From Tradition to Triumph: The Unique Magic of Harvard-Yale, in Alumni’s Words

For over a century, the Harvard-Yale rivalry has been a cornerstone of college football history, captivating students, alumni, and fans alike. For the Ivy League, The Game marks the only time that Harvard Stadium and the Yale Bowl are completely filled with cheering, raucous fans.

With The Game returning to Cambridge this year, two former players — Truman Jones ’23, captain of the 2022 team, and Aidan Borguet ’23, standout running back on that same squad — shared their reflections on the rivalry, offering a glimpse into the passion, tradition, and camaraderie that define the storied matchup.

Leading the Crimson: Truman Jones’ Perspective

For Jones, now a defensive end on the Kansas City Chiefs, The Game was a thrilling experience. The Atlanta, Ga. native served as the 148th captain of the Harvard football team during his senior year. Due to Covid-19 cancellations, the 2022 game was the first and only contest between the historic rivals to be held in Cambridge for Jones’s senior class.

Jones remembers his last game as Harvard’s captain with great fondness. As the ultimate game of his final season, the 2022 contest carried a special significance.

“It was a culmination of many things,” Jones said. “I had such a great grasp of all the guys on the team and felt like I connected with them very well. I was just humbled that they selected me to be a leader and captain for them. So, in that game, I just wanted to get in my best, as I had been all season. And in front of a crowd like that at Harvard, at our home stadium, it was really special.”

Jones delivered one of his best performances in that game, recording a season-high 10 total tackles and forcing a fumble. Unfortunately for Junes, the Crimson as a whole didn’t notch the same storybook ending, with Harvard narrowly falling to the Bulldogs 19-14. Despite the loss, Jones emphasized that the rivalry brought out the best in both teams and their supporters, ranking The Game alongside the nation’s most iconic matchups.

“Harvard-Yale is right up there with the best rivalries in the country,” Jones said. “The fans show out, the players are playing really hard. Both teams are at their best in this game.

“So, I think it’s up there with the classic rivalry games that you’d expect to see,” he added. “It’s just really cool to have the atmosphere at Harvard at an Ivy League school where that isn’t necessarily always the case.”

The anticipation of The Game permeates the entire football season for athletes and fans alike.

“It’s definitely one that’s circled on the calendar, one that we tell people to plan for,” Jones added. “If there’s one you need to go to, it’s this one. It’s really something special at Harvard Stadium.”

For Jones, his most memorable Harvard-Yale moment was during the 34-31 thriller in 2021, a game defined by fading daylight and a dramatic finish. The Yale Bowl, which notoriously lacks stadium lights, proved to be a tough playing environment for both teams, as The Game dwindled into the fourth quarter under a darkening sky. But, Harvard was able to see the light, and an impressive touchdown grab from Kym Wimberly ’23 late in the fourth quarter will forever be a moment etched in Jones’s memory.

“It was so dark, you could barely see the ball,” Jones recalled. “But my roommate, Kym Wimberley, ran the walk-off touchdown. Knowing all the work he put in made it really special.”

That play, which will live on in the minds of Crimson fans for decades, was also a significant memory for Borguet, who was a major contributor to the offense that fateful day, which, coupled with his other laurels, sent him well on his way to establishing himself as a Crimson running back legend.

Aidan Borguet '23 blows past the Columbia Lions during their Nov. 5 2022 matchup. By Angela Dela Cruz

Aidan Borguet: Tradition and Passion

Borguet’s connection to The Game runs deep, dating back to his breakout performance as a freshman in 2019. He delivered the greatest individual rushing performance in The Game’s history, toting the rock 11 times for 269 yards — an average of almost 25 yards a carry — and four touchdowns on the day. His superhuman efforts kept the Crimson in the game, but ultimately the Bulldogs prevailed 50-43 in double overtime.

Despite his first-year heroics, the 2019 Game was not Borguet’s favorite during his time at Harvard. Like Jones, his favorite play was the game winning touchdown pass from Luke Emge ’23 to Wimberly.

“We won in dramatic fashion,” said Borguet of the 2021 win. “The team is all together and we got to celebrate the win. It was really great.

“I would love to say my freshman year performance was my favorite, but we lost the game, so that becomes null and void,” he added.

For Borguet, the magic of the rivalry lies in its historic traditions and passion.

“Tradition is what sets the stage, but passion is what makes it worth it,” Borguet explained. “The passion from the students, players, and alumni. Everybody takes it as an opportunity to come back, see the game, and be with people you haven’t seen in a while. I think it’s more than a game, it’s a whole event for the schools to come together and have a good time.”

Preparation for The Game requires a balance of focus and celebration. While the players approach it like any other matchup, the energy around campus is electric.

“There’s a lot of stuff going on in the periphery,” Borguet said. “A lot of fan involvement and student engagement, which is something we appreciate and have felt the push to want us to win the game. But, as a team, you want to stay within your identity. I think the best way to go about it was to approach it as you would any other game, so those moments don't rattle you. You can just go in there and play your game.”

Both players experienced exhilarating wins and losses in The Game, but they are also a part of a select generation of players that faced a cancellation of the rivalry due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The last Harvard-Yale game to be canceled before 2020 was during World War II.

Reflecting on how the rivalry evolved amidst the pandemic, Borguet noted a renewed appreciation for The Game.

“There were more fans at the 2021 game than 2019 (50k vs 40k),” Borguet said. “It really showed how much we did miss that atmosphere and how much the whole school was excited to be back, fans and alumni. Losing it for a year may have sparked a new appreciation for it and it's something that is not as easily taken for granted now.”

Maintaining the Magic

From thrilling overtime wins to historic celebrations, the Harvard-Yale rivalry remains a defining tradition within college athletics. For players like Jones and Borguet, The Game is more than a football competition — it’s an experience etched in their memories forever. As the next generation of Crimson players takes the field, they carry forward the legacy of tradition and passion that makes Harvard-Yale such a unique rivalry.

Jones, the former Crimson captain, offered some advice to the Harvard players heading into the 140th edition of The Game.

“Really enjoy the moment, soak it all in, and have fun with it,” he advised. “It’s an unreal environment, so relish that moment. Leave nothing, no regrets, leave no stone unturned.”

—Staff writer Oscar E. Mercado can be reached at oscar.mercado@thecrimson.com.

—Staff writer Isabel Smail can be reached at isabel.smail@thecrimson.com.