Athlete of the Week: Jeff Ditman

Jeff Ditman Tight End Height: 6'6" Weight: 255 Hometown: Duluth, Minnesota Major: Undeclared Favorite Movie: The Shawshank Redemption Sports idol: Kirby Puckett Favorite television show: Seinfeld Years playing football: Nine Favorite sport other than football: Basketball The best part of Yale football: The players

Humility characterizes Ditman's reactions to everything from his performance to his future with the football team. His perception of his touchdowns is matter-of-fact. "I caught the ball a few yards from the end zone, looked over my right shoulder, saw a defender, turned left and just ran it in," he said. Scoring was far from his foremost concern during the game. As the ball approached his hands for the first time, he was relaxed, more business-like than concerned with winning glory. Mostly, he responded well to changing circumstances. He is quick to credit others for his success, citing quarterback Joe Walland, TD '00, with his four touchdowns and incredible passing yardage as the primary orchestrator of the team's success. Valparaiso's defensive strategy was tailored perfectly for opposing tight ends. "Playing nine men against the run left me open for short dump-offs," he said.

Ditman's perspective on the team is also down-to-earth and realistic. Although pleased with what he accomplished, the Eli's greater goals are foremost in Ditman's thoughts. The loss to Brown last Saturday certainly disappointed the team, but Ditman emphasizes the team's ability to bounce back and move on. "Valparaiso was a big step [for us], coming off the loss to Brown," Ditman said. Their win was a necessary starting block for the team's journey toward the Ivy League championship and a win against Harvard. At the same time, Ditman's high level of excitement helps him fit in well with the rest of the players on the team.

His experience and knowledge of the game are solid but not flashy. Ditman began playing organized football in his hometown in Minnesota in sixth grade along with many of his friends. In high school, he worked mostly with the defensive team, but moved permanently to tight end because blocking and receiving during the same game presented a tempting challenge. During his junior year, he decided to play football in college. "Yale was the obvious choice," Ditman said. "It was a great opportunity."

Self-motivation, a key to his success in high school, has proven to be a valuable asset at college as well. Ditman's drive to challenge himself helps to explain his rising stardom: he prepares himself to make the most of any situation.

Photo by John Yi.

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