The latter fact is significant only because this year's battle was almost reminiscent of that mighty battle a quarter of a century ago. Almost.

In the 1968 game, the Crimson scored two touchdowns and added two two-point conversions late in the fourth quarter to tie the Bulldogs, 29-29.

In this year's, contest, Harvard similarly found itself down late in the game, and then mounted a ferocious comeback--only this time it lost.

Trailing by 16 points with six minutes left, the team scored two dramatic late-game touchdowns to make the game close, but a failure to convert on the two point conversion after the first of those touchdowns spelled out its doom, 33-31.

It was a typical game for the Crimson--one of unrewarded hard work and lousy defense, but even more, it was just plain exciting.

"It was a little cracy, but that's what you've got to expect," Restic said afterwards. "After all, it was The Game."

2. THE HIRING DEC. 6, 1993

To an audience of about 150 gathered at the press conference announcing his hiring as Harvard's football coach, a congenial Tim Murphy articulated his plans for the future of Harvard football.

"I favor a simple, pro-style offense," he said. "This Dallas Cowboys have an offense like ours. Or maybe that should be the other way around."

It was a good joke, eliciting a chuckle from the audience. But even more, it was telling of the changes underway in Harvard's football program.

First, it showd a striking difference between Murphy's coaching philosophy and Restic's; Restic favored a complicated multi-flex offense, while Murphy favors a simpler, more up-front approach.

And second, it was a clear departure from the style of the old coach. Gone were the sometimes pedantic sermons of the aging Restic, and in were the Leno-like one-liners of a young, vibrant coach on the rise.

Murphy, 37, had been named to the coaching position after engineering a near-miraculous turnaround at the University of Cincinnati, turning a 1-9-1 program into an 8-3 team in five years.

His initial reception at Harvard was warm, to say the least.

"[Murphy's] goal is to win the league in three years," sophomore David Sprinkle said. "But I don't see why we can't do it this year."