Putting the ‘L’ in Yale

We here at The Crimson Editorial Board have often opined on the problems with The Game this year. We had trouble finding a time to go get tickets at the Smith Campus Center with our blockmates, we’re still not entirely sure why the Game was moved to Fenway in the first place, and it sure seems that 10,000 men of Harvard wanted tailgates that day. We remain concerned that this year’s Game face logistical difficulties that might ruin the festivities — and it pains us to admit that we might be letting down our Connecticut counterparts this year, though perhaps not as much as they let down their families by not going to Harvard.

Not to dwell on it, but imagine: Early Saturday morning, Harvard and Yale students will awake to the sound of the Harvard Band pounding up JFK St. Something, however, will not be the same. Instead of heading merrily across the bridge to Cumnock Field, they will trudge over to the Science Center Plaza (hopefully, per Dr. Paul J. Barreira’s advice, stopping at Annenberg for breakfast) to linger around Tanner Fountain. Clambering onto the shuttle buses, they will endure the long journey over to Fenway. Given the recent wintry weather's likely effect on travel conditions, who knows how many will wipe out on the way to the stadium, like Yale linemen against the Crimson wall? Who knows how many Saybrookians will risk hypothermia in the third quarter? Who knows if the body heat we will store from being crammed in the Ipswich Lot will last the duration of the Game?

Despite our concerns, we remain excited about the Game and all the promise it holds in store. We find it exceptionally deplorable that the Classes of 2020, 2021, and 2022 have yet to see a Yale drubbing at Harvard's hands. We hope that the Crimson’s victory will add light to our school’s superiority, much as Yalies added light to our motto instead of coming up with its own.

We’re holding out for an especially triumphant Harvard win this year, and we’re looking forward to celebrating in the stands (and not storming the field) when they do. We’re hoping the Crimson can channel Fenway’s other red-clad team to strike a win against the Bulldogs. If they do, attending the Game will have been more than worth it, and we at The Crimson have much faith in the Crimson’s ability to pull it off.

Ultimately, the Game is a chance to unwind and make merry before we all go off to celebrate that other great New England-based tradition, Thanksgiving. In that spirit, we urge our fellow students at Fenway to stay safe and have fun.

This staff editorial is the product of discussions at regular Editorial Board meetings. In order to ensure the impartiality of our journalism, Crimson editors who choose to opine and vote at these meetings are not involved in the reporting of articles on similar topics.