"Odysseus, who grew up in the country, rough though it may be, of Ithaca, to know every manner of shiftiness and crafty counsels." Book Three, The Iliad

ITHACA, N.Y.--Odysseus won't be donning his armor for the 50th installment of the Harvard-Cornell football series here today.

But the Big Red (0-3 overall, 0-2 Ivy) could certainly use his cunning as it prepares for the 1:30 p.m. kickoff against the invading Cantabrigians (2-1, 1-0) at Schoellkopf Field.

Odysseus' career was long over before the first game of the off-red series back in 1890, when the Crimson prevailed, 77-0.

While Harvard has yet to live up to the standard of that opener, the gridders have enjoyed a 29-18-2 advantage through the series' first 49 contests.

Although the Crimson escaped with a 24-18 triumph last year, Harvard's last odyssey in Ithaca was not so successful.

Two years ago, on the plastic turf of Schoellkopf Field, Harvard--which was on its way to a share of the Ivy title--deadlocked a Big Red squad that was floundering to a 3-6-1 season.

Although Jim Villanueva's late field goal saved the tie for the visiting Crimson, that draw cost Harvard the outright Ancient Eight title that it hadn't claimed since 1975.

This season, Harvard has scored victories against Columbia and highly-touted UMass.

Perhaps more impressive, the Crimson dropped a close contest to Division I-AA's third-ranked squad, William & Mary, 21-14, a week ago at the Stadium.

Cornell, on the other hand, is riding a four-game losing streak and coming off a 2-7 campaign last year in which the Big Red averaged less than 10 points per game.

Commencement saw the Ithacans lose eight of their defensive starters, so the inexperience of the defensive unit is a big question mark for the hosts today.

Offensively, third-year Coach Maxie Baughan will look to quarterback Shawn Maguire (43-for-88, 366 yds., one TD, three interceptions) and running back John Tagliaferri (38 carries, 149 yds.).

Maguire epitomizes the contrasts in this Cornell squad; he is good by Cornell standards, but those standards just aren't that high.

The senior signalcaller is a three-year starter and holds or will soon hold most major Big Red career passing marks.