Cheering on the Bulldogs on Saturday, along with thousands of other Yalies, was an experience I will never forget. The Harvard-Yale Football Game represents the greatest rivalry in the Ivy League and one of the greatest in all of college sports. This year was especially meaningful as we marked the 135th anniversary of “The Game” at Boston’s Fenway Park.
Although the outcome was not what we would have wished, Yale played with distinction. Our football team, led by Tony Reno, the Joel E. Smilow ’54 Head Coach of Football, demonstrated great skill, determination, and sportsmanship. I am grateful to all the players for their dedication throughout the season. And I thank all the coaches, trainers, and athletics staff—in football and every team—who teach, mentor, and care for our student-athletes.
To the alumni and friends who filled the stands in Fenway or joined viewing parties across the country and around the world, we felt your presence and your support.
To all Yalies near and far, Marta and I send our best wishes for a happy Thanksgiving. We hope you will spend it with people you love, savoring the relationships that make life so meaningful.