Varsity Sets Defenses for Columbia

The football team completed its workout under the Stadium lights yesterday for the first time this fall as Harvard set defenses for Columbia and ran its offense against a group of healthy freshmen.

For the first contact work of the week, there were several temporary switches necessitated by Saturday's injuries. On offense, Sam Butler and Duke Sedgewick replaced Howie Houston and Chief Bender; on defense, Dick Guidera, John Coan, and Bill Rosenau plugged the middle of the line instead of Houston, Bender, and Butler.

Jim Kenary's safety man position on defense was filled by Bill Healey, and John White took over for Hal Moffie at tailback. While Kenary stood at the field house door on crutches, Moffie and Bender exercised briefly and appeared more limber than they had on Monday.

50-50 Chance for Houston

Houston, still limping slightly, did not take part in signal drills, much less scrimmage, but he did run alongside the first string line during its non-contact work and the medical staff gave him a 50-50 chance of being ready by Saturday.

Should he play, he will not be at full strength, of course. Bill Henry was also hobbling perceptibly; he ran as fifth man in a backfield which had Charlie Walsh quarterbacking, but will be available against the Lions.

Another change, which may or may nor be temporary but which wasn't brought on by injuries, saw Will Davis move in as offensive left tackle. Up to now Davis' work has been limited to defense with Doug Bradlee playing the position on offense.

Attack Hits Snags

After the varsity had warmed up against dummies, the latter were replaced by aggressive freshmen who had enough go to successfully throttle the Crimson running and passing attack on several occasions. On other occasions large holes were opened for Paul Shafer and Carl Bottenfield, who alternated with him at fullback. With Chuck Roche nursing a leg bruise on the sidelines, Jim Noonan and Carroll Lowenstein shared tailback assignments.

The jayvees, using a Columbia-style offense, tested the patched-up varsity defense. Bottenfield replaced Roche as defensive left halfback and Shafer spelled Bob Di Blasio, who wasn't at practice, at right half. After a while Nick Athans and Walsh came on and Lowenstein went in at safety for Healey.