Varsity football coach John Yovicsin will take a sabbatical leave next year, Thomas D. Bold, Director of Athletics, announced yesterday. Bold further stated that the University will hire Terry Brennan and Earl Blaik as "interim coaches" while Yovicsin is away.

The Athletic Director enumerated several reasons behind these moves. "First of all," he said, "we feel that Yovicsin needs some time to himself to perfect his slot-T attack. The understanding is that he will spend the year in the Pocono mountains where he'll study and perhaps play a little golf in his spare moments."

Another reason for the changes, according to Bold, was the desire to strengthen the Program for Harvard College. "The President of the University has told us that he still needs $25 million," Bold said. "The President feels that a really topnotch football team might stimulate some of those slow-footed alumni."

With this aim in mind, the Administration has requested that Brennan and Blaik start recruiting activities early this spring. "One reason we hired these two men," Bold asserted, "was their experience at finding hard-nosed kids. Also we feel that they are good teachers."

Reached by phone yesterday, Blaik said that he was looking forward to his new assignment. He stated that his first task would be to "find a lonesome end somewhere on campus." Blaik plans to begin "talking up Harvard football" immediately. "I am encouraged about recruiting prospects," he said. "I've been told that we'll have a good share of that Program money for scholarships. Terry and I will really put your school on the map."

Brennan, recently fired as coach of Notre Dame, told the Associated Press that he hopes to bring several of his stars.

"Our big tackle, Alex Wodjiecsobriwiecz, told me that he'd go wherever I went--even to Harvard," Brennan said.