As far as the attitude toward the Yale game is concerned, this is a typical Harvard grid season. All will be forgiven and forgotten, all except the 34-6 Princeton trouncing, if the Elis are taken into camp: A whole lot of accounts can be gloriously settled by defeating Clint Frank and his cohorts this Saturday, and every single person connected with the Varsity squad, from Dick Harlow to the Freshman managerial candidates, are keenly aware of every one. To list just a few: Harlow hasn't seen a Yale victory since his arrival in Cambridge, there hasn't been a Yale victory since 1933, that 14-13 major catastrophe last November; and perhaps most important of all, Albie Booth's last minutes drop kick which smashed the undefeated record of Barry Wood's team in 1931. Oh yes, a Bulldog pelt is always a welcome sight in the Crimson trophy room, but one was never more eagerly awaited than that belonging to this year's litter of "Ducky" Pond's invincible blue pups.

On paper or on the gridiron, the aggregation arriving from New Haven this Friday will not be an easy one to beat. The Elis have defeated Army and tied Dartmouth, both of whom boast Harvard scalps. Time after time they have displayed the necessary power in the pinches to score, and against the teams shared in common, have yielded only 16 points to the 40 which these same elevens (Brown, Dartmouth, Princeton and Army) have tallied on Harvard. On the other hand, the Harlow offense has been good for 76 as against Yale's 69 on these same colleges.

VICTORY IN THE OFFING

But it is axiomatic that previous records count for practically nothing in the H-Y classic, and almost as axiomatic that upsets prove the rule. Impartial, outside speculations on this game have almost always been on a 50-50 basis because it is realized that when two teams go all-out at a high emotional tension, anything can happen.

This week, however, as the squad withdraws behind closed panels for the final big push, there is a definite feeling around Cambridge that the palm of victory will have a Crimson hue Saturday evening. There is, of course, a large element who predict that Harvard will get three times as many first downs, outrush by twice as much yardage, complete many more passes, and lose by one point in the last minute of play. And they have facts on which to base their case. But those who have watched the squad in its practices this fall and have seen the power they are capable of generating, refuse to believe that traditional Eli luck or Clint Frank skill will pull this one out of the fire.

UPS AND DOWNS

The team's record this fall has made it look as though it has gone through an amazingly varied series of ups and downs. This has not been due much to fluctuations in its playing ability as to the type of attack they employ. Defensively, the eleven has maintained a high average but offensively they have appeared different in almost every game. The reason for this is that the offense is built largely on deception, and as far as the ground-gained statistics at least are concerned, its success has varied with the opponents gullibility to this deception.

Harlow has relied upon this system because of his material. He has a good many ball toters of more than average ability, but none who can go places without lots of road-paving. His problem was one of producing a team of average talent but perfectly drilled being able to outsmart a team of "naturals". And so the Crimson eleven has rehearsed its plays until they are executed with Roxy precision, whether it be on an end sweep, linebuck, or pass. The only scores upon which they can safely rely are those hammered out behind smart play execution.

Against Navy, Dartmouth, and Princeton we have seen three varying degrees of success which the Harlow strategy can enjoy. Against Navy, the flaw in the team's scoring ability was most evident. When in midfield, with the Navy defenses necessarily spread out to guard against the Crimson pas threat, the mouse trap type of deception worked quite well. But once inside the twenty, when the Midshipmen secondary could accordion in a bit and the linemen could therefore risk being mousetrapped and charge in toward the center, the attack was stopped dead. In order to execute a mousetrap play, there must necessarily be a delay while the victimized lineman is bing trapped, a delay usually effected by ball handling. But against a more powerful forward wall that is making a goal-line stand, this type of delay will often prove disasterous. Against Yale, this difficulty should not be encountered, as the Harvard tackle to tackle lineup appears to be the stronger.

TRAPPER TRAPPED

An exhibition of how sour a tricky attack can look when it is not working was put on in the Dartmouth game. The Green line just wouldn't be trapped and was strong enough to work a cup defense, charging in a few feet and then holding their ground. It was just under those circumstances that the deceptive end and off-tackle runs should have worked, but the Dartmouth flanks were also apparently pretty smart fellows and so the Crimson attack looked impotent.

Regardless of all fond hopes to the contrary, the Elis will arrive in Cambridge a well-rounded team. Frank is an All-American, but Miller at end, punter Colwell, and Charlie Ewart are all names to conjure with as well. They have material with which to capitalize on breaks, a defense to keep them out of trouble and a punter to get them out of holes. But Harvard has a smoother, more polished team. A more powerful line,--and a flock of breaks long overdue.