The summer was serious as well, however. Nowinski consulted from 8-5 then went to the gym until 9 or 10 p.m. before "we'd all squeeze in the kitchen and fight for the one Teflon pan." Kacyvenski, who is a rare combination of pre-med, pre-NFL, worked in a lab at Tufts Medical School.

There's a slim possibility of a Polish Connection at the next level. Kacyvenski's start this weekend will make him the first player in Harvard football history to start 40 games in a career. He already has the school record for single-game, single-season and career tackles and will probably be drafted.

Nowinski is not as much of a sure thing but has come on strong since last season and will probably have a chance as a free agent.

"I have somewhat of a shot," Nowinski says. "I don't know what I want to do, I'm going to put all my eggs in the go-play-professional-football basket and not give myself a backup and use that as motivation, or I'll be homeless."

"He came in here, and he was really soft," Kacyvenski says. "I've seen him mature, he takes on double teams like it's nothing."

"One of my famous moments this year, it was a block-back from the center, and he grabbed my arms, so I reached out and headbutted the running back down. I was the only one to touch him," Nowinski says.

"That has nothing to do with the story, though," Kacyvenski says.

"But it's an example of my maturation."

The Game is probably the last time the Polish Connection will play together, but both say that their off-the-field bond will last for the rest of their lives.

"Maybe our kids will be the next generation of the Polish Connection," Nowinski says.

Even if their teammates don't buy into the Polish Connection hype, they'll admit that next year's defense will struggle to fill a gaping hole up the middle with the same talent and leadership that Kacyvenski and Nowinski provide.

And deep down inside, they're probably jealous about the t-shirts as well.