NEW HAVEN, Conn., Nov. 18--Yale University and New Haven in general spent a quiet, but intense few hours tonight digging in for a long, cold football weekend.

Almost everyone in the area found himself in a crowd last night, but neither the crowds nor the police who were ready to handle them were excited or worried.

New Haven police stationed 200 men downtown--especially in the vicinity of the crowded Hotel Taft lobby, scene of more than one Friday night riot. Another 50 officers and ten patrol cars guarded the Bowl.

But they weren't needed. As Captain James A. Dinon of the city police, explained it, "Harvard men are too gentlemanly to provoke any disturbance."

The ingredients were there, however. The thousands who piled off special trains, buses, and planes headed immediately for the liquor dispensaries. And the Yalies and their guests then jammed the steps of the Freshman Commons to cheer Herman Hickman, Levi Jackson, the Eli team, and God and country.

The rally was lit by floodlights and punctuated by firecrackers. Hickman, Jackson, and Albie Booth, former Yale great, appeared to say a few words. Three female cheerleaders also showed up, with rally leaders explaining, "If Harvard con go co-ed, so can we."

Toward the end of the rally, Harvard men lurking in the shadows stepped forward and tried to drown out the proceedings with songs and a cheer: "What do we eat? Dog meat."

It might have happened then. The ralliers clutched their flasks a little tighter and waited near the Commons. But it was too cold for brawling, and so the assemblage trotted off to the Glee Club concert or to one of the 19 fraternity or college dances on the campus.

Early Deadline

The dances were crowded earlier tonight than they will be tomorrow. Women had to leave campus rooms at 7 p.m. tonight but 9 p.m. is tomorrow's deadline five long hours after the game ends.

The busiest group in New Haven tonight was the traffic police squad. Part of it was trying to unscramble the unbelievable jams which kept motorists hungry and thirsty. The rest of the traffic cops were going about the grim task of ticketing hundreds of out-of-state autos parked out of bounds.

The tickets are payable no later than 5 p.m. tomorrow which should ruin the day for more than a few.