Dissatisfaction with Harvard and outside pressure have caused the switch of star freshman athlete William J. Donlan, Jr. '57 to Holy Cross.

Donlan, one of the most eagerly sought athletes in the Boston area last year, was scheduled to start at quarterback for the freshman football team this Saturday, but decided to go to the cross over the weekend.

Donlan went home for the weekend, but went up to Worcester on Sunday, according to his mother. He talked to priest there, and enrolled in class Monday. He has already moved into a dormitory.

Changed Mind

His mother gave his reason for switching as a change in course. "He went to Harvard interested in engineering," she said, "but then he made up his mind he didn't want it any more and decided to go to Holy Cross."

But freshman football coach Henry R. "Bob" Margarita said yesterday he understood Donlan left Harvard because he couldn't get the engineering he wanted here.

Donlan, who was a three sport all-scholastic star at Boston College High, received offers last spring from more than ten different colleges. Although expected to attend either Notre Dame, Holy Cross, or Boston College, he chose Harvard. He has already been granted a scholarship by Holy Cross.

His Weld Hall roommate, Theodore N. Metropoulus '57, said last night that Donlan had never mentioned anything about leaving Harvard. "I didn't even know he had left," Metropoulus said. "His clothes were in the room until today."

Roommate Unaware

"I know he wasn't too pleased with Harvard. He was majoring in engineering and he was having trouble with mathematics. He didn't talk too much, but he once said something about switching to a business course."

"He said he couldn't study here," Metropoulus added. "I had heard he's very religious, but that's all I know, he didn't talk too much."

"He didn't like playing quarterback in the single wing too much, he liked the T formation better," Methropoulus said, Donlan, who was a standout passer in school had impressed freshmen coaches with his throwing during practice