Dartmouth’s Top College Football Stars are Dedicated to Making a Difference
Dartmouth College has a reputation for having student athletes full of motivation, dedication, and drive. There are 35 varsity sports played there, with teams all using the Big Green nickname. Star football players like Dennis Durkin, Reggie Williams, and more than 40 others have made their way to the next level, as well.
Even though Dartmouth is often recognized for liberal arts excellence its football program is also strong and notable, as evidenced in the number of players who’ve gone on to greater things.
The Big Green Meant Bigger Experiences
Reggie Williams is one of the most recognized names when it comes to Dartmouth football. He was an All-Ivy first team selection three times between 1973 and 1975, and was also named to the All-New England and All-East teams two years in a row. Williams was recognized in a number of other ways, as well, including making the Dartmouth Hall of Fame and College Football Hall of Fame.
He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals, and set franchise records for fumble recoveries and interceptions during a career spanning 14 years. During that time the Bengals went to the Super Bowl twice. He’s been honored by Dartmouth since that time, and is still widely respected for his contributions to the sport.
Williams Isn’t the Only Success Story
Dartmouth’s success in sending their star football players on to even better things isn’t limited to Reggie Williams. Clarence Spears, Edward Healey, Dennis Durkin, Myles Lane, and others have excelled both on the field and off. While some have continued to play football through going pro and being drafted, others have chosen to use their academics for their career success.
Starting as early as 1914, players were being recognized by Dartmouth and a host of organizations and agencies for their abilities and the qualities they brought to the sport. Additionally, the college takes education very seriously, and playing football doesn’t change that. Players work hard both on the field and off, so they’re prepared for anything they want to do after graduation.
From the Field to the World of Business
Like so many of his classmates throughout the years, Dennis Durkin went on to be successful. During his career at Dartmouth he was a kicker, which is a highly valuable position that’s often underrated and unappreciated. He provided several exemplary years for the school’s team, including 1992, which was his senior year.
During that year Durkin was 13 for 13 on field goals. He was also named First Team AP All American, and First Team All Ivy. Being a dependable, quality kicker meant setting career and season records, such as third all-time leading scorer in Dartmouth history. In 1990, 1991, and 1992, the Big Green won back-to-back Ivy League Championships, and Dennis Durkin’s superior kicking skills were a large part of that victory.
Like another Dartmouth alum, Murray Bowden, Durkin decided to move from the college football field into the world of business. Bowden went on to earn a law degree and co-found a real estate development company. Dennis Durkin chose to get involved in the business of digital entertainment at companies like Activision Blizzard and Microsoft, after earning his MBA from Harvard.
It’s clear that the quality undergraduate education and top-notch athletic programs Dartmouth provides are both great ways to help college students focus on what they can offer to the world. Understanding how to be successful after college is an important part of building a good life for the future. Bowden, Durkin, Williams, Healey, Lane, and others are all evidence of the ability to do that, and do it well.
