I’ve come across some impressive statistics in my time covering Harvard football.

I remember when Brad Wilford ’00 quarterbacked the 1999 squad to 640 yards of total offense en route to a record-setting 63-21 win over Dartmouth. I remember when Neil Rose lit up the Brown secondary last year for a school-record 436 passing yards. I remember how Carl Morris first burst into the limelight in that same game, catching 10 of Rose’s passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns.

In addition to the amazing offensive performances I’ve seen over the past two seasons, the defense and special teams also provided many superlative efforts. I remember when Dante Balestracci intercepted two Dartmouth passes and returned them both for touchdowns in a 49-7 thrashing of the Big Green. I remember when Chuck Nwokocha ’01 stunned the Yalies in last year’s Game when he streaked 94 yards to return an Eli kickoff for a touchdown.

Even after three games this season, there has been much material for the highlight reel and frequent fodder for those who fawn on Crimson Sports Sunday.

Last Saturday, for example, junior linebacker John “The Doctor” Perry rumbled 85 yards to score off a recovered fumble. He was joined on the stat sheet by sophomore defensive lineman Brendan McCafferty, who also scooped up a Northeastern fumble and returned it for a score.

But those stunning touchdown returns weren’t the most important statistics from last week’s game. In fact, the most important and telling number of last weekend’s game can’t be measured in yards, turnovers, or time of possession.

It is measured in the only category that counts—wins.

After Saturday’s 35-20 victory, the Crimson is now 3-0 for the first time since the Ivy championship season of 1987, and more importantly, for the first time in the tenure of Harvard Coach Tim Murphy.

One might not think that starting 3-0 is that important, especially given that Murphy’s 1997 squad lost one of its first three games and went on to complete the only undefeated Ivy campaign in school history. Then again, the way in which Harvard has played and won these contests has to be particularly pleasing to Murphy and his coaching staff.

In the last two seasons, the Crimson has repeatedly shown flashes of brilliance tainted by inconsistencies with ball control and lapses of defensive intensity in a game’s waning moments. These fatal flaws have accounted for several blown leads and many losses that should have been wins.

Certainly Murphy was aware of his team’s inability to close out games and win with consistency. He might have even been aware of a more ominous statistic.

Murphy entered the 2001 season with a .471 career winning percentage as Harvard’s head coach. In the 128 years of Crimson football, only two other men have lower winning percentages.

Arthur Valpey, who had a career .294 winning percentage, only coached the Crimson for two years before he was replaced by Lloyd Jordan in 1950. Jordan went on to coach only seven seasons and finished with a .440 winning percentage.

So, simple math tells us that Murphy, who is entering his eighth season as coach, is the longest serving head coach in Harvard history with the worst tack record of winning.

Few have questioned Murphy’s recruiting ability or his overall effectiveness as a mentor of the game. After all, his football program has produced NFL-caliber talent and has repeatedly drawn the attention of national scouts.