Yale QB Ditches Rhodes for 'The Game'

Given what one might think would be a fairly straightforward choice between a Rhodes Scholarship and a football game, Patrick Witt chose the football game. It's not just any game, but rather a game known as "The Game": The Yale senior will lead his team Saturday in their storied annual contest against the Harvard Crimson, and he's giving up his Rhodes finalist interview to do it, reports the Yale Daily News.

“My focus this week is solely on preparing for The Game alongside my teammates and coaches," said Witt, a history major with a 3.91 GPA, in a statement. Witt's teammates weren't exactly surprised: “I think he felt like that he had a responsibility as one of the best players on our team to be at The Game," said one. Yale hasn't won since 2006, and is a heavy underdog in the 128th contest between the two schools. As for the Rhodes, Witt is eligible to reapply next year. (More Rhodes scholar stories.)