Princeton's weakest football team in six years, loser of two games, but still strong enough to rate a one touchdown edge over the once-beaten varsity, opens its 1953 Big Three championship defense in the Stadium today.
Charley Caldwell's Tigers, completely routed by Navy, 65 to 7, and winner three times in very close Ivy games, are favored by the odds-makers only; over 40,000 people will jam the Stadium today, most of them hoping to see an upset.
The Harvard fans, however, may watch the game under distinctly unpleasant circumstances. Rain has been forecast, and it becomes more probable that Captain Dick Clasby will not start.
Harvard hasn't beaten Princeton since 1946, and the Tigers posses the best offensive record in the Ivy league. But the varsity football team, even without Dick Clasby in the starting lineup, is a confident, competent football team, the best that Lloyd Jordan has coached here. It has a strong line and a varied offense.
Varsity Seeks Revenge
And today it will have the incentive to end the bitterness and frustration which have been building up for six years, which have mounted just as Caldwell's scores have mounted.
In the Dillon Field House locker room is a sign--"Harvard hasn't got a defensive line worthy of the name"--Caldwell. These were the Princeton coach's words last year, and they have been re-echoed loudly all week down at Soldiers Field.
Secrecy has clouded all the Soldiers Field workouts. For the first time since he came here four years ago, Jordan has sent his team through closed workouts before the Princeton game.
Varying reports, cryptic and contradictory, have issued forth from Soldiers Field concerning the type of attack and the personnel to be used.
Clasby Not to Start
The latest has Dick Clasby out of the starting lineup because of bruises suffered against Davidson. But although Clasby has taken light workouts, authorities have insisted all week that he would be in the lineup today. Yesterday, Jordan told reporters that Clasby will not be in the starting lineup.
"At this minute I wouldn't consider Clasby," Jordan said yesterday. "If it's the difference between Clasby and the football game, don't think for a minute it will be anything but Clasby." But the feeling is that if he doesn't actually start today, Clasby, Ivy League rushing record holder, will probably see close to full time service. Jordan has also remained silent on the possibility of using Clasby and former Captain Carroll Lowenstein in the same backfield. There is no hiding the fact that Lowenstein, who passed for five touchdowns last Saturday, must play today if the varsity is going to beat Princeton. The Tigers have been somewhat week on pass defense; last week Brown scored twice through passes. May Use T But Lowenstein and Clasby are both tailbacks, and so far Jordan has announced no formation which will include both men. Chances are that the Crimson will probably use some straight single wing plays, with one man at wingback and the other at tailback. It may also employ some T formation attack, with Lowenstein, a clever ball handler, under center, and Clasby, a better runner than passer, at left half. Brian Reynolds, a fine running halfback, might move up to right half. John Culver, of course, would be at fullback. The 215 pound senior has been bothered by no injuries and should run well today. Jordan has had to switch men around because of the loss of quarterback Bob Hardy. If the Crimson uses a single wing, Jerry Marsh, out up to now with a bad leg, will be at blocking back. Smith and Flippin Star Also returning to action are Bob Cowles, first string wingback, and Bill Volmer, promising sophomore fullback who might spell Culver. Two men give Princeton the edge today. Where once Caldwell brought over 30 giants, each assigned a specific phase of the game, now he has Captain Homer Smith, tailback Royce Flippin, and an average line. There are no McPhees or Brad Glasses on the Princeton line. Instead, there are people named Milano and Torrey, and they may be as good as people named Bill Meigs and Tim Anderson, but they are probably no better. Powerful Running Attack Princeton will be able to move the ball. Smith is still a powerful threat, liable to go all the way once he gets past the line of scrimmage. Flippin, a highly rated sophomore, has saved the Tigers twice this year with his passing and is considered to be a good runner as well. From a single wing attack these men will keep the varsity defense honest, and they will score points. Harvard, with Culver, Clasby, Lowenstein and a good line, however, may conceivably score more for the first time in six years. According to Charley Caldwell, Princeton lost several key men in the Navy game, "if you call that a game," he added. Lowenstein May Be the Key For Lowenstein, this is a special game. In 1951 at Princeton's Palmer Stadium, the 150 pound tailback spent most of the afternoon underneath great hunks of Orange and Black beef as a supercharged Dick Kazmaier team handed the varsity the worst licking in Harvard history, 63 to 26. Lowenstein put on a magnificent exhibition that day, setting up the four Crimson scores, and, given any protection today, he may account for more
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