Earlier that season he had said. "The only time it [the Multiflex] doesn't go is when we negate it."

Players also found Restic's frequent dalliances with the pros distracting. At various times during his career here, the Harvard coach has reportedly been offered head coaching positions with the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles in addition to the offensive coordinator role with the Los Angeles Rams Restic never seems to be in a hurry to deny the job rumors that perenially swirl around him. He is understandably concerned with the way he is perceived.

"One's reputation," he told the Globe Saturday, "is also a thing of concern."

The letter had a peculiar history since it was written in December 1981. Reports surfaced almost immediately after the season that Restic was considering an offer to become often skive coordinator of the Rams. The seniors did not want to present the letter while Restic was negotiating because they thought it might drive him away from Harvard and thus cost many well respected assistant coaches their jobs.

But after Restic rejected the I A job this spring, the players took no further action and had not gotten around to showing the letter to seven seniors by last week. Several players described the entire letter writing and signing process as badly organized." A group of seniors reportedly were planning to show the letter to Restic Monday Subsequent public discussion of the letter in the local and national press has been extensive--and some of it inaccurate especially a Sunday New York Times story that said the letter was sent to The Crimson.

Now that 17 seniors have signed the letter to The Crimson that attacks the newspaper and lauds Restic as a "gifted coach," the effect of the original team letter seems uncertain. A statement originally in the letter to The Crimson that "Seniors whose signatures do not appear above could not be reached" is untrue. Several players refused to sign it asked that their names be removed. The players had important things to say, assessments of the coach and the program that could have improved Harvard football. But now that they have virtually recanted, intimidated by the heat, the changes easy never come. The players have made it easy for Restic--or anyone else--to portray the whole issue as the product of a few malcontented publicity bounds.

That would be a false impression. But that is the impression 17 scared football players have left. The tough got going--running for cover.