"And the other part is, what's going to happen to the freshmen academically? They've never been here. Coming in, without the benefit of even one semester, I can only see one thing happening; great attrition in the freshman and junior varsity programs."
It's a losing battle Restic is fighting, a one-man Alamo garrison. It's part of the reason Restic's getting out after 23 years.
"I would coach the rest of my days if I felt the sport would go in a good direction," Restic says. "There are a lot of things that need to be done. Football isn't going to survive the way it's going today."
But it will survive at Harvard. That--not the five Ivy titles, not the 113 or so wins--will be Restic's legacy.
Not at Harvard, he says. Not at Harvard.
"Harvard's been doing it the right way." Restic said, enunciating for emphasis. "The Ivy League has been doing it the right way. I just see things happening....Harvard has to be out in front when it comes to that part. Harvard has to be a beacon in that respect. Not only to the League, but to the game."
John B. Trainer is a Crimson staff writer. He wants to note that in 1980, Restic said that if he believed in reincarnation, he'd want to come back as a sportswriter. He also said that John should be the next head coach of Harvard football.
RESTIC FOR THE RECORD
A collection of quotes from over the many years....
* July, 1973, on the proposed legalization of gambling on college football: "The idea of legalizing gambling on amateur sports by Massachusetts could only result from a moral breakdown similar to Watergate."
* December, 1981, after Ivy League football was demoted to I-AA status: "I'm very disappointed. I just can't believe what's happening....How can you justify a battle for TV money on an educational basis? There is no question that young football players have become commercial pawns."
* November, 1989, after winning his 100th game: "Win or lose, do it in a class way. That's what I've always tried to teach here, because that's what playing football is all about. I think that's what coaching is all about, also."
* June, 1993, on whether he might have visualized himself in this position 22 years ago: "I don't look that far ahead. I don't have five-year plans. I don't have 10-year plans. I don't believe in communism. It doesn't work."