Sophomore Peter Sharis rowed every race this year for the 8-1 varsity heavyweight squad after joining the program as a novice last season.

"I think the key attraction for the novices is that rowing is a very rewarding sport, especially if you're with the best," adds heavyweight Mike O'Toole, who transferred from the University of California to row with the Crimson. "People who want to row come here."

Most of the rowers in the lightweight program had never rowed prior to coming to Harvard so there is plenty of incentive for novices to compete for top positions within the program. The 1968 Harvard lightweight boat, which represented the United States in the Olympics, included only one oarsman who had rowed in high school.

Although the key factor in the success of the Crimson crews is the talent and commitment of the rowers, Parker and the coaching staff have played a major role in forming these legions of rowers into a solid core of fast boats.

"We operate on a standard set by the head coach [Parker]," lightweight Coach Charles Butt says. "Harry's a great model of hard work and he creates a spirit relishing competition. We try and make the program a lot of fun. despite it being so competitive."

Parker especially credits the freshman coaches for producing enough consistent and powerful freshman rowers to continue Harvard's winning tradition when they graduate to the varsity program.

"They keep the varsity and freshman programs well integrated," Parker adds. "The freshman program is where it all starts."

"What the coaches do here is create the idea that, `Yes, rowing is fun and a great way to spend time,'" Coyne says. "This includes a series of challenges designed to get you deeper into the program and to eventually get you hooked."

Since Parker began the novelty of year-round training for the spring crew season many years ago, it has become harder to get people to commit so much time of their collegiate lives throughout the academic year. Some of the special activities for the oarsmen during the off-season training period include the Tail of the Charles--the freshman equivalent of the Head of the Charles--in the fall, and the Crash-B Indoor Rowing Championships in the winter on MIT's simulation ergometers.

The Harvard crew program requires more than just talented, committed rowers and the best coaches in the country. It requires facilities and support, which it has been blessed with, according to Parker.

"We've got great water to practice on," says Harvard's coach, sitting in front of Newell boathouse and motioning to the placid Charles River.

Powerful rowers guided by motivational coaches in a competitive but also fun atmosphere on modern equipment at excellent facilities is the equation which has created so many winning crews in the Harvard rowing program. The equation hasn't changed since Parker joined the program in 1962, and it won't change in the future, insists the Crimson coach.

"It's a self-perpetuating dynasty," O'Toole claims.