Coach Undecided on Starting QB For Game with Cornell Saturday

Last Saturday after Tom Bilodeau had led Harvard to a last-second 3-0 win over Columbia, reporters gathered around coach John Yovicsin in the Columbia Field House. "I guess there's one obvious question," someone said, "Does Harvard have a new number one quarterback?"

It seemed like a logical question. Bilodeau had led Harvard to eight of its nine first downs, almost all of its nine first downs, almost all of its passing yardage, and its only three points during a period and a half of play.

Bilodeau's passing during the game--eight for eleven--left his season's passing percentage at 75 per cent--24 for 32. That's phenomenal--ordinarily 60 per cent is good enough to lead the nation in that department.

Furthermore, Bilodeau had led Harvard to 24 of the last 31 points the team had scored. Wasn't he going to replace John McCluskey?

Yovicsin apparently hasn't made up his mind on that question. McCluskey worked out with the first unit on Monday, and Bilodeau quarterbacked the first team yesterday.

The statistics make the answer look obvious, but it really isn't There are two reasons.

Why Not Bilodeau

First of all, as Yovicsin put it, "McCluskey is a good ball player. He's been hurt, but you don't give up on him because of that."

That's for sure. Against UMass McCluskey looked like the most explosive runner seen around Harvard Stadium in years. He totaled 106 yards on the ground, including a dazzling 82-yard run.

But in the last two weeks, McCluskey hasn't been running as well. Obviously slowed down by his leg injury, he has totaled minus five yards rushing. His passes have been far off-target too; his completion record is four for 19.

With McCluskey sound again, Harvard would have a running backfield with four potential touchdown threats: Pat Conway, the team's leading rusher, Walt Grant, number one runner last year, and Dave Poe, who returns to the lineup this week. Also back off the injured list is starting end Ken Boyda.

The coach's second reason for not starting Bilodeau involves Bilodeau. "Every time we want to fill a position, we turn to this boy. He plays defensive halfback. He's on the punt team. He holds for kicks. When Poe was hurt we had him practicing at left halfback. So this is the problem we've had: if he becomes the quarterback, how much can we play him where he's been playing. We have to make some decision considering what's best for this boy and for Harvard football as a whole."

Emphasis on Defense

Yovicsin decided long ago that what was best for Harvard football was defense. If you talk to him for more than five minutes, he is certain to say "The most important part of football is defense; the second most important part is the kicking game; offense is important too, but not as important as these others."

This has paid off for Harvard defense: the shutout over Columbia Saturday was the tenth Ivy shutout Harvard has posted since Yovicsin became coach eight years ago.

The defensive emphasis means that Yovicsin may prefer to keep Bilodeau at defensive halfback rather than use an untested man there. This is especially true because of the pressure put on the secondary by the constant passing of opposing quarterbacks this year.

It's possible that John McCluskey will be starting at quarterback for Harvard again this Saturday. His leg should be better and he should be running at top speed again. But if he isn't, or if the offense can't get moving, you might look for Tom Bilodeau to come in to the game a bit earlier this week.