The weight of The Game is on their shoulders

Stepping out onto a football field to run an offense can be a daunting prospect—especially in this year's closely contested Ivy League. But Harvard and Yale's helmsmen do not seem to feel the pressure. "When I get out there I see everything in slow motion," Harvard quarterback Neil Rose '02 said. "It's kind of nice. I don't get the jitters or anything like that." Yale quarterback Peter Lee, TD '02, agreed. "From the first game I've felt relaxed and confident out there," he said.

Not only are Rose and Lee at ease, they are also racking up some gaudy statistics. Through last Saturday's games, Lee and Rose were averaging 213 and 261 yards per game respectively and were ranked 36th and 19th nationally in Div. I-AA. Rose has already set the Harvard record for single-game passing yardage (412) and single-game total offense (427 yards) and has led the team to a record 4,236 total yards on the season. Lee is closing in on Yale single-season records for touchdowns, completions, total yardage, and completion percentage.

JULIA TIERNAN/YH Peter Lee, TD '02, (above) and Neil Rose '02, two of Div. I-AA's top quarterbacks this season, will face off in Saturday's game. COURTESY HARVARD MAGAZINE

Neither quarterback is surprised by his success. "The passing records here at Harvard aren't that impressive," Rose said. "Harvard over the years has been a real smash-mouth, running team. I knew if we were to start passing the ball more, the records would take care of themselves." Lee agreed that his statistics were just as he thought they would be. "Outsiders questioned whether or not I could live up to expectations, but I was definitely confident I could do it," he said. "I'm doing what I expected to do."

Even though Lee and Rose now rule their respective roosts, both spent last season as benchwarmers. Rose broke his foot at the beginning of the 1999 season and was unable to play, but went into the 2000 season as the favorite to start. After Rose had a poor preseason, though, Crimson Head Coach Tim Murphy chose to start Barry Wahlberg '03 in Rose's stead in the team's season opener against Holy Cross. Wahlberg struggled mightily, and Rose was itching to get in and show his stuff. "I thought we were a much better team than how we were playing," he said. "I wanted in badly." He got his chance in the third quarter and proceeded to complete seven of nine passes for 78 yards, nearly leading the Cantabs to a come-from-behind victory. From that moment on Rose claimed his place as a starter, showing Murphy in game after game that the coach had made the right choice.

Lee, on the other hand, was sure he was going to start from the moment he arrived on campus. Lee transferred from Wisconsin in 1999 and was Joe Walland's, TD '00, backup last season. "It was pretty much the perfect situation," he said. "I had the opportunity to learn from someone who had been in the system for two years, and then I'd have two years to start after he was gone." Lee said that he has not felt any pressure to perform up to Walland's high standards this season. "I don't see any negative aspects about following a guy like Joe," he said. "I learned so much from him, both on and off the field." Lee added that he and Walland e-mail back and forth every week about upcoming games and that Walland often sends him tips and advice.

Walland isn't the only one who has been there for Lee every game this season. Lee's parents, traveling from his hometown of Chicago, have been in the stands for all of their son's games this season. Rose, a native of Hawaii, has not been so fortunate. His entire family will be in the stands this Saturday, but it will be just the second time his parents have seen him play in college; Hawaii is a lot further than Chicago.

Neil and Rose are geared up for this weekend, even though the Ivy crown is out of reach for both. Rose has got weather on his mind—used to balmy Hawaii, he had to learn how to throw in the cold when he got to Harvard. "I'd rather it not rain or snow," he said. Lee is focused on trying to keep the fact that it is "The Game" out of his head. "I'm not preparing for it like it's any different from any other game," he said. "All the tradition is not entering my train of thought."

Tale of the Tape
	Peter Lee	Neil Rose
Height, Weight:	6'5", 213 lbs.	6'3", 210 lbs.
Birthdate:	10/28/78	7/21/80
Hometown:	Chicago, Ill.	Mililani, Hi.
Major:	Economics	Economics
Throws:	Left	Right
Touchdowns/Int.:	17/8	16/9
Pass Yds./game:	218	261
Comp. %:	61.2	61.0
Yards rushing:	-21	171

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