Fans Likely To Watch ‘The Game’ Under Umbrellas

Students may watch this Saturday’s Harvard-Yale game drenched and shivering, meterologists predicted yesterday.

National Weather Service meteorologist Charlie Folie predicts a cold, rainy Saturday, with a high in the mid-40s and a wind chill of 20 to 30 mph.

“I’d say there’s a 70 percent chance of the game being cancelled,” Foley said in light of the dismal forecast. “It won’t be an ideal condition for any type of outdoor activity. It’s going to be a rainy, windy, miserable day.”

But Harvard officials beg to differ. Sports media spokesperson John P. Veneziano scoffed at the notion The Game might be called.

“That’s perfect football weather,” he laughed. “That means the tougher team will win.”

The Harvard-Yale game has been cancelled only once in its 119-year history—Nov. 23, 1963, the day after President John F. Kennedy ’40 was assassinated.

But while The Game has never been called because of a storm, weather horror stories abound in Havard football history.

In 1923, The Game was played in a virtual monsoon, with Yale footballer Ducky Pond scoring the only touchdown in the 54-punt game.

During the 1950s, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy ’54-’56 caught a touchdown pass during a howling blizzard, but the play was not enough to prevent a Yale victory.

And in 1987, Harvard battled for the Ivy title while fans’ teeth chattered in -10 degree wind chill.

But while conditions may be bad, most students said they plan to stick out the cold and wet.

“Hopefully we’ll be drunk enough so we won’t be able to tell,” Rob A. Novoa ’03 said.

Those interviewed predicted that turnout would not be affected.

“I think you gotta go,” Matt V. Anderson ’03 said. “Everyone will be pleased with how hard core they are for sticking it out—and they’ll also be really drunk.”