Harvard Professors Call The Game

At The Game today, thousands of screaming fans will fill Harvard Stadium to root for the Crimson. But the most die-hard, hoarse-voiced fans may not be the students, but Harvard officials and faculty members who have been cheering on the football team for decades.

Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68 is one of the Crimson's most dedicated fans. He has attended every Harvard-Yale home game since 1974, and has traveled to New Haven for each of the last five games at Yale.

The dean admitted he was forced to miss one game in the 60s. "I was away in Athens and I watched the tapes [of the game] there," he recalled.

Lewis said he thinks this year's team has had some tough luck, but was upbeat about its chances in the Big One.

He said he believed the sputtering Crimson offense will finally rise to the occasion. Lewis confidently predicted Harvard will win by a score of 29-28 on a two-point conversion with no time left.

The 113th Game also brought out the school spirit of Paul D. Hanson, master of Winthrop House and Lamont professor of divinity. He wore a promotional T-shirt for the Game yesterday, and was so sure of a Harvard win that he had already announced "a post-game victory party at Winthrop."

Like Lewis, Hanson said he believed this year's contest would be very competitive. He would not predict an exact score, but foresaw a 3-6 point Harvard victory.

Donald H. Pfister, master of Kirkland House and Gray professor of systematic botany, believes school spirit manifests itself in a number of ways. He usually attends the game, but this year he will spend the afternoon preparing to host a post-game reception for alumni at Kirkland House.

Though he boasted that Harvard will win, Pfister declined to predict a score. Referring to both teams' poor records this year, he said, "It will be an upset either way."

The only person apparently unmoved by the historic rivalry is Professor of Astronomy Robert P. Kirshner.

The jovial professor of Science A-35: "Matter in the Universe" said he was not as excited by the rivalry as were some of his colleagues because he taught at the University of Michigan for 10 years.

"Players are on a professional level [at Michigan]," Kirshner recalled. By contrast, he mourned, the Crimson players are "so slow--and smart."

Kirshner also remembers the much larger Michigan Stadium at Ann Arbor, Mich., which holds approximately 101,000 fans. He predicted Harvard will win in a hard-fought defensive battle, 10-7.

The professor insisted the real battle will take place elsewhere.

"My real prediction is Michigan 42, Ohio State 35," he said, referring to the game between Michigan and its undefeated arch-rival, also to be played today

Kirshner also remembers the much larger Michigan Stadium at Ann Arbor, Mich., which holds approximately 101,000 fans. He predicted Harvard will win in a hard-fought defensive battle, 10-7.

The professor insisted the real battle will take place elsewhere.

"My real prediction is Michigan 42, Ohio State 35," he said, referring to the game between Michigan and its undefeated arch-rival, also to be played today