The Mystique Of The Game: Alumni Call It For Harvard

Harvard will cruise to an easy win in the 120th playing of The Game this weekend.

At least that's what Harvard alumni and faculty are saying as they make their predictions for Saturday's battle in New Haven.

As a celebrated tradition that dates back to 1875, The Game fires up all Harvardians. Most seem both optimistic about a Harvard win and nostalgic about Harvard Coach Joe Restic's imminent retirement after 23 seasons.

Sen. Edward Kennedy '54-'56 (D-Mass.), a former varsity player who scored the lone touchdown in The 1955 Game, took time out from a tense floor debate to make a prediction.

"Joe Restic deserves to go out with a blowout," he told an aide from the Senate floor. "The team's strong showing against Penn shows they have both the skill and the will to give it to him."

Harvard lost to the undefeated Pennsylvania Quakers last Saturday, 27-20, after leading for most of the game.

Although nearly all Harvardians predict a Crimson win, some are more realistic than others about the point spread between Harvard and Yale.

"93 to zero, Harvard over Yale," President Neil Rudenstine said. "It's inevitable since this is Coach Restic's last battle with Yale and its the 93rd Yale game of the century."

Yale President Richard Levin, meanwhile, predicts victory for his Bulldogs and Coach Carm Cozza--himself on the verge of retirement--and he shows more reserve than his Cantabridgian counterpart.

"28 to 17 in Yale's favor," said Levin, who will be watching his first Harvard-Yale game as Yale's chief.

Dean of the Faculty Jeremy Knowles based his prediction on history.

"The only games I can remember are our modest victory in 1915 (Harvard 41, Yale 0) and our stunning win in 1968 (Harvard 29, Yale 29)," Knowles said. "I have absolute confidence that the Harvard team will win, whatever the score."

Marv Levy, a graduate of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and head coach of the Buffalo Bills, says there is no greater pleasure than taking on the Bulldogs and winning.

"There is no greater thrill in football that playing Yale," Levy said. "I wish [the Bills] were playing against them this week."

CBS sportscaster James Brown '73 and Channel 5 sportscaster Mike Lynch '77, two former Harvard athletes, predict a Harvard win to cap off Joe Restic's 23 years as the winnningest coach in school history.

"Harvard 27, Yale 21," Brown said. "It will be an emotional high. Harvard will be riding with the closing out of Joe Restic."

Lynch foresees an even wider point spread between the two rivals. "Joe cruises out on top and into retirement with a 31 to 14 win," he said.

No stranger to controversy, Kenan Professor of Government Harvey Mansfield '53 pulled no punches in his prediction for the weekend.

"I think Harvard will win 20 to 7," he said. "The reason is that Yale is weak in brawn this year. Of course, they are always weak in brains."

Jones Professor of Classical Greek Literature Gregory Nagy made the most pessimistic prediction--only a six point Harvard win. And why will Harvard win?

"Karma," says Nagy, who teaches Literature and Arts C-14, affectionately known as "Heroes for Zeroes." "No, not karma. Maybe charisma."

And, of course, at least one notable Harvard alumnus confessed ignorance of the 120th Harvard-Yale game.

U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno, a 1963 Harvard Law School graduate, had her assistant tell The Crimson that "Ms. Reno has not followed the games closely enough to make a prediction."

Some people must have better things to do with their time.