Asked whether he thought the Columbia program was heading in the right direction, Paul said, "in the first half I thought we were."

***

As far as Murphy is concerned, the word out of Columbia is that no one has seen or heard from the senior punter since he dressed and left immediately after the game.

Speculation is that the Long Island native will leave the team.

Several Lion players are reportedly upset with Garrett's comments about Murphy, and worried whether they'll be the next one singled out.

***

Garrett's postgame comments stole the spotlight Saturday from a second-half Harvard performance that ranks as one of the program's all-time best.

Down 17-0 early in the third quarter, Harvard (1-0) scored on seven consecutive possessions, with six of those coming within a 15-minute span.

The 49 points set a Harvard record for most points in a half.

The 49 points were the most in one game since Harvard spanked the Lions, 57-0, in 1973, and the fifth highest point total of the last 30 years. The last two times Harvard scored more than 49 points the opponent was also Columbia.

Harvard's seven touchdown drives lasted an average of five plays per drive and an average of 2:03. The longest drive, the last, took eight plays and 4:23. The shortest, the second, lasted one play and took seven seconds.

Harvard has now won seven in a row from the Lions, one short of the series record. The Crimson has also won nine of the last 10, is 10-2 all-time in opening-day games against Columbia (0-1) and has never lost at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium at Baker Field.

Interestingly enough, Columbia has never won at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium at Baker Field.

***

You'd never know it from his reaction, but Crimson Coach Joe Restic moved into a tie Saturday with John Yoviscin for first place on Harvard's all-time football coaching victory list.