By season's end, the cagers produced an "Ivy League Shuffle" video (this was the year of the Chicago Bears) as well as a 20-6 record (9-3 in the Ivies). They even entertained slim hopes of receiving an invitation to the NCAA tournament.

Delaney Smith was a most personable coach of a most likeable team. Post-game cheese and cracker receptions for the players, their families and a small core of dedicated fans were the norm rather than the exception at home games.

One of the lingering images of my three years of covering Harvard sports remains that of President Derek Bok kneeling before the team as players collected their Ivy League championship trophies.

All hail the victors.

One purpose of sharing these two anecdotes has been to show the importance of perspective.

Covering Joe Restic's Harvard football team as it marched to the 1987 Ivy League title was a thrill I will always remember--especially the finale at the North Pole.

But in the end, it is the people who count most. I learned early on that you don't have to cover the "big time" sports to appreciate--or please--the people.

It is the people I will miss most.

Geoff Simon was sports editor from February of 1987 until January of this year.