"Win one for the Gipper."

You won't hear a Harvard captain say this.

First of all. George Gipp (former Notre Dame football star) has been dead for half a century. Besides, he got his victory.

Second of all, Harvard captains--or. at least most of them--aren't the rah-rah types. They don't tend to give speeches, chew guys (or gals) out or spit in their teammates' faces to get them riled up.

No, Harvard captains are usually a sedate lot. They practice the other style of leadership. It's called leadership by example.

For some captains, that may mean scoring a lot of goals. Scott Fusco, the 1985-'86 Harvard hockey captain, finished his career as the Crimson's all-time leading scorer. Kelly McBride, last year's lacrosse captain, accumluated goals the way the U.S. accumlates foreign trade debts.

The message these captains gave their teammates was simple: here's the way you do it, folks. Follow me.

Other captains, those who are not scorers by nature, lead by working hard. In the off-season, they pump the most iron and run the most miles. They eat the right food. They floss their teeth twice a day.

Harvard captains can't be rah-rah types because their teammates wouldn't respond. As Harvard hockey Captain Steve Armstrong says, you can't tell a 20 or 21-year old, especially a 20 or 21-year old who goes to Harvard, something he doesn't already know.

It's a big game, kid.

"I know."

It means a lot, kid.

"I know."

All of us have to do our part, kid.

"I know."