ITHACA, N.Y. Oct. 8--Physically, if not mentally, recovered from its opening game setback by the University of Massachusetts, the Harvard varsity football team went through a light workout here today as it prepared for Cornell in both teams' Ivy opener.

Tomorrow's game in Schoellkopf Field finds both teams--first and second in the Ivy League last season--still looking for a win. But on the basis of pre-season predictions and last Saturday's stunning upset of Harvard, 19 big points say that Harvard returns to Cambridge on the train with the exact same number of victories with which it arrived last night.

But the people who saw beyond last Saturday's Harvard score will tell you that the bookies are wrong, and that tomorrow's starting Harvard team--with two sophomores in the backfield--is liable to stop making mistakes and start winning football games.

There will be no repetition of the Crimson's biggest mistakes last Saturday. If Lloyd Jordan's team was guilty of looking past Massachusetts, then it can only be accused of near-sightedness tomorrow. Every one of the 36 men who will dress tomorrow realizes that barring the traditional finals with Yale, this is the toughest game of the season.

Homecoming Game

The 20,000 fans who come home to Ithaca for the weekend may see a touch of revision in the traditional Jordan single wing. Occasional A formation plays--with the quarterback under center--may be employed as the Crimson attempts to do more passing. In the past, Jordan's teams have taken two power paths towards the goal line--inside tackle and outside tackle.

The reason for this is two-fold. For one thing, Dick Clasby, the All-American tailback of seasons' past, has gone, and for another, two of the Crimson's reserve quarterbacks, Joe Conzelman, and Phil Haughey are good passers. In addition, sophomore tailback Matt Botsford, the deep man in the single wing, throws an accurate pass. Sophomore fullback Tony Gianelly combines with wingback Bob Cowles to supply most of the Harvard running power.

But the decline and fall of Harvard football against Massachusetts didn't stem from the mistakes and inexperience in the Harvard backfield. The veteran Harvard line, conceded by its opponents to put more limits on power than the Supreme Court, tired quickly in the plus underrated opponents from Amherst to a standstill.

Tough Line

But the Crimson line, anchored by veteran guards Tim Anderson and Bill Meigs played stingy football in 1953 and should be at its best tomorrow. Jan Meyer and Art Painter will alternate at center, and in the only definite change, junior John Maher will replace the injured Dick Koch at tackle. Bill Frate will play inside tackle. Another dubious starter, and Bob Cochran, has been bothered by a bad shoulder. Either Phil Estabrooks or Ted Kennedy will play behind him, while place-kicker Joe Ross will play the other end.

For Crimson coach Lloyd Jordan the train ride to Ithaca is one of memories--for Harvard football reached its lowest point here the last time the teams played three years ago and has been climbing since. At that time, the Big Red smashed out a 42-6 victory, marking the second week in a row that the Crimson had been humiliated. In the two years before that, Harvard had won only two games. The next week, however, Jordan's team upset Army by one point and subsequently went on to win three games and tie favored Yale.

Cornell Hindered

The Cornell team that will bid for its first victory tomorrow has conceded much of its speed to the medical department. Start quarterback Bill DeGraaf's status is still questionable and Art Sosenko will probably start. Certain doubts and a good deal of tape surround the ribs of both fullback Guy Bedrossian and halfback Dick Meade, while tackle Jim Van Buren will watch from the sidelines. This, plus the pre-season loss of star end Stan Intihar and Bruce Brenner leave Coach Lefty James with a good starting team, but far from the one which won the Ivy title last year and was expected to repeat this season.

Colgate, without Dick Lalla, upset the Big Red in its opener, while last Saturday the Rice Owis had little trouble defeating Cornell, 41 to 20, behind the running of Dick Moegle.