Los Little so far has had little cause to celebrate the Silver Anniversary of his career as head coach of the Light Blue. He brings a thrice-beaten squad, somewhat, stronger in the backfield than last year but weaker in the line, into the Stadium today, still seeking the first win of his 25th year on Moraingalde Heights.

While Brown, Princeton, and Yale have successively dumped his eleven, his promising sophomores have developed rapidly and should be able to act like veterans against the Crimson. Brown opened with a wet 18 to 7 victory at Providence despite a fine first showing by quarterback Clands Benham. Princeton's Tigere surprised with a 54 to 20 romp at Fraklin Field. But undefeated Yale barely overcame sophomore Benham's 13 pass completions in 20 tries to edge out Columbia, last week, 13 to 7.

The Crimson can expect trouble from the dual passing threat of last year's Columbia iron man, Dick Carr, and this year's leading ivy passer quarterback Benham. "He's a pretty fair passer," Little says, speaking of Benham, who ranks fifth in the nation in passing and ninth in total yardage. Carr, of course, was an all-Eastern selection last year, a 60 minute man in every Columbia game, the Ivy's top passer, and the East's leader in total yardage. Coach Little has kept both his stars in the line-up by moving the versatile Carr to the left halfback position.

Columbia's scoring potential was immensely increased this week with the return to action of its leading scorer in 1953, Bob Mercler. The swift halfback led Columbia's ground attack last year and earned a reputation as an ace passcatcher. He pulled in Carr's touchdown toss to give the Light Blue a 6 to 0 victory over the Crimson last year at Baker Field. In case Moreier plays only in sports today, veteran junior Ken Priore will be at right half. Last year's freshman captain, 190 pound Mike Lacope, a husky, driving runner who has handled almost all the inside work this year, will be at fullback.

Line Problems

Up front, the line includes five returning lettermen, led by an All-Ivy honorable mention, Captain Neil Opdyke, but it does not compare with the unit that three times held off Crimson scoring drives deep in Columbia territory last year.

At the ends, the Lion coach has 200 pound letterman George Seitz, who has already caught 11 passes for 143 yards, on the right, and 198 pound junior Jim Monney on the left.

A main problem for Little has been finding a replacement for last year's iron man left tackle John Casella. Ex-Marine Ben Hoffman, who is the heaviest member of the squad at 225 pounds, won the right tackle spot last year and has held onto it. Instead of Casella on the left this year, Little has started Paul Tremblay, a 205 pound sophomore. Captain Opydyke is at right guard and Fred Bucci, a 200 pound junior, is at left guard John Nelson, who alternated at center last year, will go at the pivot position today.

Operating his teams out of a winged-T. Lou Little has developed a reputation among coaches for getting the maximum out of limited material. Under Little, Benham has produced in three games as impressive a set of statistics as has ever been compiled by an Ivy sophomore. The showing of the other sophomores, especially Lacope, who played 60 minutes in his first varsity game, Art Wilson, and Roy Altman, has been impressive against tough opponents.

In the stadium today, Columbia will be meeting a team much nearer its own strength. It is a talented squad. It has a coach who has not lost to the Crimson in six years and does not wish to lose on his Silver Anniversary at Columbia.