After not even two full seasons, it’s become hard to imagine a game without No. 33 out there carrying the ball for the Crimson.

But if things had swung a little differently, Clifton Dawson wouldn’t have been the one transfer student that Harvard accepted two years ago.

Like Dawson, Quaker running back Sam Mathews was looking to transfer to an Ivy institution for the 2003 season. Mathews, then enrolled at Navy, was interested in both Penn and Harvard.

But because it’s virtually impossible to accept more than one transfer per year, the Crimson was faced with the enviable dilemma of choosing between Mathews and the kid from Northwestern.

“We had to make a decision,” Murphy said. “We certainly weren’t going to be able to enroll both of them.”

It ended up with Dawson donning the crimson jersey while Mathews became a Quaker. Both excelled in their first season with the new school last fall—Dawson broke multiple records for a Harvard freshman while Mathews was named First-Team All-Ivy last year.

If Dawson hadn’t been in the picture, however, it’s quite possible that it would have been Mathews out there lining up for the Crimson each week.

“You never know. You just never know.” Murphy said. “I just know that I wouldn’t trade my tailback for anybody.”

WE’VE GOT CONNECTIONS

Mathews has links to Harvard beyond his potential transfer to the Crimson. The running back hails from the same high school—Mount Lebanon, in Pittsburgh—as Harvard safety James Harvey.

That’s just one of the connections between the two schools.

Wide receiver Brian Edwards verbally committed to the Quakers before switching to the Crimson. And Penn wideout Dan Castles was heavily recruited by Harvard.

“I was at Danny Castles’ house three separate times. and i thought for sure he was coming to Harvard,” Murphy said. “I love the kid. Tough, blue collar, he had speed, explosive, humble. He’s a great player.”

Now, Castles will be one of the biggest challenges for the Harvard defense.

“He’s the number one thing we have to contain to contain their offense,” Murphy said.

—Staff writer Lisa J. Kennelly can be reached at kennell@fas.harvard.edu.