The Harvard football team enters the 2000 season with question marks all over the field.

The Crimson, ranked fifth in the Ivy League preseason poll, graduated a lot of experience last year on defense and at the offensive skill positions.

In total, the Crimson will be starting 16 new players as it attempts to replace the production of its all time leading rusher (Chris Menick '00, 3,330 yards), receiver (Terence Patterson '00, 146 catches), and tackler (Isaiah Kacyvenski '00, 395 tackles).

"If we had to open tomorrow against Holy Cross, 19 of our 24 starting positions would be underclassmen." Harvard Coach Tim Murphy said. "We are going to have to get some experience and grow up quickly."

On defense, the Crimson will have to replace nine starters while mustering a more effective pass defense, especially in the fourth quarter.

Harvard either led or was tied in the final quarter of all five games that it lost last year. The Crimson was repeatedly victimized by opposing pass attacks in the final minutes of each of those losses. Its coverage deficiency was most dramatically exploited in The Game when Yale quarterback Joe Walland threw for 437 yards, with the Elis handing the ball off just once in the second half.

Once again this year, every team that it faces will try to test it through the air.

The secondary will rely on junior cornerbacks Willie Alford and Andy Fried to contain opposing wide receivers.

Fried, a wideout last season, was switched to the defensive side of the ball after an ankle injury sidelined junior cornerback Ryan Dickerson during spring practices.

One of the biggest improvements in the secondary could come at free safety, where highly touted sophomore recruit Niall Murphy will replace the graduated Ben Green '00.

"Green was an Academic All-American last year," Coach Murphy said. "And Niall Murphy is bigger, stronger and faster than Green."

But despite the questions that persist about the secondary, it may be the most stable unit for the Crimson this year. At linebacker the Crimson needs to replace all its starters from last year.

A unit that started three seniors, including fourth-round NFL draft pick Kacyvenski, will now start two true freshmen, Dante Balestracci on the weak side and Jeffrey Reiman on the strong side, for the game against Holy Cross because of injuries to the top three upperclassman linebackers. Sophomore John Perry's injury especially hurt since Murphy had rated him the top linebacker coming out of spring camp.

Overall, the Harvard defense has looked fairly solid throughout the preseason, holding Southern Connecticut to six points in a scrimmage.

But the strength of the linebackers is critical as the Crimson defense places a premium on stopping the run and rushing the passer, lining up in a Virginia Tech-style "Attack Eight" front.