Fiedler's aim may land in NFL

His awards and accolades speak for themselves. First team all-Ivy. Number one in both Division I-A and I-AA in passing efficiency. Bushnell Cup for 1992 Ivy Player of the Year. Two consecutive Ivy League titles. Not since Jeff Kemp threw touchdowns for Dartmouth in the early 1980s has the Ivy League seen a better quarterback than Jay Fiedler. Maybe never. When Fiedler calls the signals for the Big Green's first game of the year Saturday against Penn, he begins one of the most anticipated seasons an Ivy League player can possibly have. Because if the scouting reports are accurate, Fiedler may join the likes of Steve Jordan, Jason Garrett and Joe Valerio as Ivy Leaguers who have made it from the Ancient Eight to the National Football League. "I'm not sure the league has seen a better pure quarterback," Penn coach Al Bagnoli said. "From what people are saying and I would tend to agree he's a legitimate NFL prospect. I don't think the league has seen anybody in that mold in a long time." At 6-3 and 220 pounds, Fiedler certainly has the size and stature of a NFL quarterback. Along with his strong physical build, he fires passes with pinpoint accuracy and has the intelligence to see through even the most inventive defensive schemes. More importantly though, Fiedler has an intense will to win. It was that fire which helped him lead Dartmouth to an Ivy title as a sophomore signal-caller in 1991, and again to a share of the title last year. And, according to Fiedler, that winning desire was instilled in him at an early age by none other than his father, Kenny Fiedler. Kenny Fiedler, ironically, is a high school basketball coach. He coaches Springfield Gardens High School in Queens, N.Y., a perennial New York City basketball power. In the mid-eighties, a Fiedler-coached team, led by a young forward named Anthony Mason (now with the New York Knicks) led Springfield to the New York City basketball title. It was at these practices, watching his father, where Jay learned the importance of the will to win in a successful sports program. "When I was young, my father helped me tremendously," Fiedler said. "I would go to practices when I was seven or eight years old, and see how he instilled confidence in his players. He's a great teacher, and even though he coaches basketball, he knew enough about football to show how to play quarterback." And like a good son should do, Jay followed his father's advice. And how. Following a brilliant career at Oceanside High School on Long Island where he also played varsity basketball for three years Fiedler moved on to New Hampshire and the hallowed halls of Dartmouth. Following a stellar sophomore campaign, Fiedler truly became a star last year, when he led the Ivy League with 2,748 yards passing and 25 scoring strikes. After he lit Yale up last year for 419 yards en route to a 39-27 drubbing of the Elis, Yale coach Carm Cozza, a 28-year veteran of the Ivy League said, "He's an outstanding football player, one of the best I've seen in this league, period." And like a true star, Fiedler attributes most of his success to the people around him. "[Dartmouth offensive coordinator] Roger Hughes taught me a lot about reading defenses," Fiedler said. "He's given me a lot of new perspectives on how to throw the ball and run an offense. His offensive philosophy has helped a lot. We also have had some great receivers to catch the balls. It also helps to have a well-balanced attack." This year though, that attack might not be as balanced. With the starting backfield lost to graduation, Fiedler might have to shoulder even more of the offensive responsibilities. And while that pressure might bother some quarterbacks, Fiedler relishes it. In fact, more passing opportunities might be better in the eyes of some NFL scouts. "There is some extra pressure in that some of our team is inexperienced," Fiedler said. "That means more pressure on me to take over the team. But I think I can handle it." With the prospects of a possible career now staring him in the face, one wonders if Fiedler has any regrets about not entering a bigger college program. But according to him, regrets are just like bad passes. He doesn't have any. "I have no regrets at all about coming to Dartmouth," Fiedler said. "I don't like second guessing. I knew coming out of high school what I'd be getting there. A great education and a solid football program. And if I have a good season, the NFL may be a good possibility. I'm very happy about the way things turned out. And I hope to have an even better senior year, win a third Ivy title in a row, and win the Bushnell Cup again. " Judging by what he has accomplished so far, anything seems possible for Jay Fiedler. Even the NFL.