Three years ago, Yale's Ed McCarthy was the Ivy League's rookie of the year as a guard, the first offensive lineman ever to be so honored. Two years ago, the Fairfield native was a second team all-Ivy League center. And last year he was a first team all-Ivy tackle.

Having seemingly mastered each of the offensive line positions, there's no truth to the rumors that the 6-foot-5, 302-pound senior will try and run the ball for the Bulldogs this season. Actually, McCarthy is looking forward to a little stability during his final season in a Yale uniform, and will play left tackle for the second year in a row.

"It is nice to actually be able to settle down in one position," said McCarthy, a tight end and defensive end during his senior season at Fairfield Prep. "It was good that I played the different positions, though. Now I have a greater understanding of what people are doing around me. That helps me do my job."

The dedication and flexibility McCarthy has shown during his Yale career is similar to that of another Connecticut native who starred for the Bulldogs, according to coach Jack Siedlecki. Peter Mazza, a standout quarterback at Cheshire High, became an all-Ivy League linebacker for the Bulldogs.

"Being in college football, being in college in general, just didn't seem to faze him," Siedlecki said of McCarthy's first days with the team. "Most freshmen come in and they have that transition period. It takes them time to get acclimated. Both guys (McCarthy

Advertisement
and Mazza) you knew by the third or fourth day that they were going to be starters and they were going to be very different."

The only thing that McCarthy hopes changes for the Bulldogs this season is their win total. Yale won six games when McCarthy was a freshman, five when he was a sophomore and four last season with McCarthy as a junior.

Yale opens its season Sept. 16 against San Diego at Yale Bowl, and players such as McCarthy are aiming high.

"I feel that in the past few years we haven't really played to our potential," said McCarthy, who has started 29 straight games for Yale. "We feel we have just as much talent as anyone in the league, if not more.

"Beating Harvard is huge on our minds, especially after what happened last year (a 30-24 triple-overtime loss to the Crimson in The Game). But as far as the Ivy League title, I think we have a pretty good shot at it."

The 21-year-old McCarthy is very aware of how important it is for a Yallie to beat Harvard. His father, John McCarthy, Yale class of 1968, was an offensive guard for legendary coach Carm Cozza. His uncle, the late Edward McCarthy, was Yale's starting quarterback in 1964.

"I really haven't felt any pressure because of it," McCarthy said. "And it's nice because my family already identifies with Yale football so much. It's nice for everyone to have it continue with me."

It was something of a foregone conclusion that Ed McCarthy would follow tradition and attend the legendary New Haven school, but the latest McCarthy legacy has made his own name with the Bulldogs.

In addition to being honored at the end of each of his first three seasons by the Ivy League, McCarthy received some unexpected praise this summer. The Sports Network named him to its preseason All-America first team and ranked him as the No. 1 offensive tackle in all of Division I-AA.

"It's nice, but it's preseason stuff. It's tough to put that much stock into it," McCarthy said. "Any time you get a compliment like that is nice."

Says Siedlecki: "He has a great work ethic. He really understands the game and he just doesn't make mistakes."

Most of the preseason questions surrounding Yale have centered around its quarterback. The team lost only two of its offensive starters from last year's squad, but one was record-setting quarterback Jeff Mroz.

After a successful scrimmage Aug. 31 against Princeton, during which the Bulldogs ran the ball very well, McCarthy was enthused.

"We're very confident," McCarthy said. "Quarterback was the one big question mark, but Matt Polhemus has stepped in and he's playing great. We love his ability to run and pass. That's going to add a whole new dimension to the offense."

In addition to a different offense, McCarthy says Yale's 2006 squad has much better chemistry than in previous seasons.

"The one problem I feel like we've had in the past few years is cohesion. That and a lot of offense versus defense. I feel like we've been two teams," McCarthy said. "But coach Siedlecki and Chandler Henley, our captain, have really fostered a team spirit that has been lacking. I definitely like the direction things are going."