"Any game plan is not really all that much different from every other," Crone said at the motel where the team stays on the night before important games. "No one has been able to establish a running game against Yale, but we're going to try.

"The important thing, of course, is to make them conscious of the pass, then come back with your running game," he continued.

Surely, Harvard had to pass well against the Eli to win. Most people, including the Crimson coaches, recognized that Crone is a better passer than Foster in the sense that he is more accurate. But often in the past, he has thrown to the wrong team or been smothered after pumping one or more times.

Saturday, Crone was just right. He mixed his plays well, hit on crucial passes, and more importantly, he had the team behind him.

Coming into the game, Crone had completed 30 of 52 passes (58 per cent) for 478 yards and four touchdowns. He had also rushed for 161 yards to make him second in total offense behind Foster.

But statistics really do not make much difference when it comes down to the final game of the year against Yale.

Certainly, it was an ironic end to a topsy-turvy quarterback situation for the Crimson this year, but who cares? Harvard won. Yovicsin got that final victory over Yale, and Crone, the off-criticized backup man, came through under pressure that no one can question.