Ahead 35-30 against Penn with three minutes left in the fourth quarter, Harvard's defense could not contain Gavin Hoffman, the Quakers' talented signal-caller. Hoffman hit wideout Rob Milanese with a little over a minute left in the game to put Penn ahead. Crimson quarterback Neil Rose marched the team down the field but the drive--and essentially, the team's hopes for an Ivy title--stalled at the 16-yard line.

Insult was added to injury the following week as Yale also came from behind in the fourth quarter to win the 117th playing of The Game, 34-24. Turnovers killed the Crimson, as the Elis capitalized on three interceptions and two fumbles in the final quarter to pull out a victory in The Game for the third straight year.

The utter dejection and disappointment visible on the faces of the Harvard players that day spoke volumes. Certainly, any time a team loses close games, it feels bitterly disappointed. However, this wasn't just any team. The 2000 edition of the Crimson football team broke countless records, had the most potent Harvard offense in over a century, and showed resiliency and promise on the defensive end. It was this great potential for success that made the losing so tough to swallow.

Looking to next year, however, Harvard can't help but feel encouraged. Although the anchor of the offensive line, Mike Clare, is graduating, all of the significant position players will return with one more year's experience under their belts.

Perhaps the brightest spot on the team is rising sophomore Dante Balestracci. The 6'2 middle linebacker had one of the most outstanding rookie seasons in Harvard history. Balestracci led the team in tackles, interceptions, and forced fumbles and stepped in admirably for another Harvard linebacking great, Isaiah Kacyvenski '00.

Balestracci will lead an improved defense next year that should compliment Rose and his air arsenal of Morris, Sam Taylor, and Dan Farley as well as the ground assault of Nick Palazzo and Matt Leiszler. Judging from spring practice, the kicking game has improved and special teams will be less of a liability next year than it was this year.

But, in the end, will people remember the countless records of the prolific offense? Will anyone recall that the defense shutout a team (Columbia) for the first time in four years and was led by the first First-Team All-Ivy freshman in the history of the league?