Harvard's 1941 gridders will go all out in an attempt to bounce back in the win column when they run head on into a sizzling Cornell eleven, pockmarked with capable Sophomores and potentially as strong as last year's powerful unit, in the first game of the season to be played on Soldiers Field.

When the two squads line up this afternoon for the 2:30 o'clock starting whistle in the resumption of a 51 year old football rivalry, Cornell, already boasting a 6 to 0 victory over Syracuse, will rule the definite favorite.

Harvard, with two light-weight Juniors scheduled to start in the otherwise all-Senior line, will be outweighed three or four pounds to the man. The line averages of the two teams are relatively close, due to the presence of mountainous Vern Miller in the Crimson front office, but the Harlow-coached squad yields a 12 pound advantage per man in the backfield ranks.

At the start of the 1941 season, Cornell loomed as one of the East's weaker outfits, due to the graduation of last year's great crop of Seniors, Matusczak et al, but as the season actually gets under way, the Big Red picture has tended toward the more roseate side.

HARVARD CORNELL

MacKinney (187) le Johnson (183)

Miller (260) lt Van Order (218)

Peabody (185) lg Wolff (197)

Page (167) c Cushing (185)

Pfister (197) rg Gelb (190)

Gardiner (202) rt Christensen (197)

Forte (162) re Jenkins (170)

Heiden (180) qb Mehrer (190)

Lee (177) lhb McDonald (186)

Lyle (175) rhb Stofer (185)

McNicol (177) fb Martin (197)

Rapid development of a group of talented Sophomores is the answer to the situation. Outstanding among the ranks of second year men that Coach Snavely has been able to whip into shape for heavy duty is 186-pound McDonald who started in the tailback spot last week for the Ithacans.

McDonald started last week's game when Bufalino was forced out with an injury, but he turned in such a good performance against the Orange that he may get the nod again over last year's passing and running ace from Swampscott.

Martin, a 197 pounder who bucks and spins somewhat along the lines of Penn's Stiff, who pestered the Harlowmen so much last week, will open the game at fullback for the Ithacans. Although only a Sophomore, he ranks ahead of Weiss, once voted New Jersey's outstanding prep school star.

The other starting backs for Cornell will be Nehrer, who carries the brunt of the blocking load, and wingback Stofer, who does the punting and a large share of the team's aerial work.

Both ends on the Snavely squad are gifted with plenty of speed. Johnson, caught the 40-yard pass that led to the only score in last Saturday's game. At center, Cushing may get the call over Blanchard, the Syracuse starter, and Van Order and Christensen will hold down the tackle posts. Captain Wolff is stationed at left guard and Geib holds down the other side of the line.

The return of signal caller Don McNicol to the Harvard lineup should be the only significant change in the Harvard roster. Burgy Ayres and Johnny Page both should see action at center for Harvard and Johnny Morgan and Don Forte should share the duties at right end