a kennedy in green & gold

edward m. kennedy, the senate's "liberal lion" and "the last surviving brother of a generation of kennedys that dominated american politics in the 1960s," died late tuesday night at his home in hyannis port. he was 77 years old.

during his eight full terms in the senate, kennedy was a staunch advocate for national health care and spent much of his career fighting for civil rights issues.

kennedy's official senate bio also contains this tidbit:

On November 20, 1955, in a 21-7 defeat to Yale, Harvard's lone score came on a low five-yard pass that was snared by #88, the Senior Right End Ted Kennedy.

Just one month earlier, Kennedy's promise on the football field had caught the notice of Green Bay Packer Head Coach Lisle Blackbourn. "You have been very highly recommended to us by a number of coaches in your area and also by our talent scouts as a possible Pro Prospect," Blackbourn wrote to the young Right End.

Kennedy declined the offer, saying he was flattered, but that he had plans to attend law school and to 'go into another contact sport, politics'.