After all, the Yale program, with 734 victories, is the winningest program in the history of college football. Harvard, with 670 all-time wins, is not far behind. The two coaches, Harvard's Joe Restic and Yale's Carm Cozza, are the deans of Ivy League coaching. Together, they have 218 wins at their schools.

Two winning programs. Two winning coaches. Two of the most respected colleges in the country. Two losing records.

It almost never happens. But this year is different. This year, they will be playing for pride.

"You play the whole season, game by game, and then it all comes down to Harvard--it's not just the last game," says Tom Giella, the captain of the Yale gridders in 1983. "It is mostly on pride. That's the big thing--especially now."

Giella captained a Bulldog team which limped home to a 1-9 mark. Now working as a corporate bond trader in a New York brokerage house, Giella saw his team's chances to salvage the 1983 season ruined when the Crimson downed the Elis, 16-7, in The 100th Game.

Harvard vs. Yale. A game, a rivalry, an institution. The oldest rivarly in college football, 103 showdowns and counting. One of the longest rivalries in the history of sports.

"There are really two seasons," Harvard reserve quarterback David Landau says. "The first is the Ivy championship and the second is the Yale game. This is our championship. This is how we can go out with something."

"Even if nothing else works out, you've still got the Yale game," Captain Collins says. "It's a season in itself. It's the only game with widespread attention. For the alums, you've had a winning season if you This is how we can go out with something."

"Even if nothing else works out, you've stillgot the Yale game," Captain Collins says. "It's aseason in itself. It's the only game withwidespread attention. For the alums, [who onlycame to The Game], you've had a winning season ifyou beat Yale and a losing season if you lost."

Yale Sucks/Screw Harvard

The rivalry is unique in sports. Why? Becausethe teams don't hate each other. The two schoolsdon't really hate each other, either.

Underneath the hype and rivalry is a sharedrespect. Root against the Yalies during the dayand then drink with them at night. That's theessence of this rivalry.

"Between Harvard and Yale--the institutions andthe football programs are so much alike," Collinssays. "There's a cameraderie after the game isover. You're playing against them in the day andthen they sleep in your room at night. Because ofthat, you gotta win."

In normal years, The Game is also important forits impact on the teams' final records. When yournew-found Yale drinking buddy brags that his teamwon The Game, you can at least say, "Well, Harvardhad a better record overall."

Not this year. With a pair of teams far under.500, teams which haven't seen the break-evenpoint since the second weekend of the season,there is no room for bragging about comparativerecords. This year is different....