Linden put his head down, and Blake put his head on the ball. Yale recovered at the Harvard 15.

Harvard's defense continued to play well--the Bulldogs only had eight first downs and 176 net yards to Harvard's 18 and 273--and forced a 27-yard field goal attempt.

Given a second chance, Murawczyk converted. As the ball disappeared through the uprights, so did Harvard's chance to salvage a .500 season. The loss also left a bitter taste in the Crimson's mouth.

"This is one of the toughest defeats of my career," Murphy said. "It was like being in a nightmare."

After the glory of 1997, the question for 1998 was whether the program had acquired enough talent and enough of a winning attitude to stay strong in 1998.

Although the team showed character in rallying, it did so against inferior opponents. The three best teams in the league beat the Crimson in the last three weeks of the season.

Questions that were not answered satisfactorily in 1998 still remain for next season, as well as the new, openly acknowledged quarterback controversy.

In the spring game, Linden played with the first-team offense for the first half then Wilford took over for the second as planned. Wilford was more impressive and showed great arm strength.

"Every coach's goal is to have a clear number one," Murphy said. "It will be more of a competition than it's been. Because of that, hopefully the cream will rise to the top."

Last year, the offensive line had problems protecting the quarterback, and Linden took a beating. He had two surgeries during the off-season.

"I really think that even we lost four starters and three other kids to career-ending injuries [this spring], this group has a chance to be a more athletic group than last year," Murphy said. "They'll need all 28 practices to get experience to be tough and seasoned."

At running back, Menick will have some competition. Although Damon Jones has quit in part because of a persistent groin injury, Murphy said Harvard is in an "enviable position."

Troy Jones is coming back for a fifth year, and freshman Jared Lewis played well in the Spring Game. Sophomore Chuck Nwokocha, last year's No. 2, also returns.

Unlike the 2-8 season of 1995 or the 4-6 season of 1996, Harvard's 4-6 year was even more bitter because it did not beat Yale and because of high expectations.

After failing to live up to its status as favorites, Harvard will have to go back to the mentality with which it is most familiar: the underdog.