Week Four Looms Large in Ivy Picture

It's still early.

It's never over 'till it's over.

The opera isn't over until the fat lady sings.

So forewarned, however, you should know that today's Ivy League football action could well decide the outcome of the rest of the season.

Even through this is only the fourth week of the season--and only the second week of league play for a number of schools--the league has already begun to separate. And today's action should enhance the process, potentially leaving very little suspense for the second half of the season.

Through the first three weekends, four Ivy teams were winless on the year, and four were undefeated in league play. Of the four 0-3 squads--Princeton, Yale, Dartmouth, or Columbia--none is likely to challenge seriously for the league title.

That leaves four potential contenders. And since these four play each other today, we should know a lot about the future of the Ivy League by tonight.

. Penn at Brown, 1:30 p.m., Providence, R.I. This is a classic match-up: the experienced champ against the upstart contender. Penn (3-0 overall, 2-0 Ivy) is looking for a record-tying fifth consecutive Ivy title.

Brown (3-0 overall, 2-0 Ivy) is looking for validation that its five-game winning streak (over two years) isn't a fluke.

Brown is also trying to snap it's four-year streak of mediocrity. While Penn has been winning its four titles, the Bruins have posted records of 5-5-0, 4-5-1, 4-5-0, and 5-4-1. A fifth such season would probably set some kind of record, but folks in Providence would be a lot happier with Brown's first Ivy title since 1976.

Many observers feel that the Bruins are the only serious obstacle the Quakers must overcome for their title. But it won't be easy. Brown is led by Pennsylvania-born quarterback Mark Donovan who has connected on five scoring passes to wide receiver Dave Fielding alone.

Meanwhile, Brown's tough run defense will be tested by Penn's talented backfield trio of rushers Rich Comizio and Chris Flynn, and QB Jim Crochiccia. History is also on the Quakers' side--the Bruins have not won this match-up since 1981.

While the winner here will control his own destiny, the loser is by no means out of the race. There's only been one undefeated league champ since 1970, so a 6-1 mark would still look pretty good at the end of the year.

. Cornell at Harvard, 1 p.m., the Stadium. The loser here can probably start thinking about next year.

If Cornell can't beat the Crimson today, it seems unlikely that it will be able to handle Brown or Penn later on in the season--meaning this Big Red Machine would be headed for the middle of the Ivy pack.

"It is a big game for us," Cornell Coach Maxie Baughn admits. "We learned a lesson against Lafayette [a 33-22 loss last week], and we'll be better for it. Now we play one of the top teams in the league. We'll be ready."

The first task for Harvard (1-2 overall, 1-0 Ivy) today will be to break its nine-quarter scoreless streak. But just scoring won't be enough--the Crimson needs to win this game if it is going to challenge in the Ivies.

But if the Crimson loses today, it might be time to put your Allen Bourbeau posters back up on the wall--because any slim hopes for a Harvard Ivy title will have all but disappeared.