The term 'YALE PLAYER' can be broken down into two words, 'YALE' and 'PLAYER'. YALE is a prestigious university located in New Haven, Connecticut, and is one of the oldest universities in the United States. A 'PLAYER' is someone who participates in a sport or activity. Therefore, a 'YALE PLAYER' is someone who participates in a sport or activity at YALE University. The crossword solution for this term is 'ELI', which is a reference to the mascot of YALE University, the YALE Bulldog.