Near the half of Saturday's game, an undergraduate stole over to the University of Massachusetts stands. Quickly, he grabbed a large sign proclaiming "Crush Harvard," sped to the home side, and before the UMass fans could react, virtually demolished it.
The story of the game was strikingly similar. The varsity was fully as fast and quick-thinking as the intrepid undergraduate; the Massachusetts team was as confident but as weak as the sign. The result was a 60-6 opening game triumph, the Crimson's most lopsided since 1946.
The game, however, provided more than eminently decisive retaliation for last year's upset loss. It produced simple answers to several important and long-standing questions about the varsity's prospects, and pleasing answers to doubts about individual abilities.
One of the most provoking of these was how Coach Lloyd Jordan would use his three-deep strength at tailback. Since Sept. 1 observers have asked, "Will Jordan move Jim Joslin to wingback in order to use him and Matt Batsford in the same backfield?" Jordan provided a clear, sensible answer, asking almost in reply, "Why should there be only one good tailback?"
Both Tailbacks Star
Perhaps one player's prestige might be heightened by more frequent use; Jordan's justifiable concern, however, is not with building reputations, but with winning football games.
The performances of both tailbacks supported his logic. Alternating throughout the game, Botsford averaged 8.5 yards in 11 carries and Joslin 9.8 in 10 tries.
All undergraduates must apply for Cornell game tickets by 5 p.m. today at the H.A.A. office. Price for extra ticket: $4.00 Tickets will be delivered in dining rooms Thursday evening and Friday lunch.
The performance of a third junior back emphatically illustrated Jordan's wisdom in not moving Joslin to wing. John (Babe) Simourian scored three of the nine Harvard touchdowns, intercepting a UMass pass and racing 70 yards for one, and grabbing passes from Botsford for two others. The figures for his ball carrying performance are equally impressive--he carried five times for 104 yards and a 21-yard average.
O'Rourke Praises Line
Such recital of figures, however impressive, overlooks the speed and power of the Harvard line-especially supervising for an opening game--and a very inept UMass defense. It is a fast Harvard line, and in Umass coach Charlie O'Rourke's opinion, far better than last year's top-flight forward wall. It consistently rushed UMass passers and held the losers to a bare 110 yards on the ground. Harvard totaled 510. It is a thinking line, to judge from the care such yeoman performers as Bill Meigs and Orville Tice took not to commit themselves too early in a play.
The Massachusetts line, by contrast, especially between the tackles, was weak, with the result that even the second and third Harvard lines could at least hold their own.
As a result, the 60-6 score could prove a disservice to Jordan, who today begins drilling his squad for the Cornell game Saturday. His line depth is not necessarily stronger because of the lopsided win, and the combination of the score, last year's victory over Cornell, and the Big Red's loss Saturday to Colgate, could make it difficult to get the Crimson "up" for the contest.
After Botsford carried unsuccessfully twice around the side, Jordan sent in Joslin, apparently with instructions for a play through the middle. Fullback Tory Gianelly took the ball and bucked six yards into the end zone.
The second score came with almost unbelievable ease. With the ball on the Massachusetts 37, Botsford circled around to the right for a pass, and with three receivers all alone near the end zone, completed to Simourian for the touchdown.
Wingbacks Receive
As in previous seasons, Jordan's pass plays evidently favor the wingback over the ends as a receiver. For at the start of the second period, the same play worked with almost the same success. The ball this time on the seven, Botsford flipped to Simourian, again far in front of his defense, for the third tally. Two more touchdowns gave the Crimson a 33-0 lead by halftime.
The varsity added 20 points in the third period, Botsford angling through an incredibly large hole at right guard for one touchdown, Joslin skirting end for another, and Simourian scoring on his interception for the third.
In the final period, fullback Dick Oehmler ended the scoring spree with a one-yard back through the same right guard spot. The next time the varsity gained possession marked the first time Harvard was forced to punt--at 7:40 of the final period, with a 54-point lead.
In only one respect was the Crimson outmaneuvered Saturday. The Band, celebrating the arrival of its new "biggest playable bass drum in the world," was beaten to the punch when the UMass band presented a visual drill which was almost identical to its own. The new drum, like the football team, began its career, however, with a satisfactorily loud bang.
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