Even the most casual observer could tell that things were going to be very different this year after a first glance at Soldiers Field, on the very sunny September 4 morning. For besides the gaping hole in the North side of the stands where once the steel stands stood, there was an air of confidence, absent since 1949 when Harvard under Art Valpey was a strong pre-season choice.

It was Opening Day at Soldiers Field, and 65 Crimson football players reported for their first practice since November 23, 1951. The confidence was apparent in everyone, from Coach Lloyd Jordan and the players, to the managers and members of the Boston press out for their initial interviews of the team.

By 9 a.m. cars full of tanned young men in T shirts and chinos, arrived in the parking lot. They gathered up their cleats and hustled into Dillon. Inside the Field House guys were going around shaking hands, asking about each other's summer jobs. Most of them had taken construction jobs. There was tape all over the place, as the sophomores went around getting the strips with their names on it for their jerseys. "Have to impress the boss somehow," one of them said.

While Jordan spoke to them in the lecture room in the coaches' office, the newsmen gathered outside Dillon and were discussing the coming season.

Whereas the talk usually centers around Harvard, with possimistic remarks about their chances, injuries, and new prospects, it had swung around to sad comments about the situation at Brown and Holy Cross.

Irving Marsh of the New York Herald Tribune described the Brown scandal in which fourteen players were ruled ineligible because of illegal aid. One reporter, who had spoken to Bruin Coach Alva Kelley told how jittery he was. "The man doesn't know where he stands or what to expect, he and the school knew nothing about this deal." They agreed Kelley ought to quit.

Contract Praised

The only reference to Harvard came when Tap Goodenough of the American called the renewing of Jordan's contract--thought to be for three years--"the smartest thing Harvard over did."

By 10 a.m. the players were already out on the J.V. field, warming up and posing for pictures. Jordan was being posed with Captain John Nichols, in the traditional picture. Standing nearby and ready to charge upon the photographers was the probable backfield, John Ederer, Dick Clasby, John Culver, and Gil O'Neil. Meanwhile, a group of linemen was working with Ted Schmitt. They would line up, four abreast, and then charge out.

In the middle of the field, players under junior varsity coach Norm Shepard were running through simple pass plays. Down at the far end, freshman coach Bob Margarita was putting men--most of them members of his last squad--through the same pass sequence.

By now the press had cornered an unhappy Nichols, and had forced him to admit that he had "worked on a construction gang," that his "weight was down to 224," his best playing weight, and that "the dropping of spring practice hurt." Finally the coach replaced the captain against the press.

Jordan was very confident during the interview. "We'll be better," he said, and then asserted that just how much better depends upon the sophomores, about whom he knows "practically nothing, just their names."

JV Role Increased

The J.V. becomes the feeder from now on, according to Jordan. "It hasn't been for the last couple of years, but with all these sophomores back--32--it will have to take spring practice's place," he added.

Jordan admitted that his main problem will be on defense. Only Nichols and Eli Manos will have to go both ways, but he needs defensive help from '55. He plans to use John Tulenko, who started most games last year at wingback, on defense. "But you can't tell," he quickly added, "he had a bad knee last year, and I don't know how good it is yet." Jordan hopes to use Ron Messer and Culver as line backers, too.

Jordan hinted that he will make few speeches this year about football policy when he answered queries about the schedule by saying "that's policy, it was made three years ago, and I haven't anything to do with it. He added that although he knew nothing about Davidson and Washington of St. Louis, "Colgate will be a real sleeper."

Yale Will Be Tough

They asked him what he thought about Yale, and he replied "that's all I think about," he laughed rather loudly. "Olivar's a good coach, and so's Herman--don't discount the big fellow," he said, smiling. "This is Olivar's type of team--he likes a passing game you know, and they've got their passer--Eddie Molloy. They'll be tough after the first few games," he added.

From there, Jordan, who is starting his third season here, launched into a discussion of the removal of the steel stand. "I'll have to study the effect of wind in the Stadium," he claimed. "Can't tell what it'll be like, but it might be like Palmer Stadium at Princeton--real gale down there."

And so the morning went. Finally the interviews were over, and he returned to his team--now doing mass calisthentics. It was a pleasant day, and the feeling is that there will be at least six more even pleasanter ones this fall.