Crusading Cager Jeff Hill Prods Administration

Crimson basketball captain Jeff Hill reclined in his seat last night after polishing off a steak dinner that marked the end of the 1976-77 season for the cagers and proceeded to open up the Pandora's Box of Harvard basketball--the frustrations for the players ingrained in the program and their aspirations for the future.

During the season Hill has been waging a singlehanded crusade to untie the Gordian knots that plague the roundball program such as lack of administrative support, antiquated facilities and absence of spectator support.

"I feel this season was very positive," said Hill. "To be honest our talent was not superior, but we still managed to win more games than last year--Satch did a remarkable job."

Although this campaign marked an upbeat note in the hoopsters' fortunes, Hill feels next year will be the crucible from which a high quality program will be forged.

"I think this Harvard program is like a fledging ABA franchise," says Hill. "Next year we'll be laying the foundation. We've never been built up before so we're certainly not rebuilding."

Hill is grilling administrators with questions and proposals that he feels will end the lethargic approach of athletic big wigs.

"I feel that administrative support for the basketball team should be the same as if they were supporting an academic department," he says. "Harvard teaches through its academics that you do everything to your best ability, but when it comes to basketball, here's a contradiction."

"I'd like to see President Bok go out and make fundraising for basketball a priority. I just read about how he went to Japan and raised a million dollars for the East Asian Department in one month. We're not asking for a million dollars. Christ, if we had a fiftieth of that we'd be set."

Hill has lined up a meeting with Bok this afternoon in which he will espouse his blueprint to give the hoop program impetus toward what will hopefully become a snowballing movement of support.

Hill hammers away at the necessity of charging spectators for future home games in conjunction with added frills to bolster gate receipts. He feels, for example, a raffle with lucrative prizes at home games would turn out the fans even if a minimal admission fee was charged. In addition, a $5 season ticket package would also be an alluring attraction.

Another tangible way to get fans on the Crimson roundball bandwagon would be to add a dash of showmanship to games, Hill feels. What spectator would not jump at the chance to take a heave from half court during halftime in return for a $20 bill if he sinks it?

Good Things to Come

"The co-captains next year are going to be outstanding," he said. "We finished by winning four out of five and they know how to win. Next year they're going to have ten players who can all play. They should be 9-5 in the Ivy League at worst."

"I'm convinced you can establish a program," says Hill, whose suggestions have received the backing of such top level administrators as Chase Peterson and Baron Pittenger, but he has no delusions of grandeur.

Shove Right On

Hill's goal is to bequeath an IAB jammed to the rafters with all the hoopla that is usually in abundance at collegiate donnybrooks to future Crimson quintets.

"You have to shove the program right on the fans," he says. "You make it so they have to go to the IAB. Having a winner and getting promotion you could make that place into a snakepit."

Jeff Hill is not jousting imaginary windmills on a hobbyhorse for the Harvard basketball program will definitely need administrative support if next year's talented batch of cagers is to blossom.