LINING THEM UP

Four years ago, this writer saw a very proud and confident quarterback named Dean Loucks lead an undefeated White Plains High School eleven to a 46-3 defeat of its traditional rival, New Rochelle, which was having its worst season in some six years.

Since that time, this writer has become a senior at Harvard, while Loucks is now quarterback at Yale. But time might well have stood still these four years. The Yale team which will face Harvard tomorrow is not undefeated, but is the strongest Eli team since 1946 when Yale had a 7-1-1 record, including 30-2 and 27-14 defeats of Princeton and Harvard. Harvard, if it loses, will have completed its worst season since 1950.

Elis Strong Throughout

To the critical eye the Blue starting team offers little encouragement. Whereas one can point to the Crimson ends and say "weakness," there are no comparable weak spots in the Eli roster. It is a team led by some very determined seniors-men who have seen the Blue consistently lose fine opportunities in their previous three years. Although they were undefeated in their freshman year, these seniors saw the Elis blow the Big Three title by losing to Harvard 13-0.

In 1954, the Blue, with these men as sophomores, won or tied its first six games, and then in succession, it lost to Army, Princeton, and Harvard. And just last year, it blew an opportunity to win the Big Three and Ivy titles by losing to Princeton.

This year, however, after an upset loss to Colgate, 14 to 6, the Blue has come along in a frightening manner. Two weeks ago, it crushed a good Penn team, 40 to 7, and last week, in a game which has had Harvard fans shuddering all week, the Elis blasted Princeton, 42 to 20. The Tigers had easily defeated the Crimson, 35 to 20.

The Princeton victory was the one the Elis had been pointing to all season, and in fact, all year. Last season the Blue was favored, but behind a partisan crowd which constantly booed the Blue, the Tigers won, 13 to 9. The "Hate Yale" pennants had built up a great deal of resentment at New Haven, and last Saturday the Elis could have taken on anyone-as some dreamers have said, even Oklahoma.

A victory tomorrow will not only give the Elis a triumph over Harvard, but also the Big Three title and the official Ivy League championship, a triple goal which has evaded them for years.

Jordan Olivar uses the T-formation with split-T variations. He is very fortunate in possessing a very deceptive quarterback in Loucks and a trio of excellent backs in Dennis McGill, Al Ward, and Steve Ackerman-all seniors, and all great runners. McGill is the fastest of the three, and with Bo Roberson of Cornell, one of the shiftiest in the league. McGill is very dangerous on end sweeps, and is almost certain to cause trouble for relatively slow Harvard defenders.

Ackerman Very Healthy

Ackerman, troubled the last two years with broken collarbones, is very healthy this year, as proven by his 42 points. He is the fullback, and is used mainly on the fourth down three-yard plunges. Ward, who tied the Yale touchdown record with eleven last season, has six so far and leads the team in rushing with 590 yards. McGill's average of 6.6 yards per carry is the best, however.

Loucks is not only a good quarterback on offense (27 out of 52 passes, five TD's) but is also one of Olivar's best defenders from his backer-up post.

But as Princeton coach Charley Cald-well can verify, Yale's overpowering strength lies in its line. The Tigers had a strong front wall before the game, but afterwards there were only fragments. And what makes it especially ominous is that no position is particularly strong, in relation to any other.

Olivar Has Four Ends

Olivar has four ends, for instance, who would be outstanding for Harvard. His best end is all-Ivy Paul Lopata, a 6-2 senior who has caught 12 passes so far, including one TD, but his true value is his vicious blocking and tackling. Harvard doesn't run the ends much, but if it did, it would have much trouble, not only from Lopata, but also from his partner, Mike Cavallon, 6-4 junior who has edged Vern Loucks out of the starting lineup. Besides these three ends-Lopata, Cavallon and Loucks-Olivar has a very fast receiver in John Pendexter. Pendexter, a junior, is a 10.2 man in track.

The tackles are Bide Thomas and Charles Griffith. Thomas, a 6-2, 205 pound strong man, was captain of the '53 freshman team, and is very tough. Griffith, not even listed on the pre-season roster, surprised everyone by making the squad and then by beating out senior Ken Jones. A sophomore, Griffith is 6-2 and 200 pounds even.

A candidate for All-East, Captain Mike Owseichik is one guard, while senior Pete Fritzche is at the other. Both are big, the former at 6-3 and 201 pounds, and the latter at 6-3 and 200 even.

It should be interesting to see the captains, Owseichik and Ted Metropoulos, square off against each other tomorrow. Supposedly the best Yale center in years, sophomore Alex Kroll, a 6-2, 205-pounder, will start at that position. Kroll forced or allowed Owseichik to move over to guard from center.