"A big area of discussion is the 1000-1100 SAT range. Under the Academic Index, Penn can take more students with these scores than we can, but we were never going to take hoards of people from that range anyway," he says.

Reardon also expresses doubt about the overall success of the index, citing the exceptions made in order to remedy the failures of the academic index.

Columbia's athletic standings were historically so low that the school was given a temporary release from the academic index. Now that it has built itself back up, that release has ended.

"The formula is something to worry about when people need exceptions." Reardon says.

And although many of the University's critics claim that it has an unfair advantage because everyone who its accepted attends, Carol Kleinfelder, coach of the women's lacrosse team, says she does not see that.

"I don't think we have a high yield in women's athletics," she says. "I don't know if women view it as a tough place for them or what. I do think cities scare them a little more and I don't know why but a lot of girls seem more comfortable in a safer place like Dartmouth."

Building the Best

With academic standards playing a key role in shaping teams, coaches must sometimes search far and wide for suitable candidates.

Murphy begins his recruiting process for the next year in February with a blanket mailing to every school in the United States and Canada.

High school coaches are asked to respond and inform the staff if they believe they have any candidates. In addition, Murphy and his staff look at Blue-Chip and other national and regional recruiting publications, and get input from alumni across the country.

Additionally, each spring, early prospects are sent cards which they are asked to complete with their academic and athletic profiles.

"This gives us access on paper to all the supposed Ivy football prospects," Murphy says. "The bad news is that most of the kids are not academically Harvard material and most are not division one caliber players, but this is where you have to start."

According to Murphy, by June the list is whittled down to 3000 "suspects" and then further cut to 800 by December 1.

In a visiting period between December 1 and March 1, Murphy estimates that he spends five days a week on the road. Last year he personally visited 83 recruits between Maine and California.

Finally, in March, the coaches and admissions officers determine the 35 recruits that they agree are "Harvard Material."