The year ended, and the Class of '31 now considered itself worldly-wise enough to make the big jump out of the lower echelons. It had been good, it reflected, but it would, doubtless, be better.
The Class returned after a summer that saw the Stock Market continue to rise, the Yankees annihilate all opposition, and the refreshing encouragement that a Republican would remain in the White House. Back at Harvard, the Band now claimed that it possessed "the largest playable drum in the world." Times were so good that no one listened when Owen Lattimore claimed that the Soviet Party would become dominant in China within the next few years.
With the advent of the football season, '31 found itself in a position to support the team in a concrete way. A whole host of sophomores from the previous year's undefeated freshman team made the squad, led by a new passing combination, Gilligan and Batchelder. In its first two games, the varsity romped over Springfield and North Carolina. Hopes were high down at Soldiers Field. Then Army, led by its All-American halfback Cris Cagle, brought the varsity down to earth, with a 15-0 victory. The Crimson, led by sophomore halfback, Arthur W. Huguley, bounced back to trample Dartmouth 30 to 0.
The season rolled on as the football team beat Lehigh, 39 to 0. Hoover won and racoon coats went up to a "preposterous" $600. Then on Friday, Nov. 9, Edward S. Harkness '97 gave three million dollars to the college, which President Lowell said would be used to build two new houses for upperclassmen. The reason--"to develop the unique culture of the individual." The college waited and wondered. The football season was a success as Dave Guarnaccia '29 and French led the Crimson to a 17-0 victory over Yale.
The indoor track season saw a varsity hero develop in David Cobb '31, who won the 1000-yard and the mile run to help the Crimson defeat Dartmouth and Cornell. Hockey was not so successful as the Crimson went down to defeat before Yale twice, while winning only once against the Blue. '31's brightest light on this team was Garrison, who alternated between first and second line center.
The College's first swimming coach, Harold S. Ulen, came to Harvard as the I.A.B. began to formulate and the Corporation voted $200,000 for a new Faculty Club. The baseball team beat the Quantico Marines. 9 to 7, as Gilligan led the Crimson with a single, a double, and a home run. Before the Yale game, Gilligan was the leading Varsity batter with a .388 average followed by McGrath and Ticknor with .343 and .306 averages, respectively. Yale put somewhat of a damper on the season as they beat the Crimson, 6 to 4.
As June, 1929 appeared, most of '31 agreed that it had been better and that there was no reason that it should not improve. But the reason was waiting just around the corner.
(The final two College years of '31 will be covered tomorrow.)