This year has more than made up for his time on the pine. Barringer has turned in some all star performances, including an 11-catch effort in a losing cause against Holy Cross two weeks ago. The 11 catches--which netted 119 yards--put him fourth on the list of the best receiving days in Crimson history.

As a senior, Barringer is supposed to be a leader. And he is. But he leads in his own crafty way.

"He is a leader," Harvard receivers coach Mack Singleton says. "He's a quiet leader. You don't have to be a rah-rah guy to lead. He leads by example. He works hard. When we run the mile [in preseason], he's always first."

Barringer, who lives in nearby West Roxbury and speaks with a spicy New England accent, platoons at split end with Neil Phillips, a 6-ft., 5-in. basketball player picking up an extra varsity letter in the fall.

Phillips has many of the natural attributes Barringer lacks. But Barringer says, there is no competition between him and Phillips. They are cohorts in a conspiracy against opposing cornerbacks.

"He tells me what's going on when he's in there and I tell him what's going on when I'm in there," Barringer says. "We try to get on the defensive back, try to get on his case try to irritate the heck out of him."

"So Neil goes in one play and says, 'I got him that time,' and I go in the other and say, 'Yeah, I got him, too,'" Barringer adds. "It works well."

Like his teammates, Barringer is excited about the upcoming contest against Yale. For the first time since 1975, The Game will determine the undisputed Ivy League champion. Barringer hopes he's on the bus headed to title town.

"I went down [to Yale] sophomore year, and I couldn't believe it," Barringer says. "I looked up and saw the stands filled. This great round stadium full of people. It was incredible."

The Yale Bowl will be full again this Saturday. More than 70,000 people will see Brian Barringer in action. That is, if they can find him down there.

"We've got a big team," Barringer says. "Our offensive and defensive lines are huge, even compared to what I've seen in the past. Of course, I'm always looking up to these people anyway."

Brian Barringer--all 6-ft., 1-in, 185 lbs. of him--may be looking up to his teammates, but some Yale cornerback is going to have a devilish time looking out for him.