If you're a Princeton coach or player looking for a tip for this weekend's game, you're out of luck.

We don't have the plays, and we wouldn't given them to you anyways.

A minor controversy broke out two weeks ago, of course, after it was revealed that the Green Bay Packers had the San Francisco 49ers' script for the first 16 offensive plays. Apparently, a copy belonging to Bill Walsh fell into the opposition's hands.

That broaches an interesting subject, one which every armchair quarterback has asked at one time or another. Just how do football players learn all those offensive plays?

One newcomer to the offense is senior Mike Kent. He played defensive end for two years then switched to tight end this season. Tight ends draw double duty as blockers and receivers, which made the transition that much tougher. So if anyone knows anything about learning the Harvard football system, it's Kent.

"Learning a playbook is not the easiest thing to do," Kent said. "We have 10 or 12 running plays that you have to know the blocking schemes for. I don't even know how many pass plays we have; you have to learn to recognize defensive fronts and secondaries."

Kent said the playbooks for the two sides of the ball are very different. "On defense, you react as a play comes toward you. You have a few stunts, but it is overall easier to learn."

Let's make one thing clear before any large, angry men come knocking at The Harvard Crimson's door: defensive players are just as intelligent as anyone else around. Admittedly, however, that side of the ball centers around quick reactions and instincts, inborn qualities which are only partially refinable,

So while a defensive playbook involves a few blitzes and coverages, Harvard's offensive plays go in a three-inch thick binder.

Most players will tell you that mastering this binder is tough. That's not enough for this paper. This paper is not afraid to ask the hard questions and to take in-depth reporting to a new level.

Does a Harvard education help at all?

"I think all players find it difficult," Harvard coach Tim Murphy said. "But I think the players at Harvard find it easier."

That's an encouraging sign, coach. But the people who can best answer how the complicated multiple pro-set offense compares to classwork are probably the players themselves.

"There is no parallel at all," junior flanker Jared Chupaila said.

"It's kind of related but not really," junior quarterback Jay Snowden said.