. . . Harvard Man Strips

Where do old Harvard soccer goalies go after they've hung up their cleats?

Some haunt the Varsity Club and others have their winning balls gilded. But if they're built anything like Shep Messing '72, they end up gracing the December centerfold of Viva.

Sizing it up

The 25-year-old former All-American, who now goal tends for the New York Cosmos was chosen from among many New York professional athletes to pose. John O'Reilly, director of public relations for the Cosmos, said that Messing, an alumnus of Mather House, had been chosen because, "Some guys were too big, some guys were too small, and Shep was just right."

Bruce Munro, who coached Messing for two years, described Messing as "a real flamboyant character, a good goalie, a live wire and an opportunist."

He said Messing was "wearing ladies' clogs, pink dungarees and an afro hairdo long before they became fashionable."

Messing, who gained notice at Harvard for keeping a boa constrictor in his room and eating a wine glass to demonstrate his "true grit," said the venture was "strictly a business deal. I figured the publicity and money would be good for me."

Messing modeled his way through Harvard-at Eric Ross Associates in Boston and aspires to a career in modeling. He said he plans to attend law school in the fall.