Crimson Kicks Off Ivy League Campaign Today

The fun and games are over. Today, having primed on non-league foes UMass and B.U., Harvard begins the real season--the Ivy League season--with Columbia at the Stadium. And the toothless Lions that have migrated up from the Big Apple, should do little to alter the Crimson's winning ways.

A win today would be a valuable asset in the Ivy race. With powerful Cornell looming on the horizon next weekend, Harvard needs an impressive performance against Columbia to refine the intricacies of Restic's offense in preparation for the Big Red.

A Harvard win would also mark the first time a Crimson football squad has opened the season with three consecutive victories since the magical 1968 season in which the Crimson tied Yale for the Ivy title on the last play of the season.

Columbia wasn't picked to do much this year. So when the Lions nipped Princeton last week, many felt that they had already exceeded their quota of success for the season. The Lions have a good defense but have struggled when they have been forced to move the ball on their own.

ECAC Rookie

Columbia is led by Mike Delaney, who was named ECAC Rookie of the Week for his performance against Princeton. In the Tiger game Delaney completed 11 of 26 passes for 117 yards, but was intercepted four times.

Delaney's chief target is Mike Telep, a bruising tight end. Leading the rushing attack is veteran tailback George Georges, who gained 64 yards last week.

It's on defense, though, that the Lions have strength. In the line Columbia captain Mike Evans, a two-time All-East end, leads the attack. Tackle Steve Noble, a rugged 240-pounder, is solid in the middle. In the backfield it's Ted Gregory who does the most damage.

Against the Lions, the Crimson will use the same lineup that has taken Harvard to two wins in two outings. Defensively, that puts Mitch Berger and Joe Mackey at the ends, with Bob Shaw and Mike O'Hare at tackle.

These four have put together exceptional performances against UMass and B.U. and are a major reason Harvard is first in total defense in the NCAA this week. Crimson coach Joe Restic is moderately concerned about knee injuries to Shaw and O'Hare, but both are expected to play.

The linebackers will be Bob Kristoff, Sandy Tennant and Eric Kurzweil. Kurzweil has been a ball-buster in his first two games, playing with a savvy and abandon that belies his sophomore status.

In the backfield, Crimson captain Dave St. Pierre will be at safety, with Mike Page and Joe Sciolla at the corners. Sophomore George Newhouse will be the adjuster.

Offensively, Restic will use the same lineup that has served him so well in the first two contests. That matches Jimmy Stoeckel, Alky Tsitsos, Ed Cronin, and Neal Miller in the backfield.

The interior line will have Tim Manna and Dan Jiggetts at tackle, Bill Ferry and Bob Kircher at guard, and Carl Culig at center. At the ends Pat McInally will be wide, with Pete Curtin tight. McInally, who has been the only real individual star for Harvard in the first two games, is likely to draw lots of company today.