"Of course," Judge said. "that could work in our favor. We're an emotional team, and once they start coming on with that cheap stuff, it will only rile us and psyche us all the more to beat them."

An additional factor that should heighten the winning desire is that the game is being shown on regional television. Football players aren't above a little glorymongering.

"Yeah," laughed Kurzweil, "the television means something. You do want to look good in front of the cameras for all those people who've never seen you before."

For a Crimson football fan, the spectre of Brown as the main obstacle to a Harvard Ivy championship runs counter to long-held instincts.

The Brown game always represented nothing more than a tune-up for Yale. In the past it was a game for the stars to fatten up their stats and for the bench warmers to get their big chance.

Prior to last year, Harvard had lost to Brown only once in 14 seasons, and holds a 55-17-2 series edge overall. The Brown game used to be the one to let your little brothers use the season tickets for.

Sellout in Providence

But the days of Brown as a patsy are now only memories. Harvard will be in for the fight of its life today in Providence. Brown's stadium has been sold out for a week, the first time in 30 years. The word from Providence is that the Brown campus is in a carnival atmosphere in anticipation of the battle.

A whole season comes down to today's game. A year that started with such promise will all go for naught if Harvard fails.

Reiterated Judge, "This is the championship game."