In the fall of 1996, a legend invited the captain to Harvard.

Mike Clare, a star for Rutherford High School who had only recently grown into his elephant frame, came to Cambridge and was greeted by 6'4, 285-lb. left tackle Matt Birk '98. Birk was in the midst of a breakout season, a quantum leap in development that ultimately left him over 300 lbs. and the starting center for the Minnesota Vikings. But on that day his assignment was Clare.

"Birk was just amazing to me," Clare said. "He was my host on my recruiting visit and just took me under his wing. Meeting him was one of the reasons I came to Harvard."

For his freshman season, Clare stood on the sidelines watching Birk manhandle his opposition, often blocking two defenders at once. The Crimson steamrolled all Ivy foes en route to its first-ever undefeated season in the conference. When the NFL beckoned Birk, Harvard Coach Tim Murphy found that he had left behind the perfect replacement.

Clare, the current captain of the football team, now stands at 6'4, 315 lbs., every bit the NFL prospect Birk was his senior season.

"I don't think our next transition at left tackle will be as seamless," Murphy said.

Harvard will need Clare and the rest of the offensive line at their very best because it is one of the few stable positions on the squad in this year of radical change. The team graduated nine seniors on defense, including the dominant Isaiah Kacyvenski '00 and the starting quarterback, running back, tight end and top wide receiver.

As the rest of the team learns on the job, Clare can turn to the returning center, senior John Kadzielski, who can turn to the returning right guard, junior Danny Kistler, and reminisce on the growing pains they experienced a year ago. Back then, the line struggled to replace four graduated blockers, with Clare the lone veteran.

Times have changed.

"We've really gelled as a unit and are solid up front," Kadzielski said. "We are confident that our offense will be great this year, but we know we have the most experience."

Not that the line is without its own question marks. Junior guard Justin Stark is sidelined with an injury that has thrust two sophomores into the starting lineup. Dan Weidle will suit up next to Clare at left guard with Jamil Soriano manning the other end at right tackle.

It is new offensive line Coach Jim Turner's job to make sure that this group performs up to the Crimson's own expectations. With a quarterback that will have thrown, at most, six varsity passes in his career and a running back in Chuck Nwokocha who, at 5'6, even Murphy has called a "smurf," the blocking must be superb.

The outlook is positive so far with Weidle responding the best to Turner's exhortations. He has made dramatic improvements after slimming down from over 300 pounds of flab to a "svelte" 290.

"Turner has command status," Clare said. "He knows his stuff, is loud and just won't take 'no' for an answer. He uses his military background to order us around and we've latched onto him."

Whenever doubts arise about the Crimson linemen, one glance in Clare's direction instantly quells all concern. The team recognizes him as its best player and hardest worker. Over the summer he was a fixture at the Murr Center, honing his strength and technique.