"The opportunity to have played football at Harvard [during] the Harvard-Yale game of 1953 remains a memorable highlight. [It] was an invaluable experience which both enriched and greatly influenced my life at that time, as well as in the years that have followed," Culver says.

"The Yale game," adds Fish, "is the biggest game in the East and always will be. When we played Yale we were both unbeaten and were playing for the national championship. Every seat was taken."

Congressman Fish illustrates the significance of The Game when he played. "[A friend of mine] got three tickets to the Yale game. It was very hard to get tickets. Jerry didn't care about football and he wanted to smoke the ticket. I said that instead of wasting it, you're going to sell that ticket. He got $50."

And those were pre-inflation, 1910 dollars.

Fish said that he can't attend The Game any longer because he has a hard time "getting around," regardless of his football background.

"Yale is Yale. If you beat Yale you have had a successful football team. If you lose, you don't," says Peabody. "Everybody before The Game is tension-filled. It's like an election,"

The governor adds, "You can expect the other team to play inspired football against the team, especially if you're the favorite. The underdog has a great chance of pulling it out. One year when Yale had only won one game, they played tougher than Michigan or Navy. We were lucky to come out of it in one piece."

To be fair, someone from Yale ought to have the chance to say something. Wisconsin Senator William Proxmire--an Eli alumnus and varsity football letterman--recalls his impressions of The Game.

The Game "has such a marvelous, long tradition. They [the Bulldogs] have great respect for Harvard. It's a great superb school, but it's The Game and you want to win."

Senator Proxmire adds, "You don't have any hatred or animosity between the two teams or the two schools. Just a lot of respect. That is what makes The Game so unique."

Senator Kennedy of Massachusetts--easily recognizable to politicos and football fans alike--played split end for the Crimson in the 1955 Game, and his memories of the contest remain particularly vivid.

"To be frank, the thing I remember most about The Game was catching our only touchdown pass. It was a special spirit in that game, even though we lost."

Senator Kennedy adds, "The Game brought out our competitiveness, our feelings for each other, and a real sense of tough but fair play. When I look back on it, it is with nostalgia and affection for The Game and for Harvard."

Kennedy continues, "All things considered, however, I still would rather have won and by a big score. So my message this year is: BEAT YALE!"