The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is widely accepted as a scholastic superpower, producing some of the world’s greatest mathematicians and scientists. Unsurprisingly, its athletic program — though distinguished in its own right — has consistently been an afterthought in a discussion of MIT’s virtues.

Consider the following scenarios: Quarterback A vomits during the last drive of a game during a playoff loss, causing people to question his fitness. Quarterback B vacations in Mexico with his famous girlfriend prior to a playoff loss, causing people to question his focus.

If you follow football, you should be quite familiar with the saga of the 2007 New England Patriots. That is, the 16-0 Patriots, directed by Coach of the Year Bill Belichick and star-studded with players such as National Football League Most Valuable Player Tom Brady (all-time NFL record of 50 touchdown passes) and Randy Moss (all-time NFL record of 23 touchdown receptions).

Adult confusion gave way to youthful exuberance, followed by acknowledged vices and finishing with emerging disillusionment, in Dramashop’s annual student-written, student-directed One Acts. Even with a minimalist approach to scenery and costumes, the actors and directors created a memorable atmosphere that was at times ethereal, at others bizarre, and always mysterious.

The buzzwords were health care, education, and Iraq, and the 9,500-person crowd swarming the Boston Common was all ears at last Tuesday evening’s rally with Massachusetts Governor Deval L. Patrick for Barack H. Obama’s Democratic presidential campaign.

I may be a die-hard Boston Red Sox fan, but I am first a fan of quality baseball. (Though I will never — that’s right, never — cheer a play by Derek Jeter. Or Johnny Damon. Or Roger Clemens. The list could continue … oh, right, Alex Rodriguez.)

The MIT women’s soccer team defeated Clark University 1-0 on Tuesday afternoon at Steinbrenner Stadium, scoring its only goal on an Amy S. Ludlum ’08 shot just 31 seconds into the game. Though the statistics sheet credited Jean E. “Liz” Theurer ’10 as providing the only assist, Ludlum also received a boost from a strong wind that fortified her 35-yard shot. What looked to be an easy save for Cougars goalkeeper Joanna Clark turned into an unexpected game-winner.

Two weeks after the Bill Belichick spying debacle, in which league officials caught Patriots video assistant Matthew Estrella filming Jets defensive signals, the New England Patriots’ record stands at 3-0. When the Pats destroyed the New York Jets 38-14 on Sept. 9 in their season-opener, no one thought that the focus of the game would be a video camera instead of the superior New England offense. When the National Football League released schedules, the San Francisco Chargers-Pats game promised to be one of the premier American Football Conference matchups; instead, it was another 38-14 blowout. This past Sunday, the Patriots were favored by 16.5 points against the Buffalo Bills; the final score of 38-7 actually eclipsed the already-outlandish line.

The MIT women’s volleyball team won its home tournament for the third consecutive year, defeating Tufts University in the championship match by a score of 30-25, 30-18, 30-20. Along the way, Tech (14-1) also bested Bowdoin and Wesleyan in pool play and Williams in the semifinals during last Friday and Saturday’s MIT Women’s Volleyball Invitational, held in Rockwell Cage.