For the last three years, Cornell run a balanced attack. As Bennie Beach observed, Ed Marinaro had two eyes, two arms, and two legs, and he WAS the Big Red Offense.

When Marinaro graduated to warm the beach for the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL, everyone figured that Cornell coach Jack Munick would have to junk the old Marinaro left-Marinaro-right-Marinaro-center offensive attack. Nothing has been further from the truth.

When the Big Red invade Harvard Stadium this afternoon. Musick's troops will still do things in the old way -- only now there is another runner operating out of the tailback slot. Sophomore Don Malone, whom people around Ithica are now calling the "new Marinaro," has inherited old Number 44's slot. And from the way he's played in Cornell's first three games, the Big Red has lost nothing in the exchange.

Cornell, Ivy League co-champions a year ago, has picked up right where it left off a year ago, impressively winning its first three contents without a setback. The Big Red crushed Colgate, 37-7, stomped Rutgers, 36-22, and, last week, humbled Ivy League rival Penn, 24-20.

The play of Malone has been one of the vital forces behind Cornell's fast start. The halfback has picked up 427 yards in the first three games, for a 142 per game average. Malone is a workhorse in the Marinaro mold -- he has lugged the ball 84 times in three games for a 5.1-yard average.

Cornell's offensive similarity to the Marinaro era ends there, however. Unlike the past, the Big Red finally has other offensive weapons to go with a top ball carrier. Quarterback Marc Allen has matured into as strong a passer as there is in the Ivies. Allen threw over 20 times a game in the three contests to date, completing 50 percent of his passes for 406 yards and three touchdowns. Last weekend Allen was phenomenal, hitting 18 of 38 passes for 252 yards and two TD's.

Allen likes to look for George Milosevic, a 210-pounder who has grabbed 16 passes this season, for 206 yards and a touchdown. Ten of those receptions came last week. Allen also has Barrett Rosser, an ex-quarterback speedstar operating out of the backfield, and John McKeown who outleaped two Penn defensive backs last week to grab the scoring pass that gave Cornell the win with only 36 seconds to go.

The word in Ithica is offense, and the the Big Red's statistics are there to prove it. In three games Cornell has run up 796 yards rushing, 406 yards passing, and scoring at a 32.3 per game clip, 14th best in the nation.

Defensively Cornell is led by linebacker Bob Lally. Lally who goes 6'3", 220, anchored the Big Red fortifications through the first three contests. Junior Don Lombardo is a strong performer in the defensive line from his middle guard spot and 240-pound Wes Hicks looked impressive last week at right tackle. Mike Phillips, another tackle who has been injured, should return to the lineup today to bolster the front wall.

The defensive secondary could give the Crimson some trouble. Last week they held Penn's Don Clune, considered by many to be the best receiver in the East to a mere 36 yards. Harvard has no one in Clune's class and could be in for a tough time in the air.

Cornell uses a monster back to the strong side of the field, in most situations. Harvard coach Joe Restic plans to combat the monster with motion to the weak side, then running back into the Big Red strength.

Cornell is nowhere nearly as strong defensively as offensively. Cornell yielded over 20 points in both the last two games and has given up almost 300 yards per game rushing and passing this year. If the Big Red can be had, they'll be had on defense.

For Restic, coming off an upset win over Columbia last week, this is the second big game in a row. Cornell is by far the most awesome offensive team that the Crimson has faced -- or will face -- this season. And Harvard is below full strength in a bad way.

Last Saturday's win over Columbia took a severe injury toll in Restic's troops. Most serious are the blows that the defense received.

Adjuster Steve Golden, who was a major reason Columbia's Jesse Parks gained only 21 yards in receptions against Harvard will miss today's great with a neck injury suffered while judging a Lion running back.