"I think we'll beat Harvard Saturday," Tufts coach Harry Arlanson said earlier this week, "but then we've always gone into a game figuring we would win."

Although Arlanson has not been right every time in the past, there is a feeling among Tufts rooters this year that his optimism may well be justified. Boasting a completely veteran backfield, this year's Jumbo eleven looks to be the best in many seasons.

Chief scoring threat on the team is 170-lb. right halfback and co-captain Dave Wells, who scored 73 points last year to rank second in New England. One of the outstanding breakaway runners in Tufts history, he scored four of his twelve touchdowns on runs of more than 65 yeards and averaged 8.08 yards per carry. His main weakness is fragility, for he has been injured in every scrimmage this season.

The other co-captain, six foot, 190-lb. fullback Normie Wright, presents an equally formidable problem. Second high scorer last year, he was named to the All New England team, and he has already been mentioned in several preseason All New England and Little All America polls. He rates as the outstanding fullback ever to play for Tufts.

Line a Problem

Completing the veteran backfield are left halfback Paul Abrahamian, who transferred from Harvard two years ago, and quarterback Ralph Thompson. Abrahamian is big (6 feet--195 lbs.) and fast. A good ball carrier and scorer, he especially excels on defense. Thompson, on the other hand, is small, weighing only 165. A good ball handler and fairly good passer, he also makes an excellent field general.

When one considers Tufts' line, however, he cannot help feeling that Arlanson's optimism may be misplaced. In sharp contrast to the depth of experience in the backfield, Arlanson can fill only three line positions with veterans.

Top lineman on the team is 245-lb. right tackle George Kurker. Only 19 years old, Kurker is already rated as one of the outstanding linemen in Tufts history. He also has been mentioned in several All-New England and Little All-America pre-season polls.

The only other experienced linemen, however, are the left guard, Lou Rigano, and the two centers, Merrill Werblum and George Frates. Rigano, a 210-pounder, started as a sophomore last year. He is fast and rugged, and reputedly diagnoses plays well. Werblum started last year and is an excellent center and a good linebacker. Frates won his letter as Werblum's understudy.

Weakness at End

The rest of the line is rather makeshift, however, with the biggest weakness coming at end. Bill Callahan, the new right end, sat out all last year because of injuries and was unable to play in the 26-0 win over Bowdoin last week because of an injured toe. His under-study is sophomore Roger Feingold. At right end, Arlanson has been forced to use a converted quarterback, Dick Fortin.

The other two linemen show a similar lack of experience. The left tackle is an untried sophomore, Raymond Fischer, who did not start against Bowdoin. Weighing 200 lbs., he is fast and a good blocker. The right guard is 165-lb. Joe Asiaf, who saw some action as a sub last year.

If there is any weakness in this Tufts team, it definitely lies in the patchwork quality of its line. There has been much talk lately about the Jumbos' supposedly porous pass defense, but Arlanson scoffs at such reports. Although dissenters have pointed out that the inept Bowdoin team completed 11 out of 12 passes against the Jumbos, Arlanson maintains that most of these were made against his second and third teams. "We weren't weak on pass defense last year," he claims, "and we have the same boys in the backfield again this year."

But Tufts' critical point is the line. The Jumbos play a control type game with few passes, and attempt to grind out the yardage like teams such as Oklahoma. Whether the line is strong enough to keep opening up the necessary holes for the backs is debatable.