Harvard will only see left- coast teams again if it qualifies for the National Championships at Cincinnati. While Brown is the pre-season pick, Harvard undoubtedly has the horses to make a run.

"Brown has lost a lot of its superstars," Voldins said. "We look at ourselves as the underdogs. But I think that that is a good way to look at things."

Voldins mentioned that he is trying to get the team to peak for a dual meet at Brown for the Stein Trophy. Brown took the trophy for the first time in eight seasons last year.

Parker stresses that there are many races between now and then. It is much too early to look to Cincinnati or even to the Stein Trophy.

"We have a very long season ahead before we can even begin to think about Cincinnati," Parker said. "You can have a very good season without winning the National Championship."

Nevertheless, Voldins and his fellow oarsmen would be more-than-happy to row, row, row their boat back to a championship-a championship they last garnered two years ago.

And if the everything goes as planned, life will certainly be "but a dream" again.