Last week, the Harvard football team had a shot at becoming the first lvy spred since 197to go an between in langue play.

Now, if this leam makes history, it will be a dubious distinction. After been Penn throttled Harvard, 38-7, last week the Cantabs became odds-on favorites to becomes, instead, the best by Ivy runners up in years.

Barting an extremely unlikely Cornell agent of Penn (6-0) in ivy play), Harvard (0-1) and Yale (4-2) are playing for around place. If the Crimson becomes break from its worst loss since 1973 and wins The Game, it will be the first 6-1 team since 1965 not to win an Ivy title.

The two-time defending co-champions began the year with one aim. "Our goal is to win it outright. "Coach jot said at season's start. That goal come screeching to and end last week at Penn.

"We came so far from out of nowhere," Captain Steve Abbott said. "And then to just fall short. It just hurts."

Two years ago the Crimson entered the game with a similar case of depresion, having just last a chance to clinch the title in Philadelphia. Penn was shot war, 23-21, after a controversial roughing the kicker call gave the Quakers a second chance to boot in the winning field goal with no time left on the clock.

What happened the following Saturday? Harvard racked up its biggest The-Game point total, pummeling Yale, 45-7. To top things off. Cornell shocked Penn, 23-0, to give Harvard a share of he first very crown since 1975.

Restic remembers that year, and he won't count his team out of the race for a third straight share of the title. "We have to win." Restic said Wednesday. "There's still a chance."

When the 1984 Crimson runs its offense, it runs its offense. Dives, options, sweeps, traps, counters, the occasional play-action pass characterize the Crimson attack.

It helps to have two of the three best running back in the league. Junior fullback Rob Santiago leads the lies with 816 yards, fourth on the Crimson's all-time single-season list. Senior tailback Mark Vignali's 689 yards place him third in the league.

It's also nine to have the lvies, best option quarterback: junior Brian White. He's such a good runner that he scrambles as often as he throws.

His arm has been no more than average. So far, all the successful passes have come on play action. This team has no come-from-behind explosiveness; it has never won a game after trailing in the second half.

The Crimson began as the least experienced team in the league, returning only seven starters from its 1983 co -champion squad. True to from, the Cantabs struggled through the early part of its season without a convincing win.

Only magnanimous schedule-makers kept things from being far worse Harvard's first three Ivy opponents were the league's worst teams (Columbia, Cornell and Dartmouth).

The gridders started off with an omen of things to come, as Santiago tallied 204 yards against Columbia, the second best rushing day in Harvard history. Harvard took the inaugural game at Wien Stadium, 35-21.

For those with a memory, the trip to Hanover was the highlight of the year. Not because the Big Green was a worthy opponent, but because Harvard hadn't beaten Dartmouth since 1978. "This is like a Yale game in the middle of the year." said Vignali, who dashed to 177 yards as the Crimson triumphed, 21-7.

By the time the real challenge came around, the season was halfway over. At Princeton, everything came together in a 17.15 squeaker. The defense, led by senior cornerback Brian Bergstrom (2 interceptions). Stymied the most explosive offense in the lvies.

Harvard's ground attack centered on Vignali, who fired on all cylinders to the tune of 171 yards. But the key play of the game came with 2:40 remaining, when Harvard had a third and eight on its 22. White scrambled for 19 yards and the Crimson held onto the ball until only II ticks were left on the clock. when it was too late for the Tigers toscore again.

Next came Brown, and detense again looked great. Harvard took a 14-0 lead into the second half, then quickly upped the margin to 17. The Bruins mounted a comeback, but the Crimson put the game away with five play, 75 yd. drive.

Everyone was waiting for penn, the showdown for the title that had been in the works since the start of year. The two best teams, the histroy the rivaly. "Penn's not a rivalry; it's a war." senior offensive tackle Roger Caron said. "Nothing would be better (than beating Penn). It would be bigger than Yale. Definitely bigger."

What it was Harvard's worst loss since 1973's 35-0 debacle at the Yale Bowl. Harvard scored on its first drive and its offense promptly collapsed. From then on it was Penn, Penn, Penn, with a first-half injury to white thrown in for good measure.

Harvard had a chance to tie it the score at the end of the first half, but the Crimson missed two straight field goal attempts. A tight 10-7 game turned into a blowout when the Quakers returned the second half kickoff 92 yards for touchdown. Three touchdowns later Harvard was ready to play Yale. for second place.