Drawing the parallel between the United States Navy with its disaster at Peal Harbor, and the 1941 Harvard football team which came through to ultimate victory after early season setbacks at the hands of Pennsylvania and Cornell, Coach Dick Harlow sounded the keynote at the Harvard Club Victory dinner last night, urging that to gain ultimate victory we must "never lose faith in ourselves as a nation."
The gathering, given in honor of the Varsity and Junior Varsity teams, was originally scheduled as a hilarious climax to the football season. Punctuated midway by President Roosevelt's address, it took on a highly serious atmosphere that was echoed in the words of all the principal speakers.
Captain Fran Lee who was the first to be introduced by Toastmaster Neal O'Hara '15 praised above all the spirit and the fight shown by the team throughout the season.
"When called into the service of our country, I'm sure they'll show they can be just as good fightters. Never all season was there any bickering or quarrelling on the squad--it was because they were essentially a team that they came through as they did," Lee asserted.
Captain-elect Don Forte followed Lee in the speaker's spotlight by paying tribute to the coaching staff, to the undergraduates for their backing, and to Lee who "came through for us whenever the chips were down."
"As a result of the war." Forte continued, "it doesn't look so good for next year. Whatever demands the country makes of us during the next few months, we'll be sure to meet and we'll be sure to give our best."
Twenty - nine gold footballs were awarded to members of the Varsity football squad, and in addition Vern Miller "who likes ice cream" was presented with a chocolate ice cream football--which he immediately attacked with a tablespoon.
Members of the Junior Varsity football squad received awards of silver footballs, presented with the respects of the Harvard Club.
In addition, gold trophies were presented to Coaches Harlow, Al McCoy, Earl Brown, Lyal Clark, Henry Lamar, Floyd Stahl, Frank Swirles, Morris Behm, Drs. Thorndike and Quigley, and Trainer Jimmy Cox.
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