September 22, 1979: Harvard 26, Columbia 7

September 20, 1980: Harvard 26, Columbia 6

Despite the near-identical scores, any similarity between this year's opening day and last--and, Harvard hopes, the subsequent games--is purely coincidental.

A very new Crimson football team defeated the Lions Saturday afternoon at Harvard Stadium, featuring a young, renovated and explosive offense and an established, almost aristocratic defense.

The difference began at quarterback, where Brian Buckley, the heir apparent and ace-in-the-hole for so long, finally got his chance to start. The Marblehead native turned in a strong, if not error-free, performance, completing 11 of 20 passes for 137 yds. and two touchdowns.

And the chief beneficiary of the arrival of a real passer in Cambridge was an expasser himself, a quite celebrated one at that. Ron Cuccia, the Los Angeles high school superstar who, like Buckley, had to sit out last season with eligibility problems, exploded in his varsity and split end debut.

Telling

Buckley's first pass of the game told the story. On Harvard's first possession, an impressive eight-minute drive that ended in a 42-yd. Dave Cody field goal, Buckley dropped back on second and seven on the Harvard 43 and lofted a perfect spiral to the right sideline that Cuccia leapt for and snagged for a 13-yd. gain.

Cuccia went on to catch five more passes, and got open many more times than that. Coach Joe Restic was uncharacteristically effusive about Cuccia in a post-game press conference. "Cuccia just overpowers the field," the coach said. "He makes the cuts better than anyone we've had here at Harvard." Asked to compare his receiver to Randy Vataha, Restic said, "He's a lot like him, only Cuccia's faster--he'll run away from you once he gets the ball."

So Cuccia did--almost--in the best play of the game. With 28 seconds remaining in the half, Cuccia lined up to hold for a 39-yd. Cody field goal attempt. He took the snap, picked up the ball and weaved his bewildering way down the left sideline, only to be stopped by a desperation tackle at the one-yd. line.

What happened next typified the darker side of Harvard's almost entirely pleasant afternoon. With eight seconds showing on the clock, Harvard got off one play and was called offsides. In the ensuing confusion, the clock ran out and Cuccia's fake went for naught. Harvard went to the dressing room leading, 12-0, but sorely disappointed. "Time wasn't the factor there," Restic said afterward, "we just didn't get it done."

In fact, the carelessness that mangled that opportunity reflected a certain disorganization that might have proved costly against a more formidable opponent. The Crimson collected ten penalties for 100 yds., including two delays of game, three illegal procedures and three facemasks. "We just can't overcome 100 yards in penalties again," Restic said.

Resilience

Despite these understable opening-day mistakes, Buckley and the offense showed an impressive resilience, an ability to bounce back after mistakes and capitalize on good fortune. The opening drive, which resulted in the Cody field goal, continued for 17 plays and five first downs despite a gruesome 30 yds. in penalties. And on the next Harvard possession after Buckley threw a terrible interception to Columbia's Tom Nevitt, he led his mates 78 yds. in 11 plays for a 12-0 Harvard lead late in the second quarter.

Munificence, of a Sort