PRINCETON, N.J.--The suspense is over. The Columbia football team gained collegiate gridiron immortality here at Palmer Stadium Saturday afternoon by falling to Princeton, 38-8.

The loss was Columbia's 35th in a row, shattering Northwestern's previous Division I record of 34 (set from 1979-'82).

Columbia last won October 15, 1983 when it defeated Yale, 21-18.

Columbia Coach Larry McElreavy told an overflow media crowd after the record-breaking defeat that his team would win, sooner or later.

"I think we can still win some football games this year," McElreavy said. "We have some good football players here, and we will win."

"We were not mentally prepared to play this game," McElreavy added. "That's not an excuse, that's a fact."

Another fact is that the Lions were beaten by a trio of their own former players.

The brothers Garrett--quarterback Jason, running back Judd, and wide receiver John--transferred from Columbia in 1985 after their father, Jim Garrett, resigned under pressure as Columbia's head coach following a winless 1985 season.

On Saturday, the three brothers got a measure of revenge, accounting for four of Princeton's five touchdowns, and 330 of the Tigers' 524-yd. offensive attack.

Princton scored on each of its first three possessions, utilizing only 14 snaps and the big-play ability of the Garretts to take a 21-0 lead.

Judd (19 carries for 147 yards, three touchdowns) opened the scoring when he scampered 58 yards on the game's second play from scrimmage. Five plays later, Jason hooked up with brother John (three receptions for 90 yards) on a fly pattern for a 74-yd. scoring bomb.

Judd Garrett blasted up the middle for a one-yd. touchdown run seven plays later to give Princeton a commanding lead before the end of the first quarter.

"We tried to treat it as a normal game," said Jason, who passed for 173 yards. "A lot of people made a big deal about the streak, and we just wanted to get it over with."

"We know a lot of guys on the other side of the ball," Jason continued, "and they're good guys. A situation like this just snowballs on you."

Princeton did not let up, as fullback Jerry Santillo ran four yards for a second-quarter score to give Princeton a 28-0 halftime lead. Judd scored the final Tiger touchdown on an eight-yd. run late in the third quarter, while placekicker Rob Goodwin kicked a 41-yd. field goal to close out the Princeton scoring.