So for the 97th time, the season begins and ends today. The Dartmouths and Browns and Princetons all stand as ancient and distinguished rivals, but there is only one Yale Game--The Game--and for about three hours on a late fall afternoon, it is the only Game in the world.

On this one Saturday a year, two universities known more for their academic than gridiron prowess admit to each other that they care about football--and at least for that afternoon--care deeply. Few future careers will be made or broken today, many will come to their natural and intended conclusions; that's part of The Game's charm. It lives on as a great institution not because the thousands of individuals who will gather today at Harvard Stadium--and the thousands of individuals who would like to be here--have been told that this football game means something, but because they have all decided that they care, and will celebrate or mourn the result according to their passions.

This year The Game takes on added significance because for the first time in a half-decade the Ivy League championship is on the line. The matchup of 1980 squads also looks like the most impressive array of football talent Harvard and Yale have assembled in recent years. In short, don't bother looking for a ticket if you don't already have one. Harvard has sold all of the 40,000 tickets available, so only the scalpers will be dealing today. If you're interested, bring plenty of money--you are going to have to pay to see this football game.

No wonder. The Crimson gridders (7-2, 4-2 Ivy League) head into The Game (12:30 p.m.) knowing that if they can win, they will gain a share of the Ivy League crown for the first time since 1975. The Elis (7-2, 5-1 Ivy), who have already clinched at least a tie for the title, can win it outright--as they have for two of the last three years--with a victory here today. Just as important, Yale can avenge last year's 22-7 humiliation in New Haven. The Las Vegas pundits say it's Yale by two.

Attention will focus on two players, who, more than anyone else, will determine how The Game is resolved.

When Harvard quarterback Brian Buckley has started this season, the Crimson is 6-0; without him, it is 1-2. On Buckley's sturdy 6-ft., 3-in. frame will rest the responsibility for penetrating the predictably superb--though vulnerable to the pass--Yale defense. Buckley has completed 75 of 134 passes for 982 yds. this season for 8 touchdowns, and has run for 3 more scores. But since his first start after mid-season knee surgery, the southpaw has not been at his best--with an ominous eight interceptions in Harvard's last two games.

On the Yale side, there plays a young man by the name of Rich Diana, who has torn up the Ivy League like few before him. Coach Carm Cozza's swift and small tailback has accounted for 1000 + total yards this season--a combination of rushing, receiving and kick returning. "If we don't shut him down," says Harvard coach Joe Restic, "It's going to be a long day."

If any unit can shut down Diana, this year's Harvard defense can. The Crimson defenders have been the surprise of the year in Cambridge, frequently stealing the spotlight (and saving games) for Restic's much publicized and oft-ineffective Multiflex offense.

Except for a game-long lapse in the rain at Dartmouth (which resulted in a 30-12 loss) and a seven-minute vacation down at Penn last Saturday (which allowed two quick first-quarter touchdowns), the defense has proved superb--almost without weakness. Despite a merely workmanlike pass rush, the Harvard front five (left end Dave Otto, left tackle Chuck Durst, middle guards Tony Finan or Scott Murrer, right tackle Tim Palmer and right end Justin Whittington) has been tough on the rush and awesome inside its own 20-yd. line. Linebacker Bob Woolway is a probable All-Ivy pick.

While many people expected the front five to be impressive, no one anticipated the stunning emergence of the Crimson's defensive backfield, an inexperienced corps has singlehandedly won several ballgames for Harvard. Take cornerback Rocky Delgadillo, a junior who saw limited action last year. All he's done is intercept an Ivy League-leading seven passes (including one for 93 yds. and a touchdown in the 20-12 victory over Cornell). Senior safety Mike Jacobs, who has four interceptions and the game-saving play on a two-point conversion in Harvard's 17-16 triumph over Brown, junior cornerback Pete Coppinger, who had two interceptions against Yale last year, and senior adjustor Matt Foley round out an impressive secondary.

One potentially dangerous development for the Crimson came last Saturday at Penn when Durst, the Harvard captain, re-injured his left knee. He is now questionable for The Game. Another All-Ivy candidate and Harvard's leading tackler, Durst's loss could be devastating for the Crimson.

The defense will get no gifts from Yale's improving offense either. In addition to Diana (110-yd. rushing average per game), the Elis feature a pair of quarterbacks, junior starter John Rogan, who plays a classic, stand-up game, and senior Phil Manley, who runs a graceful option. Split end Curt Grieve has snared 29 passes ("Carm is starting to throw the ball more"--Restic) and fullback captain John Nitti make for an intimidating offensive picture.

Harvard's other big surprise this year has been its running game. Healthy at last, junior fullback Jim Callinan, (425 yds. for a 4.5 per carry average) has emerged as one of the League's premier backs: but that's one thing Yale already knows. As a sophomore, Cal emerged from obscurity in The Game to pick up 73 yds. rushing, a touchdown and player-of-the-game honors. Senior halfback Tom Beatrice, one of Harvard's most reliable performers for two years, joins Callinan in the backfield alone with senior Paul Connors or junior Jim Acheson. A highly-touted local recruit, Connors has been plagued by the fumble and Acheson has come on strong of late, accumulating 57 yds. on the ground against Penn.

But like a black-caped villain lurking in the shadows, a Yale defender stands ready to disrupt any Harvard offensive thrust. He goes by the menacing name of Keven Czinger, and he plays middle guard for the Elis. A three-year varsity starter, Czinger will play opposite sophomore Harvard center John Francis, a fourth-stringer before injuries felled the Crimson's three top men at the position. Francis has played admirably, but Czinger might prove too tough. The absence of Yale's leading tackler, linebacker Jeff Roher, who broke an ankle two7CrimsonNevin I. ShalitHarvard captain and defensive tackle CHUCK DURST [72] and middle guard TONY FINAN [95] converge on Columbia quarterback BOB CONROY in Harvard's 26-6 opening day victory.