"They Have the Potential. . . "

Freshman coach Bob Margarita will start the best backfield he's yet nursed varsity-ward this Saturday against the Brown Cubs, but the team will be led by a 212 pound lineman from Alliquippa, Pa.

Yesterday, before the 45 man Yardling squad sloshed out for a rain-soaked scrimmage, it elected left guard Ted Metropoulos '57 captain. Metropoulos is the former room-mate of much-transferred Billy Donlan, the one-time prospective Yardling starter now at Boston College.

Three years a two-way player at Alliquippa High, about 20 miles outside Pittsburgh, lineman Metropoulos bolsters up an unusually weak Yardling line.

Hard Worker

"He's a fine boy, a conscientious worker, and will probably be our outstanding lineman," Margarita said yesterday. "About our line in general, however, I just don't know. It's not up to most freshman lines, but it is improving," man lines, but it is improving."

Against Dartmouth the line was badly outrushed for the first half but stiffened in the third and fourth quarters to stop the Indians on the ground and give the '57 eleven a 13-13 tie.

The '57 backfield, with five possible starters is a different story. Margarita dropped the perennial wrinkle from his forehead long enough to admit, "It's the best bunch of backs I've had since I came to Harvard in 1951."

With the entire varsity backfield graduating this year, it seems very likely that at least one member of the first string unit will be starting for Lloyd Jordan next year. Margarita thinks that with training, the whole '57 backfield may someday be playing for Jordan.

After two games the freshman coach is still unable to decide between Mat Botsford and Jimmy Joslin at tailback. Joslin started the Worcester game two weeks ago, and Botsford against the Dartmouth team last Saturday. It's Joslin's turn again this Saturday.

Good Passing

Against the Indian freshmen both ran well, and had at least 50 percent pass completions. Botsford connected on four out of eight tosses, one good for a touchdown. Joslin, from Minneapolis, completed six out of eight, one also good for a touchdown.

But Botsford and Joslin were not the whole show against the Indians. Former Watertown High star John Simourian averaged 7.3 yards per carry from his wingback spot, and six foot, 190 pound Paul Abrahamian was outstanding a fullback.

Much-sought Tony Gianelly has alternated between quarterback and fullback: he will start at the blocking back slot in the Yardling's single-wing attack against the Bruins. If the freshmen switch to a T, Bob Hastings will go in to replace him at quarterback.

Lineup Change

In the line two now men have pushed up to starting positions since the Worcester game.

Former sub quarterback Phil Haughey from Framingham was switched to the line last week, and on the basis of four catches against Dartmouth won the left end spot. Bob Wynne, 212 pounder, has been moved to left tackle to make room for newcomer Tom Parkinson at right tackle.

At left guard is Charlie Papalia, also from Watertown High. John Newell, who stood out for Noble and Greenough last season, has started every game at center. He is flanked on the right by Metropoulus. Rounding out the starting line-up at right end is six foot Dick Brickman from Miami, Florida.

Ricci Ineligible

There is one outstanding freshman practicing with the Yardlings who won't play a game all year, but may be of help to Jordan next year. He is Mario Ricci, a transfer student from the Naval Academy at Annapolis, where he played in the plebe backfield last year.

Pete Meister, 195 pounder from Belmont Hill who started the first two Yardling games at left tackle, is now pushing for a reassignment to the first team. When Wynne moved over to left tackle to make room for Parkinson, it forced Meister down to the second team.

Another Worcester game starter now battling for a first team spot is end Tony Markella from Brockton.

Potential There

Whether the forward-wall will reach the potential of former Yardling lines is still a question-mark. Freshman line coach Jack Jordan thinks it may shape up to last year's line by this Saturday.

The backfield is yet to produce any long break-away runs, but the season is yet young. As for the future, Margarita admits, "They have the potential. . ."