The Game, Episode #123

While most college football fans will have their eyes turned to Columbus, Ohio this “Judgment Day” Saturday, some of us will be content to watch a rivalry that has deeper roots in the history of the game, for in Cambridge, it will be the 123rd renewal of “The Game”, Harvard-Yale. Other than Thanksgiving, The Game is the highlight of November, a dreary time in New England. Both teams enter with records of 7-2. This year’s edition will be bittersweet for Crimson fans as it marks the final game for the incomparable Clifton Dawson, who recently established a new Ivy League record for yards gained. Whether you cheer for the Crimson or the Eli’s, it is indeed a special day for college football. This is the way the game was originally intended, student-athletes playing their hearts out for the love of alma mater and the joy and pain of the game of football. No shoe contracts or agents or any of that modern day nonsense, just two groups of kids who play it to the hilt.

For 99% of the seniors, The Game marks the end of their football careers. A select few move on to Sundays (presently there are four: three Harvards and one Yalie in the NFL). And there are more than a few others in the rivalry who had very rewarding pro careers, but that’s not what The Game is all about. There are quite a few more who’ve made it big in politics, law, medicine, the arts and entertainment. They’ve got Stone Phillips, we’ve got Tommy Lee Jones.

The Wikipedia entry for The Game provides a brief summary of this great rivalry and some of the wild episodes that have occurred over the years. (Maybe those scoundrels from MIT have another surprise up their sleeves) There was a time when The Game was a matter of national interest, though those days are long gone now. My introduction came in ’68. The announcers who broadcast the Red Sox games also did Harvard football, so there was a comfort level that drew me into the fray. On that cold November day, the Crimson came back in the most improbable fashion from a 29-13 deficit with 42 seconds left in the game to “win” 29-29. By all accounts, ’68 remains one of college football’s greatest games. That was it, right then and there for me. After that game, there was no question after that about where I wanted to go to college. Many years later, my oldest son was born during the 100th edition of the rivalry in ’83 while I was studying at Harvard as an undergrad at night. Less than five years later, I realized the childhood dream by obtaining my undergrad degree there.

While the Yalies hold a sizeable margin in the win column (64-50-8), the Crimson have won quite a few (5) in a row. This year, both teams have suffered two losses in the Ivy League, so it appears that the laurels will be worn by those dreaded Tigers of Princeton. The ideal scenario for Harvard is to defeat Yale and Dartmouth upsets Princeton. Under that scenario, there would be a three-way tie for the Ivy Title. In any event, records going into The Game mean nothing. Last year’s contest was nerve wracking and tense, with Harvard prevailing in the third overtime 30-24. Hopefully this year’s chapter will be just as exciting.

"HARVARDIANA"
R. G. WILLIAMS '11 and S. B. STEEL '11
With Crimson in triumph flashing
'Mid the strains of victory,
Poor Eli's hopes we are dashing
Into blue obscurity.
Resistless our team sweeps goalward
With the fury of the blast;
We'll fight for the name of Harvard
'Til the last white line is passed.
Harvard! Harvard! Harvard! (2x)

…on a sad note, for all fans of the Maize & Blue, Postcards From Nowhere sends along our sympathy for your loss. Bo was a Hall of Fame Coach who was loyal to his players, whether they were stars or scrubs, and that’s the true measure of someone.