Harvard's heavyweight crew is a clear favorite to beat Yale at 6:45 p. m. Saturday on the Thames River in New London, Conn., as the two schools renew the oldest rivalry in intercollegiate athletics.

It's been an unusually tough year for Harvard's crew, which lost both the Adams Cup and EARC Sprints races, but coach Harry Parker has made three changes which he thinks make his boat stronger than it's been all spring. He moved Will Scoggins, Gene LaBarre, and John Baker up from the second boat to replace Paul Ramsey, Art Cooper, and Roger Brooks.

Stroking the Crimson heavies is Bill Hobbs, while Tom Tiffany will cox. They are the squad's co-captains.

Almost....

Though there have been setbacks for Harvard this year, the boat has rowed well, losing the Adams by 1.8 seconds and the Sprints by 3.6 seconds to the strong Navy oarsmen.

Meanwhile, Yale has won only two of five regattas, losing to the Midshipmen by over 12 seconds. At the Sprints six weeks ago, the Elis failed to make the six-boat finals. In the qualifying heat, the Crimson topped Yale by seven seconds.

Of course, the race Saturday is four miles instead of the usual 2000-meter courses rowed during the regular season, but Yale has shown no indication that it has unusual endurance. The race will go upstream from the railroad bridge over the Thames.

If Harvard does win, it will be its ninth victory in a row over Yale and will give the Crimson a 59-47 edge in the series. Parker has not lost to the Elis since being upset in 1962, his first year as head coach.

As usual, in order to prepare for the longer distance and compete in this historic event, Harvard is giving up a chance to compete in the IRA Regatta at Syracuse.

Exams in Absentia

The Crimson has been preparing for this race at its New London headquarters, Red Top, since June 5. Parker and his staff have administered some final exams, and today he will officiate at a degree ceremony for the seniors.

Harvard's junior varsity and freshman boats have also been training at Red Top for Yale races Saturday. Both are heavy favorites. The JV's, stroked by Ewing Walker, row the four-mile course, while the Yardlings, stroked by John Canaday, row two miles.

Meanwhile in Old Lyme, Conn., Radcliffe's crew will be competing in the Women's Rowing Nationals, a three-day event beginning tomorrow. However, the competition includes several powerful crews, and the first-year Radcliffe crew is an underdog.