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Will the Butler Do It?

The Football Notebook

Junior running back Rufus Jones, who tore ligaments in his left knee two weeks ago against Cornell, said last night that he will wait at least until tomorrow to make a decision on when he could return to the Harvard lineup.

Jones, the Crimson's third leading rusher with 148 yards and its second leading pass receiver with seven catches, yesterday learned through arthroscopic surgery that he suffered both torn and strained ligaments.

The Memphis, Tenn. native said he possibly could return as soon as next weekend's Brown game, but that if he did so there would be a 50-50 chance for permanent damage to the knee.

His other option is major reconstructive surgery that would put his leg in a cast for six weeks, render him to crutches for six months and to rehabilitation for an entire year.

Jones, who said no decision has been made yet, said he will meet tomorrow with Dr. Arthur Boland, the team's head orthopedic surgeon.

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"I really want to play ball," said Jones, "but I've got to do what's best for Rufus."

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Despite all the talk of Harvard's vaunted defensive secondary, consider that through five games one year ago the Crimson's air traffic controllers had allowed just 589 yards passing.

Through five this year, the foursome of Frank Ciota, Cecil Cox, Lee Oldenburg and Ken Tarczy has allowed 895 yards through the air.

And though the quartet many consider the squad's finest group has picked off twice as many passes as it had at this point a year ago--and just two less than it did all of last year--it could be in for its biggest test of the year this weekend.

That's because senior Doug Butler, the all-time leading everything in Princeton history and the all-time leading passer in Ivy history, will tote his aerial show into town this weekend.

The talented Tiger, who last weekend threw for 438 yards, has completed 80 of 143 passes this season for 911 yards. In his career, Butler has thrown for 6265 yards and 40 touchdowns.

In comparison, Harvard signal caller Brian White has tossed for 1675 yards and 12 touchdowns in his career.

If there's a question about Butler, it's that in 126 career rushes he's lost 153 yards.

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