Princeton as the opponent is arbitrary. In the 92-93 season (you can look this up) they started 1-7 but then won 5 of 6 as winter term started. Nobody went to these games and suddenly they were playing well and there was interest that needed to be capitalized on. The gold standard is Lynah Rink at Cornell, those fans. I wanted that for us and came up with a pre-internet pre cell phone way to get everyone on the campus to do it. I figured it out in the early morning hours of Jan 27, 1993 and it worked, Princeton just happened to be the next opponent, that is why it's them.

Last night:

View attachment 971444

That's cool. I never knew this. The fact that the balls are going to a dog shelter is also very neat. Kinda like a Teddy Bear toss for dogs.

 

[JMCx4]

That's cool. I never knew this. The fact that the balls are going to a dog shelter is also very neat. Kinda like a Teddy Bear toss for dogs.

It's now an annual HFB tradition as well ... POST by PocketNines

 

[JMCx4]

@PocketNines ... So this event occurs at the first game each year that the Princeton men visit Dartmouth? Is there a tennis ball's chance in a dog kennel that an "outsider" could secure tickets for the game?