Last year, the Harvard football team, fresh off one of its best seasons ever, marched into Columbia on top of the world.

Although the defending Ivy League champions missed New York's famed Canyon of Heroes, the Lion fans threw them a ticker tape parade anyway--of beer bottles.

The Lions continued the salute by dishing out the first of six losses to the Crimson, a stunning 24-0 drubbing.

In tomorrow's season opener, the Crimson has a chance to exact some revenge on Columbia in the projectile-free confines of Harvard Stadium. The dawning of the 126th year of Harvard football gives the team a chance to atone for last year's disappointment.

"We're pumped to start the year," said senior wideout Terence Patterson. "We're hungrier this year--last year we were very flat. It's a different attitude."

The Crimson can surpass expectations tomorrow by proving it has addressed two of its main deficiencies from last year--passing offense and run defense. Columbia was able to hold Harvard to 91 yards through the air while churning out 196 on the ground.

Murphy hopes to have revitalized his team's anemic air attack by starting senior Brad Wilford at quarterback. Wilford takes over the reins from senior three-year starter Rich Linden.

In his limited action, Wilford has demonstrated a much stronger arm than Linden and has impressed both coaching staff and teammates in spring practice and the preseason.

"[Wilford] had an excellent spring and showed no drop-off in preseason," Harvard Coach Tim Murphy said. "Kids develop at different rates and last year the passing game took a fall while Brad kept coming and coming."