ESPN’s College GameDay was there. The game was featured in the New York Times, the Washington Post and USA Today. But for all the hype and media attention accorded to the showdown between Harvard and Penn last weekend at Franklin Field, there’s no mistaking that game for The Game.

“Everything I’ve been putting in the last four years is all leading up to this game,” senior wide receiver Carl Morris said. “It’s one of the biggest rivalries in the country and we just want to have fun out there, and the best way to have fun is to win.”

Despite a discouraging 44-9 loss to Penn that dashed Harvard’s hopes of another perfect Ivy record, the Crimson realizes that the season can be sweetened with a win over its bitter rival Yale in the 119th playing of The Game tomorrow in the Stadium.

While Harvard and Yale have identical records of 6-3, the similarities in their seasons pretty much end there. The Crimson is 5-1 in the Ivy League and still has a shot to share the Ancient Eight crown with a win over Yale and if Cornell can pull off an upset over Penn this weekend in Ithaca.

The Bulldogs arrive in Cambridge with a 4-2 league record, riding a three-game winning streak following an impressive come-from-behind victory over Princeton last Saturday.

“We need to approach this game with the premise that it is a championship game because who knows what will happen in the Cornell-Penn game,” Harvard coach Tim Murphy said. “There’s going to be an intensity out there and the coaching staff won’t need to do any motivating.”

The Harvard Arsenal

Leading the way for the Crimson offense again this season have been captain Neil Rose and All-American wide receiver Morris.

Rose has completed 120-of-177 passes (67.8 percent) for 1,375 yards and eight touchdowns with four interceptions. Rose has put up these numbers despite being plagued by a debilitating sciatic nerve condition for most of the season.

Sophomore backup Ryan Fitzpatrick filled in effectively in Rose’s absence, completing 87-of-138 passes for 1,020 yards and eight touchdowns, all without an interception. Fitzpatrick also leads Harvard in rushing this season, running for 416 yards and three touchdowns.

NFL prospect Morris has caught a school-record 86 balls for 1,182 yards and eight touchdowns, an average of 13.7 yards per reception.

Sophomore multiple-threat Rodney Byrnes has caught 47 passes for 419 yards and two touchdowns while also throwing for a touchdown, rushing for three more, and returning a kickoff for a score.

Senior tailback Nick Palazzo has battled through an injury-plagued season to lead the Crimson in scoring with eight rushing touchdowns and one receiving TD.

An offensive line that lost four starters from the 2001 championship unit has responded admirably this season, led by senior right tackle and NFL prospect Jamil Soriano.

“Harvard has a lot of weapons on offense and we will not stop them totally,” Yale coach Jack Siedlecki said. “The key to slowing them down will be to contain Morris, pressure the quarterback and not allow any big runs to [hinder] their big play ability.”