Blue-Gray Game Honor for Birk

Closing out an already-memorable senior season, offensive tackle Matt Birk represented Harvard in the 60th annual Blue-Gray Game on Dec. 25. Birk's Blue team rolled to an easy 26-7 rout of the Gray.

Birk, a starter on the 1997 Ivy League champion Crimson, replaced Phelan Pounds of USC on the Blue. Birk was the sixth Harvard player ever selected for the Blue-Gray Game, and the Crimson's first in 14 years.

The game concluded a stellar year for Birk, who garnered First Team All-Ivy, First Team ECAC and All-New England honors this past season.

Starting on the offensive line for his third straight year, Birk helped the Crimson finish 9-1 overall and a perfect 7-0 in the Ivy League. Harvard was one of only four Division I-AA schools to average more than 200 yards per game rushing and passing. The Crimson offense set 16 individual and team records.