The individual performances this season were great, but do not begin to approximate how well the team played together on the field. Harvard was a legitimate juggernaut this year, setting school records in a slew of offensive categories. Team marks fell as Harvard set new single-season total offensive yardage and first downs marks and scored the most points of any Harvard team this century. It also set single-game yardage, first down and offensive plays records against Holy Cross.

And in the most important statistic of all, Harvard also won nine games for the first time since its national-championship season of 1919, and had the first perfect Ivy season of any team in school history.

Harvard's defense, which ranked 99th in Murphy's first year, was arguably the best in Division I-AA. The Crimson finished second in scoring defense (12.3 points per game), fifth in rushing (81.9 yards per game) and pass efficiency (86.3 rating per game) defense, and 13th in total defense (264.8 yards per game).

The season started off with a bang, giving an indication that this year's offense would be explosive and the defense dominating. Harvard destroyed Columbia 45-7 in the home opener, running away at the beginning of the game and never looking back.

The Lions' sole score came on a bomb after a coverage breakdown, but that was merely an aberration. Junior running back Troy Jones had his first-ever 100-yard game and appeared to be the successor to Harvard's all-time career rusher, Eion Hu '97.

One week later, Harvard again seemed to be on its way to a laugher, as it entered the fourth quarter leading Lehigh 35-6. Menick rushed 15 times for a career-high 121 yards, and Jones added 97 before injuring his ankle. However, the Crimson gave up four consecutive passing touchdowns to Lehigh's second-string quarterback; fortunately, all four ensuing two-point conversion attempts failed and Harvard escaped, 35-30.

Up next was Bucknell, winner of eight of its last nine games dating to 1996. The Crimson jumped out to a 20-7 first-quarter lead, and it appeared that it was time for Murphy to begin looking over his shoulder for a Gatorade shower. But instead, Bucknell scored 17 unanswered points to shock Harvard, 24-20.

It would be a good lesson for the Crimson, who outgained Bucknell 338 to 272 but could not stop the Bison once the second-string quarterback entered the game. Harvard did not lose another game, showing much more late-game intensity and concentration, especially defensively.

The sole bright spot in the loss was the performance of senior receiver Colby Skelton, who appeared to have recovered completely from torn knee ligaments, as he caught five passes for 106 yards and set the career receptions mark. Skelton's four years ended with him atop the all-time Crimson lists in receptions, receiving yards, punt returns and punt return yardage.

An Ivy game followed, as the Crimson traveled to Cornell and chewed the Big Red up, 34-9. Harvard did not allow a touchdown and beat Cornell for the first time in 11 years.

"It was a thorough dismantling," said Cornell Coach Jim Hofher after the game. "I don't have to look at the videotape to know that they played well in every phase of the game."

Offensively, Harvard rolled over the Big Red defense for 464 yards and four touchdowns. Cornell, meanwhile, floundered with only 247 total yards and three field goals.

Linden completed 20 of 27 attempts for a career high 266 yards, and Menick rushed for 144 yards and three touchdowns, both career-highs. Menick's rushing total would have been even higher if he had not been credited with a 20-yard loss on a fumbled reverse attempt.

It was just the kind of victory Harvard needed after the heartbreaking loss to Bucknell. The Crimson took a 10-6 lead into halftime and never looked back, outscoring Cornell 17-0 in the third quarter.

The good vibrations carried over to the next game, a 52-24 whipping of Holy Cross. It became "set-a-record" day at the Stadium. Not only did the school yardage, first-down and offensive-plays marks all change, but Menick had an incredible day, carrying the rock 34 times for 261 yards, an average of 7.7 yards per carry. He and Linden each scored three rushing touchdowns on the day.