The Game: tradition, tailgates, and football

You should know by now that Ivy League football is not of the caliber of what you see on ESPN. If you're looking for football quality on par with a late-season Florida vs. Florida St. matchup, you'll have to tune into the newly-available cable in your room. But even in the Ancient Eight there are some games that are a cut above the norm, some games which are elevated to sacred status. At Yale, one matchup stands out every year, and it's simply known as The Game.

At the annual Yale-Harvard football game, you will encounter a tremendous sense of competition. The enthusiasm for such a modest level of collegiate athletics is shocking. What is more amazing is that you will quickly find yourself just as wrapped up in the action as everyone else.

The Game is an event unto itself. It is not simply about football; it will never just be about precision passing or breathtaking kickoff returns. You can tell how huge this game is just by looking at the droves of fans who flock to it. While attendance at regular Yale football games is usually about 10,000, The Game regularly draws 30,000 to 40,000 fans.

So what will The Game be like for you, an unsure but enthusiastic freshman? For starters, The Game's location switches every year and unfortunately, this year you'll have to make the three-hour trek to Cambridge. But this shouldn't dampen your spirits; it's worth it. Whether you're an avid regular at the Bowl or just looking for the supreme way to spend a cold Saturday, The Game is your best bet. Besides, there's no excuse for you not to go. We Yalies get to go home for a week of vacation after The Game while Harvard students go back to classes for three more days. Some dreary Cantabs may even have to miss the action because they have big papers due on the following Monday.

How should you get ready for The Game? For starters, if there is the slightest hint of inclement weather, bring rain gear. You can easily keep warm by clapping and huddling together with your friends, but getting soggy at The Game is no rare occurrence. And even if you're cold, you'll be warmer than the 11 shirtless guys with "Fuck Harvard" painted on their chests who stormed the field at last year's Game. If you want to wear a blue G-string to appall Cantabs and parents alike, be my guest; you won't be alone. You get cold, you lose your voice, and if you're in Saybrook, you may lose your clothing. It's all in the spirit of The Game.

And once you get to Cambridge? Show up early and set up camp with your friends to form islands of Yale blue in the otherwise crimson sea. Then make the rounds of the various tailgates, which feature keg-standing students grilling burgers and alumni serving scotch and canapés from station wagons. There will be no shortage of free food (or beverages). Enter the stadium and note that at Harvard, The Game is played in a goofy horseshoe-shaped stadium that is open at one end. One can surmise that this is to give the Cantabs a chance to flee when they're getting humiliated on the gridiron.

When The Game begins, you'll witness the adrenaline-fueled play. Both teams really want to win this thing. Even if hopes of winning the league championship have long since dropped from the realm of possibility, The Game is a chance for redemption. At the same time, a great season can be brought down by a loss. A Boston restaurant called Locke-Ober has a tradition of placing a veil of mourning over a certain painting after a Crimson loss.

In the past, the Cantabs have had cause for mourning more often than not, as Yale owns the series by the decisive margin of 61-45-8. Sadly, however, Yale has lost the last three games to Harvard. But if history is any indicator, the Bulldogs are due for a victory. Neither team has won more than three in a row since 1942-1947, when the Bulldogs were victorious in four straight Games (there were no games in 1943 or 1944 due to WWII).

The bottom line: go to this game. It's important, it's an excuse for a road trip, and, by the way, Yale invented football. History's on our side, and we have a lot to prove.

Dan Brodhead contributed to this article.

Photo of Peter Mazza, JE '01, by Julia Tiernan.

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