The squad will race twice in New London after second semester ends. On June 7, it will treat Yale to its traditional trouncing. On the 21st Harvard will host a rematch with Washington.
Said Parker, "It'll probably be the longest and most challenging season we've ever had. There will be more hurdles to cross than there have ever been. If the crew wants to make a name for itself, this is their chance."
The crew hopes, as it does every year, that that chance will include a shot at Henley's Grand Challenge Cup. And, this year, Parker seems persuadable.
One Harvard heavyweight believes that "last year was the year before the year," that this year's crew will be the fastest ever. But although they hope that is true, most oarsmen, like Captain Blair Brooks, are more cautious. Explained Brooks," It's a pretty mature squad and we have a much more professional attitude. We know what we have to do to make boats go fast--work really hard."
On Sunday, as the crew was doing just that, Parker was also cautious. Usually, if you ask him a question, he'll tilt his head up, roll back his eyes and answer with a calm, "Oh really?" or "Not really" or just plain "really" which every Harvard oarsman can mimick in tonal perfection. When he wants to think about something, Parker will look out the nearest window and there will be a long, uneasy silence.
"Do you think that this year's crew has a more professional attitude?"
"Not really."
"Do you think that this year's crew compares itself to last's?"
"Not really."
Do you compare last year's crew to this one? Stumped, he looks over the windshield of his launch-the long Parker pause. And then, rolling his eyes back once more, a broad smile creeps across his face.
"Well, There's nothing to compare them to yet. Is there, really?"
In Newell Boathouse, there are stickers on every oar upon which oarsmen's names have been embossed: Brooks, Bixby, Hovey and so on. But on one oar is a sticker which reads simply, "Row well."
That is, after all, what winning is all about--rowing well and hard. If Harvard's heavyweights follow this course, with potential and practice behind them, there is no way that 1975 won't be "the Year"-the year that takes the Harvard crew again to the top of U.S. collegiate rowing, and, quite possibly, beyond