California native adjusting well to Iowa life at Cornell

Alex Macey knew about the corn. You're from out of state, you always know about the corn.

“I never came on a visit. I took a shot in the dark,” the Cornell College tight end said. “I had no idea what it looked like here. All I expected was corn. I didn't even know there were beans.”

For some reason, Macey decided four years ago to leave the Pacific Ocean paradise of Oceanside, Calif., for the corn and the beans. Actually, there were two reasons he went to Mount Vernon - college and football.

“I just wanted to play football, and they gave me the best shot to do that,” Macey said. “At first, I wasn't really planning on going to a (four-year) college. I was planning on going to a community college. But they got me in, they showed me I can do well in school. They did their job here, I did my job back home, and here I am.”

You won't find a more inviting receiving target in the Iowa Conference than the 6-foot-6, sideburn-clad 250-pounder. That's good since Cornell will be breaking in a new quarterback this season.

Macey emerged with 37 catches in just eight games in 2008. He has 59 in his career.

If Coach Matt Dillon has anything to say about it, and he does, look for that career reception total to be matched this season. Cornell opens today at Grinnell.

“Alex Macey has a chance to be an All-American candidate at tight end,” Dillon said. “His improvement from his freshman year to where he is now ... he is literally uncoverable right now (for) an inside defensive player. I don't think there's a linebacker or a safety that can try to lock him up and cover him right now. He's 6-6, 250 pounds, and he's a 4.6 40 guy. He's got the total package. We've got to manufacture ways to get him the ball.”

And manufacture ways to get some victories. Or at least one. Cornell has lost 18 straight games, 28 straight Iowa Conference games.