BLee-ve It!

The Harvard football team's Spring Game on Saturday marked the end of spring practice for the players on the field. But for the seniors in the stands, it was the finale of their era in Harvard football.

The seniors were part of the 1997 Ivy championship team, although last season was rougher at 4-6. Saturday morning, they were gathered again as teammates, maybe for the last time.

They arrived at the Stadium around 9 a.m., lugging a keg up into the stands. As they set up shop at the 20-yard line of the open end of The Stadium, most of them watched a Harvard football game from a new position--the bleachers.

But if you expected them to be philosophical as their relationship with the game they loved changed from active participant to fan, well, you'd have been disappointed. They were there to have a good time.

As the intra-squad game continued on the field they had played on for four years, they relaxed, boozed, and got to watch a game just like the rest of us.

Guard Mike Shreve, All-Ivy First Team last season, was one of the more outwardly exuberant of the lot--"We've got tons of time to booze it!" he informed his former teammates as they sweated on the turf.

Halftime came, but Shreve didn't take a break. "Zebras, you suck!" he informed the officials. "You're costing us the game!"

At the time, Harvard was leading Harvard, 7-0.

"Zebras, you guys are done!" sent the refs on their way.

Shreve was sporting a white t-shirt with the word "Cool" written on it. In blood. He cut his finger in the morning, and, with sudden inspiration, decided to make artistic use of his hemoglobin.

Former teammates--especially injured ones--got an earful as well. But when the seniors turned their attention to the field, they had even more to say.

After freshman corner Willie Alford's tentative tackle of junior running back Chris Menick, lineman Will Ratcliffe said, "That's right, don't let him hit the ground too hard."

Terence Patterson dropped a ball and heard, "Pro prospect?! You've got to catch that!"

Next year's captain, tight end Chris Eitzmann, got tackled short of the marker: "Way to make a move, Eitz!"

An incomplete bomb got Shreve's attention, and he said, "Oh, that's crap!" before returning to his conversation. And as a general rule, anyone who brought food was required to share it with at least three others.

Two-time captain Brendan Bibro made an appearance, sporting a full head of hair. "Oh, it's a mess," he said. "[Harvard Coach Tim] Murphy told me to grow it out after the season."

He and center Dean Jacobson then campaigned to be named The Crimson's Male Athlete of the Year. At the very least, a feature? Or Athlete of the Week?

After being assured that their public relations was in good hands--"Remember, I'm the only two-time captain in the history of modern Harvard football," Bibro said--they caught up, planned for the barbeque after the game, and talked about their futures.

Along with the fun in the stands, there was a game. The White team ended up beating the Crimson team, 14-7. More importantly, there were some performances that could have an impact on next year's playing time.

Freshman receiver Dan Farley made some nice plays, and freshman defensive back Shawn Parker broke up a pass and blocked two field goals. The defensive line put some pressure on the quarterback, and freshman receiver Eric LaHaie seemed to connect with junior quarterback Brad Wilford.

The Wilford-LaHaie duo accounted for the first score of the game. From around the 17-yard line, Wilford, quarterbacking the White team, found LaHaie on a post for the score. Junior quarterback Rich Linden had started at quarterback for the first-team offense on the Crimson team but had some trouble finding his receivers.

In the second half, the quarterbacks switched off. Wilford took over for the first-team offense and accounted for the Crimson team's equalizing score. On fourth-and-goal at the 15, Wilford rolled to his right and bought time. He then charged for the goal line, cut to his left, and dove in for the touchdown.

The White team, led by Linden, scored a few minutes later as freshman running back Jared Lewis swept wide left and beat the defense for a 20-yard touchdown.

When Wilford was touched down for a sack on fourth down with 38 seconds left, the game was blown over, and the teams headed into the locker room. The seniors, now a little tired (9 a.m. is pretty early to start boozing, after all), picked up their mess and got on the field for one last romp. Their run was over.

After all the early-morning runs, the weight-lifting sessions, and the weekends spent on the road, the class of 1999 said goodbye. The Stadium will be a lot quieter for it.