Everybody Is An Unknown As '70 Football Opens Up

Football fans like to think about next year. As the freshman football season opens this afternoon at Tufts, Harvard fans will be looking for the stars who can help the varsity next.

"I can't say there are any stars," freshman coach Henry Lamar said yesterday. "I've got over 100 boys, and they were all stars someplace."

It's always difficult for a freshman coach to talk about his squad this early in the year, and the '70 gridders are no exception. "There are so many of them running around in equipment which doesn't fit right," Lamar chuckled. "They'll look a lot different in a game suit."

Going Both Ways

Fifty-six freshmen will wear game suits this afternoon. It is impossible to say how many will play, but this much is sure: even in this age of two-platoon football, the boys Lamar likes will see action both on offense and defense.

This way, those who look like the best bets to be romping around Soldiers Field next season will be ready to go either way. Sophomore safety John Tyson played offensive halfback for Lamar last year, but Yovicsin needed help in the defensive secondary and Tyson had enough freshman experience there to move in.

So, there will be a lot of faces, and a great deal of switching positions and personnel. But there are still some names to watch for. Dave Smith will be the starting quarterback. At 6 ft. 2 in. and 187 lbs, Smith will be the signal-caller "until someone beats him out," Lamar said.

Jim Reynolds and Tom Harris get the first two shots at beating him out. They will both see action tomorrow against the Jumbos.

Neil Hurley (5 ft. 10 in., 170) and Ray Hornblower (5 ft. 10 in., 180) will start at halfback, with Gus Crim (6 ft. 2 in., 200) at fullback.

Amid the mass of padded men, there is one familiar name -- and a name Crimson grid fans like to hear. Bruce Leo, Bob's brother, is a cornerback "wtih good speed, and he works like the dickens," according to Lamar.

"We'll know more about them all in a few weeks," Lamar concluded. He'll start finding out today.