Spring Game Last Fling For Seniors

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 tentativetackle of junior running back Chris Menick,lineman Will Ratcliffe said, "That's right, don'tlet 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 amove, Eitz!"

An incomplete bomb got Shreve's attention, andhe said, "Oh, that's crap!" before returning tohis conversation. And as a general rule, anyonewho brought food was required to share it with atleast three others.

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

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

After being assured that their public relationswas in good hands--"Remember, I'm the onlytwo-time captain in the history of modern Harvardfootball," Bibro said--they caught up, planned forthe barbeque after the game, and talked abouttheir futures.

Along with the fun in the stands, there was agame. The White team ended up beating the Crimsonteam, 14-7. More importantly, there were someperformances that could have an impact on nextyear's playing time.

Freshman receiver Dan Farley made some niceplays, and freshman defensive back Shawn Parkerbroke up a pass and blocked two field goals. Thedefensive line put some pressure on thequarter-back, and freshman receiver Eric LaHaieseemed to connect with junior quarter-back BradWilford.

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

In the second half, the quarterbacks switched.Wilford took over for the first-team offense andaccounted for the Crimson team's equalizing store.On fourth-and-goal at the 15-yard line, Wilfordrolled to his right and bought time. He thencharged for thee goal line, cut to his left, anddove in for the touchdown.

The White team, led by Linden, scored a fewminutes later as freshman running back Jared Lewisswept wide left and beat the defense for a 20-yardtouchdown.

When Wilford was touched down for a sack onfourth down with 38 seconds left, the game wasblown over, and the teams headed into the lockerroom. The seniors, now a little tired (9 a.m. ispretty early to start partying, after all), pickedup their mess and got on the field for one lastromp. Their run was over.

After all the early-morning runs, theweight-lifting sessions, and the weekends spent onthe road, the class of 1999 said goodbye. TheStadium will be a lot quieter for it.Crimson File PhotoBIC NO LONGER: Senior BRENDAN BIBROshowed up Saturday a changed man-with hair.

After freshman corner Willie Alford's tentativetackle of junior running back Chris Menick,lineman Will Ratcliffe said, "That's right, don'tlet 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 amove, Eitz!"

An incomplete bomb got Shreve's attention, andhe said, "Oh, that's crap!" before returning tohis conversation. And as a general rule, anyonewho brought food was required to share it with atleast three others.

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

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

After being assured that their public relationswas in good hands--"Remember, I'm the onlytwo-time captain in the history of modern Harvardfootball," Bibro said--they caught up, planned forthe barbeque after the game, and talked abouttheir futures.

Along with the fun in the stands, there was agame. The White team ended up beating the Crimsonteam, 14-7. More importantly, there were someperformances that could have an impact on nextyear's playing time.

Freshman receiver Dan Farley made some niceplays, and freshman defensive back Shawn Parkerbroke up a pass and blocked two field goals. Thedefensive line put some pressure on thequarter-back, and freshman receiver Eric LaHaieseemed to connect with junior quarter-back BradWilford.

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

In the second half, the quarterbacks switched.Wilford took over for the first-team offense andaccounted for the Crimson team's equalizing store.On fourth-and-goal at the 15-yard line, Wilfordrolled to his right and bought time. He thencharged for thee goal line, cut to his left, anddove in for the touchdown.

The White team, led by Linden, scored a fewminutes later as freshman running back Jared Lewisswept wide left and beat the defense for a 20-yardtouchdown.

When Wilford was touched down for a sack onfourth down with 38 seconds left, the game wasblown over, and the teams headed into the lockerroom. The seniors, now a little tired (9 a.m. ispretty early to start partying, after all), pickedup their mess and got on the field for one lastromp. Their run was over.

After all the early-morning runs, theweight-lifting sessions, and the weekends spent onthe road, the class of 1999 said goodbye. TheStadium will be a lot quieter for it.Crimson File PhotoBIC NO LONGER: Senior BRENDAN BIBROshowed up Saturday a changed man-with hair.