During the Lehigh game, the Crimson suffered an apparently serious setback when Troy Jones injured his ankle. Murphy was forced to hand the ball off to Menick full-time and hope for the best. He never relinquished control.

Menick gained 74 yards and scored once in the Crimson's only losing effort of the year against a Bucknell team noted for its defense. As Menick racked up multiple hundred-yard games, Hu's shadow quickly faded away. The debate shifted from how much better Hu was than Menick to who was the better back.

"I basically try to go out and play my game," Menick said. "I try not to play with pressure; the only pressure that counts is what I put on myself."

In a pantheon of impressive games, two performances especially standout.

With Harvard blossoming into a bona fide Ivy League contender, Menick single-handedly demolished Holy Cross. In a game that turned into an offensive showcase, Menick was the feature attraction. He ran the ball 34 times for a whopping 261 yards, an output second in Harvard history only to the 323 yards Matt Johnson '92 gained against Brown in 1991. On one Crimson drive, Murphy gave the ball to Menick on all but one play until he reached the end zone for one of his three touchdowns on the day. Harvard easily won that game 52-24.

"The Holy Cross game is really special," Menick said. "I had never rushed for 200 yards before, not in high school or even at lower levels of competition."

The following week Harvard hosted Princeton on a cold, rainy day. Harvard needed a win to stay undefeated in the Ivy League in preparation for its game against defending-champion Dartmouth. Due to the muddy field conditions, Murphy simplified his offense to short and mid-range passes and handoffs to Menick. Menick bore the entire rushing load, carrying the ball 42 times for 125 yards as the Crimson edged the Tigers 14-12 on a late field goal by sophomore Mike Giampaolo. His 42 carries topped Hu's school record ,of 40.

"The Princeton game was sweet from a team perspective," Menick said. "It was such a big game. Watching Mike's kick go through was just a great feeling. I was glad to contribute."

Menick also topped 200 yards against Brown, racing for 201. This performance is almost overlooked since it came after the Crimson's stunning 24-0 win over Dartmouth which gave Harvard the lead in the Ivy race. Not only had no Harvard player ever rushed for two 200-yard games in one season before, but nobody has done it over the span of a career.

Especially after the Princeton game, Menick proved he has the willingness to assume almost the entire rushing load and a workhorse mentality. His willpower and stamina have earned the respect of his team.

"Chris is a warrior," Murphy said. "The intangibles he brings are something you don't see until you've watched him play. He's indefatigable and getting better with each game."

"I think the guys really respect me and the things I've done," Menick said. "I am not a big talk guy, but I try to let my actions speak for me. Since I'm still a sophomore, I just try and lead by example."

Despite his spectacular success, Menick remains remarkably focused on the task at hand. He never allows his statistics to interfere with what he has to do on a daily basis. Regardless of his particular assignment, he brings the same philosophy to every game.

"I just try to take things one carry at a time and push as hard as I can," Menick said. "I know that the minute I let up is the minute the other team begins to come back."

Although Menick is keenly aware of the legendary season he is having, his main goal is still to win. Breaking records is secondary to the team's success. Yale will certainly face a running back focused on doing whatever it takes for the team to win, even if it means forgoing another place in the annals of Harvard football.

"I concentrate on my own game," Menick said. "I do not take anything for granted, for I know that the moment I start thinking about stats it really will screw me up."

Nothing has been screwed up for Menick this year. Although, like a veteran, he has helped lead the Crimson to its first Ivy League title in 10 years, it is easy to forget that he is just a sophomore. Menick most likely will improve each season he plays. If he can post similar numbers for the remainder of his career he will wind up as Harvard's new all-time leading rusher.

Then, three years from now, another feature back will have the daunting task of escaping from Chris Menick's shadow